Suspect in trouble before hostage drama

Cuddly croc forces passenger off flight (Reuters)

Reuters - A passenger was forced off a Ryanair flight from Rome to Milan because she refused to move her metre-long plush crocodile which was blocking an emergency exit, airport sources said Wednesday.

Suspect in trouble before hostage drama (AP)

AP - Leeland Eisenberg was already in trouble before he walked into one of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign offices. Three days earlier, his wife had filed for divorce; he was due to appear in court with her for a domestic violence hearing in about half an hour.

Burglary deemed motive in Taylor slaying (AP)

AP - The family of slain Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor will get little comfort from the arrest of four suspects, a family friend said, particularly since it appears the killing happened because of greed.

Iconic daredevil Evel Knievel dies at 69 (AP)

AP - Evel Knievel's hard life killed him — it just took longer than he or anyone else might have expected. The hard-living motorcycle daredevil, whose bone-breaking, rocket-powered jumps and stunts made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Lawmakers reach gas mileage boost deal (AP)

AP - An agreement among congressional Democrats — including those from auto industry states — to support a 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel efficiency is likely to be the tonic needed to push energy legislation through Congress before Christmas.

Israeli says elusive biblical wall found (AP)

AP - A wall mentioned in the Bible's Book of Nehemiah and long sought by archaeologists apparently has been found, an Israeli archaeologist says.

Court rules employee worked to death (Reuters)

Reuters - A Toyota Motor Corp employee died of overwork after logging more than 106 hours of overtime in a month, a judge ruled Friday, reversing a ministry's earlier decision not to pay compensation to his widow.

Couples Emphasize Career of Man over Woman (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - When working couples move, the husband's career often gets a boost and the wife's career suffers. A new study suggests what's behind that typical outcome.

Florida police arrest four in Sean Taylor slaying (Reuters)

Reuters - Tipped off by the public and armed with a confession, police in Florida arrested four young men on Friday for the murder of Sean Taylor, a star defensive player with the National Football League's Washington Redskins.

Celtics beat Heat, improve to 13-2 (AP)

AP - Paul Pierce scored 18 of his 27 points in the first quarter, Kevin Garnett added 23 and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics wasted most of a 28-point lead before beating the Miami Heat 95-85 on Friday night.

Jimi Hendrix memorabilia sells big (AP)

AP - An auction at Christie's of rock 'n' roll memorabilia from some of the hottest bands of the 1960s and '70s hauled in big bucks Friday, including $20,000 for a Jimi Hendrix album and more than $4,000 for a Rolling Stones' T-shirt.

Daredevil Evel Knievel dies after long illness (Reuters)

Reuters - Daredevil Evel Knievel, who dodged death in spectacular motorcycle leaps and crashes in a life full of showmanship, died on Friday at age 69, according to his lawyer and a message on his Web site.

Blast shakes Ukrainian mine (AP)

AP - An explosion early Saturday shook the coal mine where 100 people died in a methane blast two weeks ago, injuring five miners but causing no deaths, an industrial safety official said.

U.S. says has proof of N.Korea uranium program (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States has evidence North Korea purchased equipment to enrich uranium, a key step in producing nuclear weapons, a U.S. envoy was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Bracelet found in chicken after 25 years (AP)

AP - More than two decades after Aaron Giles lost his identity bracelet, he's finding how it was discovered tough to swallow. A meat cutter at Olson Locker in Fairmont came across the shiny object in a chicken gizzard and saw a name, address and phone number engraved on it.

Julia Roberts confronts paparazzi (AP)

AP - Silver-screen sprite Julia Roberts is fed up with intrusive paparazzi, and she's letting them know it.

Missing student's body apparently found (AP)

AP - A body found in Kansas appears to be that of a missing college student who led a secret life as an Internet porn star, police said Thursday.

"Tin Man" a bizarre update of "Wizard of Oz" (Reuters)

Reuters - (Tin Man , Mon. , Tues. , 9-11 p.m., Sci Fi Channel)

NTSB probes Amtrak-freight train crash (AP)

AP - Investigators studying the collision of an Amtrak train and a freight train that injured dozens of people, some seriously, will try to determine how both trains ended up on the same track at the same time, authorities said.

Dancing diva's comeback film banned in India: official (AFP)

AFP - An Indian state has banned a film featuring Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit because it allegedly offends low-caste Hindus, an official said on Saturday.