US & World News, Tuesday 1/8

US & World Summary --- First In The Nation Primaries Taking Place In NH (Dixville Notch, NH) -- Voting is underway in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary. The first 17 votes were cast just after midnight in the town of Dixville Notch. Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama came away the big winner, with a total of seven votes, while New York Senator Hillary Clinton didnt get a single nod from Dixville Notch residents. On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain got four votes, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney received two and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had one Dixville Notch resident vote for him. The rest of New Hampshire has until 8 p.m. Eastern to cast their ballots. --- Hundreds Attend Funeral For Teen Killed By Zoo Tiger (San Jose, CA) -- The young man who was killed by a Siberian Tiger at San Francisco Zoo will be buried today. Seventeen-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. was remembered by friends and family members yesterday during a funeral service in San Jose, California. Carlos mother Marilza Sousa said her son died trying to save his friends during the Christmas evening tiger attack. The family hopes to convince San Francisco Zoo officials to put up a memorial at the spot where Carlos died. --- Two Dead As Midwest Hit By Winter Tornadoes At least two people are dead after tornadoes ravaged parts of the Midwest yesterday. The storms caused plenty of damage from southern Missouri to Wisconsin, killing two women in Missouri. About 500 people were evacuated from the Illinois town of Lawrence after a tornado damaged buildings and lifted a train off its tracks. One of the train cars contained hazardous materials, and emergency crews are still on the scene. The storms also knocked out power to some residents. --- Sentencing Hearing Opens In Padilla Terrorism Case (Miami, FL) -- The sentencing hearing for Jose Padilla 1/81/8 puh-DEE-yah 3/83/8 and two other men begins today in a Miami, Florida federal court. The trio face life in prison after being convicted of conspiring to commit violent acts outside the U.S., conspiring to provide material support to terrorist groups and providing that support. Dubbed an "enemy combatant" not long after his arrest at in 2002, Padilla was held in a Navy brig for three years before he was charged by prosecutors. The sentencing hearing is expected to last through the end of the week. --- Teacher Killed By His Own Dog (Baytown, TX) -- A Texas teacher is dead after a freak accident involving his dog. According to investigators, Perry Alvin Price was hunting over the weekend and had placed a gun in the back of his pickup next to his dog. At some point, the dog began jumping up and down, and landed on the shotguns trigger. The gun went off and Price was hit by the bullet. He wasnt able to get prompt medical attention and died from a severe loss of blood. --- EPA Campaigns For Recycling Cell Phones (Washington, DC) -- A new campaign aimed at getting consumers to recycle their old cell phones kicks off today. The Environmental Protection Agency, and many retailers, manufacturers and service providers are behind the effort. According to the "New York Times," the 175-thousand-dollar campaign, called "Recycle Your Cell Phone. Its an Easy Call," is being launched to tout the environmental and social reasons for recycling. The effort will especially target the 18-to-24-year-olds who trade up to new cell phones most often. --- Jamie Lynn Spears Going For GED? Britney Spears pregnant younger sister may be trying to wrap up her school career. According to "People" magazine, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears, star of Nickelodeons "Zoey 101," was seen last week leaving an adult education center carrying a GED book. Jamie Lynn was previously enrolled in Mississippis Parklane Academy, but left after Thanksgiving citing commitments in Los Angeles. A source told "People" that Jamie Lynn bought the popular pregnancy book "What to Expect When Youre Expecting" two weeks before making the pregnancy news public. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-08-08 0747CST