US & World News, Monday 5/07

US & World Summary: Greensburg, Kansas Residents To Survey Tornado Damage (Greensburg, KS) -- Residents of Greensburg, Kansas will be allowed back into the small town later today to salvage what they can. Officials say about 95-percent of the town was destroyed Friday night by a powerful F5 tornado. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius toured the area last night and thanked President Bush for his quick action in declaring Greensburg a disaster area. Meanwhile, authorities have arrested five people for looting in the storm-ravaged town. Four of the suspects are said to be soldiers in the regular Army and one reserve police officer. --- Eight U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq Violence (Baghdad) -- Violence in Iraq has claimed the lives of eight more U.S. troops. Six soldiers and a European journalist were killed yesterday when a roadside bomb ripped through their vehicle north of Baghdad. According to the military, two more U.S. soldiers were killed in separate bomb attacks, including one in Baghdad. Another car bomb in a Shiite district of Baghdad killed 35 people and wounded 80 when it detonated next to a crowded market. Three other U.S. soldiers were killed over the weekend, bringing the total number of U.S. forces killed this month to 28. Meanwhile, a top-level U.S. Army official is predicting a rise in U.S. troop casualties over the next few months. Army Major General Rick Lynch tells the "Los Angeles Times" that more Americans will be killed as a result of President Bushs troop surge plan. --- White House Preparing For Royal Visit (Washington, DC) -- Preparations are underway at the White House for a visit by Queen Elizabeth the Second. President Bush, First Lady Laura, and about seven-thousand people are expected to turn out on the South Lawn of the White House to welcome the British monarch and her husband Prince Philip during a formal arrival ceremony later this morning. It will be the first visit by the Queen since 1991 when Bushs father was president. --- Obama Requests "Flexible Fuel Vehicle" (Santa Monica, CA) -- Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is requesting that the Secret Service provide him with a "flexible fuel vehicle." Government officials are said to be scrambling to come up with an alternative to the standard "gas guzzling" campaign cars which are usually provided. Just last week, Obama was placed under protection by the Secret Service. The Illinois Senator is set to deliver a speech to the Detroit Economic Club today. --- Apple Could Make Changes To iTunes Pricing Apple could soon change its pricing structure for the popular iTunes music store. "iTWIRE.com" reports Apple has held firm to its standardized pricing in the past but is now offering variable pricing for unprotected tracks. The Digital Rights Management removal would gain approval from Europe and consumer protection advocates, as iTunes music in the past has been available to Apple branded music players only. Europe has recently put pressure on companies like Apple for using such anti-competitive measures in their products. The change for Apple is expected to enhance sales, as they would potentially gain new customers non-Apple music players, and market estimates show iPod owners dont buy iPods because of their online music store. --- Clemens Will Pitch For Yankees Again (New York, NY) -- "The Rocket" will again pitch for the New York Yankees. Roger Clemens made the announcement while addressing the crowd at Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon during the seventh-inning stretch. Appearing in owner George Steinbrenners box, Clemens said, quote, "Well, they got me out of Texas. I can tell you its a privilege to be back." Clemens said he could be ready to pitch by the end of this month or early in June. --- Spiders Removed From Boys Ears (Albany, OR) -- A nine-year-old Oregon boy has quite a story for the next show and tell. Jesse Courtney was taken to the doctor by his mother after he noticed a popping sound like Rice Krispies in his ear. When doctors went to clean out his ear with water, two sizable spiders about the size of pencil erasers came floating out. Jesse is now doing better and hes decided to keep the now-dead spiders in a jar. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-07-07 0743CDT