WASHINGTON -- Presumptive Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain said he missed the signs Condoleezza Rice may want to be his running mate.McCain said he "missed those signals" when asked about a televised comment by Dan Senor, a former military spokesman for coalition forces in Baghdad, The New York Times said. Senor said Rice spoke last week before a meeting of economic conservatives, an odd forum for a secretary of state."Condi Rice has been actively, ... [full story]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Federal prosecutors had a complex case to recount to the jury Monday in closing arguments in the corruption trial of Newark Mayor Sharpe James.James, 72, is accused of helping his 39-year-old mistress and now co-defendant, Tamika Riley, acquire city-owned land at bargain prices.The Newark Star-Ledger said the closing arguments could be crucial since the prosecution has conceded the case is a complicated one that lacks a star witness who can tie the ... [full story]

DETROIT -- Republican officials in Michigan are optimistic the GOP will carry the union bastion in the upcoming presidential election.Party officials told the Detroit News the ongoing battle between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama could prompt a sizable chunk of voters toward their candidate, John McCain.Recent polls indicate that Michigan could indeed be in play as McCain keeps pace with the two Democratic hopefuls who are being forced to contest the late primary states rather ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- Despite U.S. congressional ethics reform to cut spending on pork barrel projects, some lawmakers are turning to so-called "soft" earmarks, critics say.Congress enacted tough ethics reform in 2007 mandating members reveal when they used committee reports and other measures to target funds to special projects -- a spending measure called an earmark.But "soft" earmarks, or measures that include less-explicit support for projects by using language that "endorses" them, still allow lawmakers to steer ... [full story]

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- South Florida police have added 11 new sex-abuse charges against a transient jailed for allegedly having sex with a child.Matthew Kent Sheley, was arrested last Friday on one count of sexual performance with a child. However, police have since discovered evidence of what appears to be a second victim.WFOR-TV, Miami, said Monday the investigation by police in Hollywood, Fla., turned up a collection of videotapes at Sheley's apartment in nearby Hallandale ... [full story]

PARIS -- The head of the Olympic organizing committee said Monday he was concerned the protests against the Beijing Games went against the spirit of the games.Jacques Rogge told a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Beijing protests against China at Olympic torch processions were "not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games," and said the committee "called for a rapid, peaceful resolution of Tibet," the BBC said.Protests erupted ... [full story]

MERRITT, British Columbia -- A homicide investigation was under way Monday into the slayings of three young children in their mobile home in British Columbia, Canadian police said.A girl and two boys who were in kindergarten and grades 2 and 4 were found by their mother after she returned from a brief walk to a convenience store Sunday around 2 p.m., Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Merritt said.Sunday night, RCMP Cpl. Tracy Dunsmore said no ... [full story]

BAGHDAD -- Three Iraqis were killed and 36 injured in fighting Monday between Shiite militia and U.S. and Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City, government officials said.In Basra, eight people died Sunday when an explosion rocked a house, the U.S. military officials said. The cause of the blast was unknown, reported KUNA, the Kuwait news agency.The fighting in Sadr City follows days of confrontations between U.S. and Iraqi forces and members of the Mehdi Army, ... [full story]

KOTTE, Sri Lanka, April 7 (UPI) -- The Sri Lanka Air Force attacked Tamil Tiger positions in the north Monday, the day after a suicide bombing killed a cabinet minister, military officials said.Military officials said fighter jets and helicopter gunships attacked rebel positions in the northern part of the country, CNN reported. The information could not be independently verified.The raids came the day after a suicide bombing at the start of a marathon outside the ... [full story]

CAMP WITHYCOMBE, Ore. -- Soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard 41 Special Troops Battalion will train with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team on Saturday, April 5, at Camp Withycombe, Oregon.   Clackamas County SWAT team - CCSO photo The event will cover simulated hand to hand combat, room clearing, and handling procedures. Oregon soldiers and SWAT officers will conduct tactical training beginning at 10 a.m. "Our SWAT team is proud to share its expertise and training with ... [full story]