US soldier gets 35 years in deaths of 4 Iraqis

A U.S. soldier convicted of murder in the execution-style slayings of four blindfolded Iraqis apologized for shooting one of them in the back of the head, but said he acted out of concern for his fellow troops.

"Nothing is harder than losing a soldier," Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Mayo said in closing arguments after he was found guilty of murder. "Or calling a mother or a wife and telling them that you tried, but wondering if you did enough. I apologize to the military for what I've done. I apologize to the soldiers; I never wanted them to have to go through this."

Mayo told the court _ just lawyers and a judge, with no jury _ that he shot …

Kathleen Curry

Kathleen Curry, 60, director of library and media services forthe Pleasantdale School District in Lyons Township, died Monday ather Oak Brook home.

She worked in the Pleasantdale schools for 20 years, and was sowell-regarded that school in the entire district will be cancelledFriday.

"She was an exceptional woman," said Arnold Witt, superintendentof the Pleasantdale schools.

"We wanted to allow all staffers to attend the funeral and thatwas the only way we could do it," he said. "She touched the lives ofhundreds of children."

Mrs. Curry, the daughter of a Chicago police captain, earned abachelor's degree from Rosary College in 1950 and a …

Ireland says EU, IMF agree to fund emergency aid

DUBLIN (AP) — Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen says his country has reached an agreement in principle with EU and IMF donors to provide less than euro100 billion ($140 billion) to support cash-strapped Dublin banks.

Experts from the European Union and International Monetary Fund arrived in Dublin three days ago to pore over the books of the government, treasury and banks to assess how big an aid package …

Wust qualifies to defend her Olympic 3,000 title

Olympic 3,000-meter speedskating champion Ireen Wust of the Netherlands has qualified to defend her title at the Vancouver Olympics.

Wust won the Dutch trials over 3,000 meters in 4 minutes, 6.80 seconds Monday at Thialf Ice Stadium. She …

Les, 79, is an inspiration to us, says Tesco

A 79-year-old supermarket shelf stacker has been put forward foran Age Positive award.

Les Rowe has been working at his local Tesco store in Golden Hill,for two years.

He retired as a chauffeur eight years ago but began working forTesco in Middlesex and then Southampton.

He said he wanted to work to be busy and keep his mind active.

Mr Rowe moved to Bristol two years ago with his wife, who isstudying to become a Methodist minister, and got the job at GoldenHill.

He said he was surprised when he applied for his first Tesco postto be told 'If you can do the job efficiently it doesn't matter whatage you are'.

Mr Rowe said: "I was a bit …

Honda's 'space' Odyssey

Unique to the North American market, Honda's upsized Odyssey minivan can hold its own in the 'space race' with its U.S. competition.

Space, the final frontier. Ironically, it's just as true for today's truck and van market as it is for Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew. But whereas Kirk has to deal with everything from Tribbles to Klingons, minivan owners have to negotiate mountain bikes, groceries and an expanding family. To do it, American buyers respond to a very elementary design formula Make them bigger, make them heavier - and make a lot of them.

Honda clearly sees the handwriting on the wall. To sell trucks or vans in America, it must build what the consumer …

McCain to talk free trade in Latin America

John McCain concedes he still has work to do to convince voters in America's Rust Belt, where the presidential election could be decided, that his support for free trade will benefit them, not just cost more jobs.

Winding up a campaign swing through Pennsylvania, which has been hard hit by the loss of manufacturing jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting pledged to improve programs for displaced workers and unemployment insurance if elected, but acknowledged that wouldn't be enough.

"I have to convince them the consequences of protectionism and isolationism could be damaging to their future," the Arizona senator …