US & World News, Thursday 12/6

US & World Summary: Omaha Mall Shooter Left Suicide Note (Omaha, NE) -- The man who went on a deadly shooting rampage at a busy shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska left a suicide note. Robert Hawkins landlady told CNN the note said, quote, "Now I will be famous." She also said a three-part document included his will. Police say Hawkins fatally shot eight holiday shoppers yesterday before he shot and killed himself. Five other people were wounded in the shooting spree. Two are hospitalized in critical condition. --- Bush To Announce Homeowner Aid Plan (Washington, DC) -- Millions homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages may be eligible for relief under a plan expected to be announced today by President Bush. Reports say borrowers who took out adjustable-rate loans with low "teaser" rates from 2005 through the end of July are candidates for the plan. It proposes a five-year freeze on interest rates if borrowers face a reset to a higher rate within the next two-and-a-half years. The proposal hammered out by the Treasury Department and lenders. --- Screenwriters And Execs Sound Optimistic (Los Angeles, CA) -- Striking screenwriters and Hollywood studio executives are both talking in upbeat tones. A Writers Guild statement said the latest talks were the first time the two sides have had substantive discussion of issues centering on payments to writers for work carried on the Internet. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers statement said its believed there is common ground to be found to put everyone in a better place to survive and prosper. The two sides are expected to meet today. --- Pacific Northwest Reeling From Massive Flooding Residents in the Pacific Northwest have had a taxing week dealing with severe flooding. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire 1/81/8 greg-WAHR 3/83/8 officials mobilized the largest aerial search and rescue operation in the state in over a decade. Gregoire told "The Olympian" shes been in contact with the White House which is readying an emergency declaration that will free more funds and resources to help victims. A long stretch of Interstate-5 remains closed and Department of Transportation officials say it will be tomorrow at the earliest before it will reopen. --- Judge Says New York Arabic School Can Seek New Principal (New York, NY) -- A recently-opened Arabic school in New York can proceed with its search for a new principal. The ruling by Judge Sidney Stein is a setback for the former principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy. Debbie Almontaser charged in a federal lawsuit that the city wrongly forced her to quit under pressure due to negative media coverage. Almontaser was linked to Muslim artists who printed T-shirts using the word "intifada," which typically refers to the Palestinian uprising against Israel. She said the term could be understood as a feminist slogan meaning "shaking off." The judge said it was reasonable for the education department to conclude the reaction was likely to disrupt the school. --- Woman Rewards Couple For Finding PEZ Collection (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) -- Florida resident Charlene Henig recently lost her collection of vintage PEZ dispensers worth thousands of dollars. The collection vanished when a box of the popular candy dispensers went flying out of her SUV. Theres a happy ending. Henig got a call from a couple who found the box. Sandra and David Reaves returned the collection of PEZ dispensers to Henig yesterday. She rewarded them with 500-dollars. The Reaves say the reward money is a blessing because theyll now be able to buy a Christmas tree and gifts this holiday season. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-06-07 0741CST