US & World News, Thursday 5/03

US & World Summary: Crowded Field Tonight In First GOP Debate (Simi Valley, CA) -- There will be a crowded field of candidates trying to get noticed tonight during the Republican Presidential debate. The most familiar faces are former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain. The field also includes lesser known candidates like California congressmen Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul from Texas. A total of ten GOP candidates will take part in the debate tonight at the Reagan Library in Simi 1/81/8SEE-me3/83/8 Valley, California. --- LAPD Chief Announces Probe Of Immigration Clash (Los Angeles, CA) -- Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton is launching an investigation into the clash between police and immigration protestors. During the Tuesday evening gathering, police swept through MacArthur Park, clubbing people with batons and firing rubber bullets into the crowd. Bratton has apologized on behalf of the police department and said the investigation will look into whether police used excessive force. The police chief called video of the incident "troubling and disturbing." --- Rice Expected To Meet Syrian Minister Today (Sharm El-Sheikh) -- A conference promoting peace in Iraq opens today in Egypt. During the gathering Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem. It will mark the first high level meeting between the countries in two years. Meanwhile, Iraqs Interior Ministry says U.S. and Iraqi forces have killed Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, a senior al-Qaeda leader in Iraq. His group has claimed responsibility for several major attacks in the country. The U.S. military has so far declined to comment on the death reports. --- Lawmakers Want Details On VA Bonuses The Veterans Administration has some explaining to do. Several members of Congress want more information about the VAs bonus system, after some managers at poor performing hospitals walked away with hefty bonuses. According to the "Charlotte Observer" some managers at North Carolina hospitals got a total of 335-thousand-dollars in bonuses between 2000 and 2006. Executives at one VA hospital under investigation for unexpected deaths were among those getting the bonuses. --- Queen Elizabeth II Arrives In U.S. Today (Washington, DC) -- The British are coming. Queen Elizabeth the Second and her husband Prince Philip arrive in the U.S. today for a six-day trip. The Queens visit will mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Today the British monarch addresses the Virginia General Assembly. Tomorrow, she and her husband visit Jamestown, and on Saturday, theyll head to Louisville, for the Kentucky Derby. The Royals will attend a state dinner at the White House on Monday night. --- American Unveils New In-Flight Entertainment Flying the friendly skies takes on a whole new meaning this week for some American Airlines passengers. Thats because the company has unveiled new entertainment choices on some selected flights. According to "USA Today," the airlines is rolling out a new video on demand system that lets passengers watch movies that arent out yet on DVD. A seven-inch touch-screen monitor containing 12 movies, and 15 hours of news. In addition passengers can watch TV shows, music videos and listen to the equivalent of 50 music CDs. --- Spurs, Suns Advance to Second Round San Antonio and Phoenix have moved into the next round of the NBA playoffs. The Spurs and Suns both closed out their first-round matchups last night with Game Five wins. Michael Finley made a club playoff-record eight-three-pointers and scored 26 points for the Spurs, as they beat the Denver Nuggets 93-78. In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire scored 27 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Suns finished off the Lakers 119-110. In tonights action the Houston Rockets play the Utah Jazz, while Golden State takes on Dallas. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-03-07 0843CDT