US & World News, Wednesday 4/25

US/World Summary Dow Crosses 13-Thousand Plateau (New York, NY) -- The Dow Jones Industrials Average has crossed the 13-thousand mark for the first time ever. And it continues to climb. Shortly after the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow started to take off and it continued to soar in the first half hour of trading. The Dow crossed the 13-thousand mark six months after breaking through the 12-thousand barrier. --- Deadly Twister Hits South Texas (Eagle Pass, TX) -- At least six people are dead after a tornado ripped through parts of south Texas last night. Another 81 were hurt when the twister tore through an area southeast of Eagle Pass, near the Mexican border. An entire family of four died when the tornado hit their mobile home. Some reports say as many as 100 houses were damaged by the severe storm. In neighboring Piedras Negras, Mexico, a tornado reportedly took three lives, injured more than 40 people and caused extensive power outages. --- House, Senate To Vote On War Funding Bills (Providence, RI) -- Both the House and Senate are scheduled for final votes today on Iraq war funding bills. The measures set deadlines for withdrawing American troops from Iraq, and President Bush has promised to veto any bill that sets timetables for withdrawal. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says the Democratic attempts to attach withdrawal deadlines to the funding measures spells "surrender." Congressman Patrick Kennedy says with his veto threat, the President is going against the will of the American people. --- Body Of Blue Angels Pilot Returns Home (Pensacola, FL) -- The Blue Angels are getting ready to say good-bye to one of their own. The body of Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis, the Angels pilot killed in a crash last Saturday, returns to the Sunshine State today for burial this weekend. According to the "Pensacola News Journal," Davis flag-draped coffin will arrive this afternoon at Pensacola Naval Air Station. The 32-year-old pilot was killed when his Navy F-18 jet went down during an air show in Beaufort, South Carolina. Meanwhile, the planes black box recorder has been recovered. --- Indiana Prison Riot Over (New Castle, IN) -- A prison riot in Indiana has ended. It took authorities more than two hours to bring the incident at the New Castle Correctional Facility to an end yesterday afternoon. Two prison guards were hurt during the riot, but neither suffered a life-threatening injury. Seven prisoners were treated for breathing problems from tear gas and other methods used to end the uprising. An Indiana Department of Correction spokesman says the riot started with a protest by some inmates who had recently been brought from Arizona. --- Rosie ODonnell Could Be Leaving "The View" Rosie ODonnell appears ready to quit "The View." Thats according to TMZ.com, which reports that Rosie will announce on todays show that she is leaving. TMZ says if she leaves it wont happen until the end of the season. ODonnell sparked new controversy this week using vulgar language and gestures while speaking at the New York Women in Communication annual awards luncheon. The comedienne joined "The View" after Meredith Vieira left to become co-host of NBCs "Today" show. --- Raptors, Bulls, Suns All Win At Home Chicago and Phoenix have taken two-games-to-none leads in their NBA play-off series. The Bulls blew out Miami 107-89 last night, while the Suns trounced the Lakers 126-98. Elsewhere, Toronto topped New Jersey 89-83 to even their series at one game apiece. Three other first-round series resume tonight. Denver is at San Antonio with the Nuggets leading that series 1-0, Washington visits Cleveland with the Cavaliers holding a 1-0 series edge, and Golden State is at Dallas. The Warriors lead that series 1-0. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-04-25-07 0848CDT