US & World News, Friday 4/27

US/World Summary: The Latest Heres the latest on stories making news this hour: Sandra Bullocks husband wasnt hurt after a crazed fan allegedly tried to run him over on Sunday night. The Pistons, Jazz and Lakers were all winners in their NBA playoff games last night. And, Boston could be the next city to ban plastic bags. --- Senate Approves War Funding Bill (Washington, DC) -- The Senate has joined the House in approving a war funding bill. Passed by a 51-46 vote, the measure faces a presidential veto. President Bush has criticized the measure because it contains a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is urging the President to reconsider his veto. She met yesterday with Bush at the White House, and later said Democrats have "taken our own measure of whats going on in Iraq." The 124-billion-dollar bill includes roughly 100-billion-dollars for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. --- Democratic Presidential Candidates Agree About Iraq (Orangeburg, SC) -- There were no clear cut winners or losers in last nights Democratic Presidential debate. All eight candidates agreed that President Bush needs to change course in Iraq. Delaware Senator Joe Biden chided the President to "get on the game plan here, or hes just gonna drag this thing out." Illinois Senator Barack Obama said he wasnt willing to put restrictions on foreign policy, but does want to see limits on the price of healthcare. On Iraq, both Obama and Hillary Clinton said its time for the Iraqi people to provide for their own security and stability. --- Soldier Accused Of Murder Faces Death Penalty (Fort Bragg, NC) -- An army sergeant accused of killing two other soldiers in Iraq will be court-martialled. Thats the decision from a military judge, in the case of Alberto Martinez. Hes charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of 30-year-old Captain Phillip Esposito and 34-year-old Lieutenant Louis Allen. According to government prosecutors, Martinez killed the men with a small explosive device on a military base near Tikrit, Iraq in June of 2005. The trial is scheduled to begin this August in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. --- Atlanta Officers Plead In Fatal Shooting (Atlanta, GA) -- Two Atlanta narcotics officers are facing jail time in a botched drug bust that led to murder. Greg Junnier and Jason Smith pleaded guilty to reduced charges in the November raid of a 92-year-old womans home. She was killed after opening fire on what she thought were burglars. The cops were looking for drugs in the home, but found none. Both officers agreed to cooperate with a federal investigation into what some say is widespread corruption in the police department. The pair face ten to 12 years in prison if convicted of the charges. --- Woman Allegedly Tries To Run Over Bullocks Husband Jesse James wasnt hurt after a crazed fan allegedly tried to run him over on Sunday night. According to TMZ.com, the husband of actress Sandra Bullock was accosted by Marcia Valentine, who tried "three or four times" to run James over with her car. Bullock and James ten-year-old son witnessed the incident, but Valentine fled the scene before police arrived. She was arrested the next day. According to a rep for James and Bullock the couple is fine. The Pistons, Jazz and Lakers were all winners in their first-round NBA playoff games last night. In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 45 points to propel the Lakers to a 95-89 win over the Suns. Phoenix still holds a two games to one lead in the series. The Pistons beat the Magic 93-77 in Orlando to take a three-games-to-none lead in their series. Utah beat Houston 81-67, but the Rockets still lead that series two-games-to-one. --- Plastic Ban May Be Coming To Boston (Boston, MA) -- Boston could be the next city to ban plastic bags. Calling the bags a "hazard to the environment," the City Council is proposing that they be banned from larger retail stores. Earlier this week the proposal was sent to a council committee and is expected to have widespread support when it comes before the full council for a final vote. Mayor Thomas Menino will still have to approve the measure before it becomes law. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-04-27-07 0941CDT