US & World News, Friday 12/28

US & World Summary --- Bhutto Interred (Naudero, Pakistan) -- The body of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has been buried in the family mausoleum. She was assassinated yesterday following an election rally. Her death has triggered violent protests around the country. Some protesters chanted slogans targeting President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf has appealed for calm and is blaming Islamic extremists for the death. However, many Bhutto supporters blame him for not protecting her. --- Police: Two Confess To Washington State Christmas Murders (Seattle, WA) -- Washington state police say two suspects in the murder of a half dozen people over Christmas, have confessed. Court records say 29-year-old Michelle Anderson and her 30-year-old boyfriend admit killing her parents, her brother, her brothers wife, and the couples two children. The children were ages six and three. McEnroe shot each victim in the head. Relatives say the daughter was mad because she had been written out of the family will. --- U.S. Issues Alert For Stolen Beef (Washington, DC) -- The Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert for nearly 15-thousand pounds of missing ground beef products that may be contaminated with potentially deadly E-coli bacteria. The alert came after a trailer containing the ground beef was reported stolen by Texas American Food Service Corporation. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company does business as American Fresh Foods. --- Southern California Police Seek Perpetrator Of Barbaric Attacks (Hemet, CA) -- Southern California authorities are looking for a man who savagely attacked two elderly women. He raped a 63-year-old twice, and also assaulted a 74-year-old woman in a wheelchair. That woman died as a result. The attacks took place in a senior apartment complex on three different occasions, about 85-miles east of Los Angeles. Officials have the perpetrator on video surveillance and also have DNA from the assaults. --- Wisconsin Cougars Recaptured (Manitowoc, WI) -- Two cougars were recaptured yesterday in Wisconsin after vandals cut chains to their cages and scrolled "free animals" in the snow. The incident took place at a zoo about 70-miles north of Milwaukee. A zookeeper noticed cougar footprints in the snow and found the animals had escaped. They were found inside a zoo fence and tranquilized. Officials said these cats have been domesticated and would not have survived on their own. They added, however, that they do possess a killer instinct that would have posed a risk to area residents. --- Broadcast Of Golden Globes In Doubt (Los Angeles, CA) -- The scheduled January 13th broadcast of the Golden Globes ceremony may be on shaky ground. The "New York Times" reports the Writers Guild of America strike could play a role. Jeff Hermanson, strike coordinator of the WGA West and East, says Dick Clark Productions, which is producing the NBC telecast, is a strike target. He promised writers would picket around the Beverly Hilton Hotel where the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will hold the awards show. --- "Couch Potato" Title On The Line (Chicago, IL) -- A 34-year-old Illinois accountant sees himself as a real sofa-spud and hes proud of it. Jason Pisarik expects to spend New Years Day defending his title of "Ultimate Couch Potato" that he has snagged for two years running -- or sitting. Last year he out-lasted the competition by sitting in front of a television for almost 40 hours. The winner gets a high-definition television, a recliner, and a trophy with a fresh potato on top. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-28-07 0844CST