US & World News, Wednesday 4/9

US/World Summary --- San Francisco Braced For Olympic Torch Relay (San Francisco, CA) -- San Francisco is bracing for demonstrations today during the Olympic torch relay. The relay will take place along San Franciscos famed Embarcadero. Demonstrators angered over Chinas crackdown in Tibet are planning to protest. Last night, thousands gathered at the United Nations Plaza to rally in support of freedom for Tibet. Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke to the crowd, saying with all eyes on China now its time for our leaders to take a stand. The torch relay in San Francisco is its only U.S. stop. --- Hundreds Of American Airlines Flights Cancelled (Fort Worth, TX) -- Flight cancellations, inspections and apologies are on the agenda for American Airlines for today. Airline officials scratched several hundred flights yesterday to conduct additional inspections of its MD-80 fleet and the cancellations have spilled over to today. The airline says it will accommodate customers on other American flights or on flights operated by airlines in the same market. American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey apologized for once again causing inconvenience to customers. --- General Petraeus To Testify About Iraq Again (Washington, DC) -- More testimony before Congress will be provided today by the top military commander in Iraq. General David Petraeus appears before two House panels after day-long testimony in the Senate yesterday. In two Senate hearings, Democrats cited the staggering, growing costs of the ongoing war and renewed waves of sectarian violence. During todays appearance, Petraeus will be joined again by Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. --- Former Fed Chief Gives Economy An "R" For Recession (Washington, DC) -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has slapped the recession tag on the country. Greenspan used the "R" word in an interview on cable channel CNBC, adding its difficult to predict how severe the recession will be. He emphasized that consumers are beginning to shrink in, the auto markets are beginning to contract, production is beginning to ease and the country is in the throes of recession. He also said he has no regrets about how he ran the central bank with his record recently coming under scrutiny. --- Virginia Tech Blocks Gun Control Group Protest Plans (Blacksburg, VA) -- Virginia Tech is not letting a national gun-control advocacy group demonstrate on campus a week from today. The school will be marking the one year anniversary of last springs massacre. A spokesman for the university says neither the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence nor the co-sponsor of the planned rally had applied for a permit to gather. Tech says that only student groups get such permits. Doug Pennington with the Brady Campaign tells the "Richmond Times-Dispatch" that hes sure theres a way to hold a demonstration without breaking any rules. --- Lady Vols Win Second Straight National Championship (Tampa, FL) -- The Tennessee Lady Vols captured their second straight national championship by defeating the Stanford Cardinal, 64-48, in Tampa, Florida Tuesday night. Tennessee has now won eight national titles, all coming under head coach Pat Summitt. Candace Parker had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Vols, who wrap up the season 36-and-2. Jayne Appel ended with 16 points and five rebounds for Stanford, which finishes the year 35-and-4. --- Actor Radcliffe To Bare All on Broadway (New York, NY) -- British actor Daniel Radcliffe will again be shedding his Harry Potter image as well as his clothes when he appears on Broadway in September. The 18-year-old Radcliffe will reprise his London role in "Equus" for the Broadway stage. He won rave reviews for his performance as a tortured teen during the eight-week run of the psychological thriller in London last year. "Equus" is poised for a 22-week run in New York City. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-04-09-08 0740CDT