US & World News, Monday 3/17

US & World Summary: VP Cheney Makes Surprise Visit To Iraq (Baghdad) -- Vice President Dick Cheney is in Iraq on an unannounced visit to Baghdad where hell assess the success of the troop build-up. The vice president joined Republican candidate John McCain, who made his own trip to meet with Iraqi leaders. Both, McCain and Cheney are in the war-torn country as part of a wider tour to the Middle East. Cheneys last visit to Baghdad was in May of last year. This time around, he will also stop in Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, the Palestinian territories, Turkey and Oman on a nine day trip. --- Atlanta Police Say Stay Out Of Downtown (Atlanta, GA) -- There wont be as many people in downtown Atlanta today in the wake of last Fridays tornado. Atlanta Police are urging everyone to stay out of the area if possible. Police spokeswoman Judy Pal says debris cleanup from the twister is still in progress and at least a dozen downtown roads are closed. The storm cut a six-mile long path of destruction and badly damaged landmark buildings including the Georgia Dome, the Georgia World Congress Center and the CNN Center. All total, 22 Georgia counties were affected by severe storms or tornadoes. --- JPMorgan-Chase Buying Bear Stearns In "Shocking" Deal (New York, NY) -- In what the "New York Times" calls a "shocking" deal, financial giant JPMorgan-Chase has agreed to buy troubled investment firm Bear Stearns for only two-dollars a share. Thats only about one-tenth of what Bear Stearns was worth on Friday, when the company lost half its value. The company became a victim of a panic run on its assets as investors pulled 17-billion-dollars out over worries about losses in the mortgage and home foreclosures crisis. Financial analysts say Bear had no choice but to agree because its only other option was bankruptcy. --- Unanswered Questions Remain In New York Crane Collapse (New York, NY) -- Twelve buildings had to be evacuated and and some residents havent been allowed back into their homes after Saturdays crane collapse in a New York neighborhood. Four people are dead and three more missing after the giant construction crane came down. Two construction workers are still unaccounted for, and a Florida woman visiting a friend is also missing. According to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, two dozen people were hurt when the crane collapsed. The cause of the accident isnt known. --- McGreevey Aide Claims Sexual Exploration Involved Others (Woodbridge, NJ) -- Former New Jersey Governor James McGreeveys estranged wife not only knew about her husbands promiscuity, but had intimate knowledge about his sexual explorations. Thats according to former McGreevey aide Theodore Pedersen, who worked as a personal driver and on McGreeveys gubernatorial campaign staff. He says he and the McGreeveys engaged, in what were dubbed "Friday Night Specials," from 1999 to 2001. The former governor resigned from office in 2004 after admitting to having a gay affair. --- California Highway Off-Ramp Closed For Clean-Up Of Bees (Sacramento, CA) -- Fire crews in Sacramento, California are dealing with a cleanup headache after a big-rig overturned on a highway off ramp yesterday, sending as many as ten-million colonized bees spilling on to the roadway. The truck, piled high with crates carrying 440 beehives, toppled on a turn, freeing millions of bees and creating a nightmare for officials trying to clear the scene. Beekeepers were brought in to round up as many of the insects as possible, while freeway signs warned drivers to keep their windows closed as they passed through the area. --- "Horton Hears A Who" Tops Box Office (Los Angeles, CA) -- Horton heard cash registers ring across the nation this weekend. Thats because the movie "Dr. Seuss Horton Hears A Who" is Americas new number-one movie. It debuted with estimated weekend sales of just over 45-million-dollars. Last weeks top movie, "10,000 BC," slid to second place with nearly 16-and-a-half-million-dollars. Rounding out the top five were "Never Back Down," "College Road Trip" and "Vantage Point." (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-03-17-08 0747CDT