US & World News, Friday 4/20

US/World News Summary Day Of Mourning Declared; Panel To Probe Virginia Tech Shootings (Blacksburg, VA) -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has declared today a day of mourning across his state for the people killed in the Virginia Tech shootings. On a wider scale, bells are expected to toll around the U.S. at noon, Eastern time, today. Kaine also announced the formation of a panel to review the circumstances surrounding the shootings. The eight-member commission will probe all facets of the deadly shootings, such as initial warning signs about the shooter and policies and procedures at Virginia Tech. Kaine says the intent of the probe is to increase safety, not assess blame. Gonzales Fends Off New Call For His Resignation (Washington, DC) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that he believes he continues to be effective in his job. Gonzales responded yesterday during a Senate panel hearing in which Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn said the firings of eight U.S. attorneys was carried out in a very incompetent manner and said Gonzales should resign. Gonzales admitted the dismissal process was flawed but called the firings justified and denied any political motivation. He again argued the federal prosecutors serve at the pleasure of the President and can be removed at any time. Tennessee Woman Found Guilty Of Voluntary Manslaughter (Selmer, TN) -- Mary Winkler has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of her Tennessee preacher husband Matthew. She faces three to six years in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 30 percent of her sentence. Winkler had testified that her husband physically, emotionally and sexually abused her throughout their ten-year marriage. Shell will remain free on 750-thousand-dollars bond until her sentencing hearing on May 18th. WH Threatens Veto Of Bill To Give DC A Representative (Washington, DC) -- The White House has threatened to veto a bill that would give Washington, DC, its first representative in Congress. The bill, passed yesterday by the House, would expand its chamber to make room for a representative from the District of Columbia. Washington, DC Mayor Andrian Fenty urged the Senate to give its needed approval. Democrats say that the U.S. is the only representative democracy that does not afford the citizens of its capital a representative. Critics say the U.S. Constitution only allows representatives to be elected by states. Senators Seek Probe Of Troops Mental Health Care (Washington, DC) -- A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is calling for a probe of how the Pentagon treats military troops who have mental health problems. Theyre asking the Government Accountability Office to find out if commanders are glossing over psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, when troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan. The move follows complaints by some troops who said their requests for mental health care were either ridiculed or ignored. Corzine Remains Critical Week After Accident (Camden, NJ) -- New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine remains in critical but stable condition a week after being involved in a car accident. A spokesman says Corzine remains hospitalized in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Cooper University Hospital. He adds the governor does not show any sign of complications or infection at this time. At the time of the crash, Corzine reportedly was not wearing a seatbelt and the vehicle he was riding in was traveling at a high rate of speed. Contents Of Angry Voicemail Alec Baldwin Allegedly Left Daughter Released Actor Alec Baldwin allegedly left his eleven-year-old daughter an angry voicemail earlier this month when she missed his scheduled call from New York to her in Los Angeles. TMZ.com obtained a copy of the tape in which Baldwin accuses the child of being a "thoughtless little pig" and says her mother and his ex, actress Kim Basinger, "doesnt care about what you do." Baldwin also uses a number of expletives. TMZ reports that when Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Maren Nelson heard the tape earlier this week, she temporarily suspended Baldwins visitation rights. A hearing on the matter has been set for May 4th. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service)