US & World News, Wednesday 1/16

US & World Summary Mitt Romney Wins Michigan Primary, SC Next (Lansing, MI) -- Mitt Romney hopes his win in yesterdays Michigan primary will boost his campaign heading into Saturdays South Carolina primary. The former Massachusetts Governor got 39-percent of the vote to beat Arizona Senator John McCain who got 30-percent. Despite his loss, McCain appears to be the man to beat in South Carolina. Thats according to a new Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll which shows the Arizona senator leading rival Mike Huckabee by six points in the crucial southern state. Romney trails both candidates, but could get a boost from his Michigan win. --- Democratic Candidates Debate in Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) -- The top three Democratic candidates for president didnt attack each other but turned on President Bush during last nights debate in Las Vegas. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards ripped Bushs performance in office, his Iraq war policy and his handling of the economy. Clinton sharply criticized Bush, calling his trip to Saudi Arabia to ask for more oil at lower prices, quote, "pathetic." All three candidates had their own ideas about solving the subprime lending and housing crisis and each proposed ways to boost the economy. --- William Jefferson To Take The Stand (Alexandria, VA) -- Democratic Congressman William Jefferson is expected to take the witness stand today. Jefferson wants to testify at a pre-trial hearing in his federal bribery case. A Virginia federal judge is considering whether to throw out evidence in Jeffersons upcoming trial. Jefferson contends that statements he made to agents during a raid of his home shouldnt be used against him. Prosecutors argue that Jefferson was free to leave and his rights were never violated. His bribery trial is expected to begin in late February. --- F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes Off Key West; Pilot Okay (Key West, FL) -- Investigators are looking into what caused an F-16 fighter jet to crash last night near Key West, Florida. The plane, assigned to the Homestead Air Force Base, went down in the Gulf of Mexico during a routine training mission. The planes pilot reportedly ejected from the aircraft, and was picked up by a Navy helicopter. He was taken to a Key West hospital and was discharged a few hours later. An Air Force spokesman says the pilot was assigned to the 482nd Fighter Wing. --- Storm Hinders Search At Montana Avalanche Site (Whitefish, MT) -- Rescuers hope better weather in Montana today will help them in the search for two missing skiers. A severe winter storm has so far hampered rescue efforts after the pair were caught in an avalanche north of the town of Whitefish. Two other skiers were killed in Sundays slide and witnesses say the missing two were also swept up. So far theres been no trace of them. Flathead County undersheriff Pete Wingert says the weather should be better today as the search continues. --- Actor Brad Renfro Dead At 25 The investigation is underway into the death of actor Brad Renfro. According to TMZ.com, the 25-year-old actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home yesterday. Renfro had a history of drug problems and several run-ins with the law. He made his film debut at the age of 12 opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon in the 1994 screen adaptation of the John Grisham novel "The Client." TMZ says Renfro had just finished filming "The Informers" with Winona Ryder and Billy Bob Thornton. --- Bronx Residents Fight To Keep History Alive (New York, NY) -- Some Bronx, New York residents are trying to save a piece of music history. Theyre trying to raise money to buy a building in Morris Heights that is said to be the birthplace of hip hop. The building was built in 1969 under New Yorks Mitchell Lama affordable housing program. The buildings owner says its was going to be taken out of the program, and sold to a private investment group. Its thought that in In 1973 DJ Kool Herc held a party in the community room at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, where its said hip hop music was heard for the first time. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-16-08 0838CST