US & World News, Tuesday 3/4

US & World Summary --- More Presidential Contests Held Today The spotlight falls today on Ohio and Texas in the hard-fought Democratic presidential duel between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Pressure could mount for Clinton to drop out of the race if she loses one of the states. Rhode Island and Vermont also hold contests. The latest Reuters/C-SPAN/"Houston Chronicle" poll shows Clinton with a slight lead over Oabama in Texas and in an even race with him in Ohio. On the GOP side, John McCain is expected to win in all four states, putting him closer to his partys nomination. --- Two Dead After Florida Wendys Shooting (West Palm Beach, FL) -- Gunfire erupted in a Florida Wendys restaurant yesterday leaving two people dead. Deputy Paul Miller of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office says the gunman killed a lieutenant with the Palm Beach County Fire Department. The person had gone back into the restaurant to retrieve a toy while his wife and child were outside and were not hurt. The shooter wounded four other people before he shot and killed himself. A restaurant employee told the "Palm Beach Post" the gunman was a former worker at Wendys. --- Motive For Six Tennessee Murders Unknown (Memphis, TN) -- The motive for the murders of six people at a Memphis, Tennessee home remains a mystery. The "Commercial Appeal" cites a Memphis Fire Department official as saying most of the victims were shot. Two children were among those killed. Authorities have not determined when the murders occurred. Three children survived the massacre and were hospitalized. All of the youngsters were under the age of 12. --- Immigrants Urged To "Plead The Fifth" In Virginia County (Woodbridge, VA) -- Immigrants in Virginias Prince William County are being urged to "plead the fifth" when police ask them about their citizenship status. The group Mexicans Without Borders is distributing cards that can be handed to police, explaining that an immigrant is exercising the Constitutional right to remain silent. The move is in response to the countys new crackdown on illegal immigration, which started yesterday. Police are allowed to inquire about a persons immigration status during traffic stops. --- Las Vegas Endoscopy Clinic Loses License Indefinitely (Las Vegas, NV) -- The doors remain closed at the Las Vegas endoscopy clinic responsible for infecting at least six patients with Hepatitis C. Doctors and lawyers from The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada showed up at city hall yesterday to fight the revocation of their business license but their appeal was denied. The business is also facing several lawsuits. Nearly 40-thousand patients will have to be tested for Hepatitis B and C and for HIV, due to unsanitary practices at the clinic. --- Roethlisberger Scores Big With New Contract (Pittsburgh, PA) -- The bank account of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting pumped up. Roethlisbergber has signed the richest contract in franchise history. Its worth 102-million dollars. Hell receive a 25-million-dollar signing bonus and eleven-million-dollars in additional guaranteed money as part of the eight-year deal. Roethlisberger says that he doesnt believe the contract will prevent the team from signing and acquiring the players it needs to win. --- Birthplace Of Hip-Hop Is Saved (The Bronx, NY) -- The birthplace of hip-hop is being saved. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development is turning down the sale of the Bronx apartment complex where D.J. Kool Herc gave birth to hip-hop in 1973. The asking price for the apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue was close to seven-and-a-half-million-dollars. Housing advocates worried a buyer would have taken the 100-units out of rent controlled housing. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-03-04-08 0551CST