US & World News, Monday 4/30

US & World Summary: Investigators Trying To Determine Motive In Kansas City Shooting Spree (Kansas City, MO) -- Investigators are still trying to determine a motive in yesterdays shooting spree at a Kansas City, Missouri mall. They say the gunman shot and killed two people in the parking lot of the Ward Parkway Mall before walking inside where he opened fire and wounded at least two others. Police later shot and killed the unidentified suspect. Authorities believe the gunman was also responsible for the earlier slaying of a woman who was found dead in her home. --- Long Rushhour Expected In San Francisco After Highway Collapse (San Francisco, CA) -- Some commuters in the San Francisco area will have to find another way to work this morning after a vital freeway collapsed yesterday. A section of Oaklands busy MacArthur Maze collapsed onto a roadway below after a tanker explosion. According to the California Highway Patrol, the big rig fuel tanker went out of control while coming off the Bay Bridge and overturned. Eighty-six-hundred gallons of fuel caught fire, melting the connector from Eastbound 80 to Eastbound 580 causing it to collapse. Free public transit is being offered to help ease congestion. --- Probe Begins For U.S. Officer Accused Of Aiding The Enemy In Iraq (Camp Victory, Iraq) -- A formal investigation is underway in Iraq to decide if a U.S. Army officer accused of "aiding the enemy" should face a court-martial. Lieutenant-Colonel William Steele is charged with fraternizing with a detainees daughter, having an improper relationship with a translator, providing unmonitored mobile phones to prisoners and keeping pornographic videos while he ran detention facilities at Camp Cropper near Baghdad. A number of insurgents and former senior aides to Saddam Hussein are being held at the facility. Evidence will be presented during an Article 32 hearing which is expected to last two or three days. --- Philippines Man Faces Murder Charges In Connection With Peace Corps Death (Manila) -- Authorities in the Philippines have filed preliminary murder charges against a man in connection with the death of a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer. In a statement, woodcarver Juan Duntugan said he killed Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell after mistaking her for a neighbor with whom he has a feud. Duntugan denied robbing or molesting Campbell, a former freelance journalist who disappeared on April 8th while exploring rice terraces north of Manila. --- Delta Emerges From Bankruptcy (Atlanta, GA) -- The nations third largest air carrier is celebrating today after emerging from 19 months in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While under bankruptcy protection, Delta Airlines reduced its labor and pension costs and realigned its route structure to concentrate on international destinations. Executives say the new Delta is more employee-friendly and plans to dole out stock and cash bonuses to its workers. --- Cows, Sheep Targeted In Efforts To Combat Climate Change (Bangkok) -- The heat is on for cows and sheep when it comes to their role in reducing global warming. Scientists say the farm animals produce significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that gets far less public attention than carbon dioxide, yet is at the heart of efforts to fight climate change. Experts are considering several options to cut down on methane emissions including additives for cattle and sheep to cut the amount of methane in their burps and moving away from intensive livestock feed. According to the EPA, cattle emit about 5.5-million tons of methane per year into the air, accounting for 20-percent of U.S. methane emissions. --- "Spider-Man 3" Debuts In Gotham Tonight (New York, NY) -- "Spider-Man 3" makes its debut in Gotham tonight. The third film in the series based on the legendary Marvel Comic character will premiere at New York Citys Tribeca Film Festival. Among those expected to attend the bash are "Spider-Man 3" stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-04-30-07 0542CDT