News Journal #8

Eamon Barkhordarian 3/14/08 Helsaple 4th period

News Journal #8 International I. Sudan leader: headache delayed meeting with Chad Dakar, Africa Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir failed to attend a meeting on Wednesday where he was to sign a non-aggression pact with Chad's President Idriss Deby because he reported having a headache. He did not appear at the presidential palace, where Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African, U.S. and European diplomats had waited for hours. Some said there were doubts about whether the pact would be signed at all National II. Sheriff: Woman sat on toilet for 2 years Wichita, Kansas Authorities are considering charges in the bizarre case of a woman who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for two years — so long that her body was stuck to the seat by the time the man finally called police. It appeared the 35-year-old woman's skin had grown around the seat, said Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple. The woman initially refused emergency medical services but was finally convinced by responders and her boyfriend that she needed to be checked out at a hospital. Her boyfriend, McFarren, 36, told investigators he took Babcock food and water and asked her every day to come out of the bathroom. McFarren, 36, told police his girlfriend, Pam Babcock, 35, had a phobia about leaving the bathroom and may not have left the bathroom in two years, although he's unsure how long she was in there.

Local III. Videogame Maker EA Makes Hostile Bid to Take Over Rival Redwood City, California Videogame maker Electronic Arts Inc. offered a hostile $2 billion to take over their rival Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. The move takes the offer directly to Take-Two's shareholders after Take-Two rejected the offer late last month. At the time, Take-Two said it was open to talk with EA, but wanted to wait until the day after the long awaited Grand Theft Auto would be released. Social IV. Spears `having a blast' on CBS' `Mother' New York, USA Britney Spears is relishing her new role on "How I Met Your Mother." She said "Working at `How I Met Your Mother' has been so terrific," Spears said in a statement Thursday. "Everyone, including the cast, the crew and the producers, has been wonderful and Abby is such a fun girl to play. I'm having a blast!" In the show, she portrays a receptionist in a dermatologist's office named Abby who crushes on Ted (Josh Radnor). Spears was scheduled to shoot scenes Thursday. Radnor told People.com that “on the first day of the shoot, Britney knew her lines better than I knew mine. She's been great to work with.” Sports V. Ball from Bonds' 762nd homer to be sold Denver, Colorado After snaring the baseball Barry Bonds hit for career homer No. 762, Jameson Sutton stored it in the safest place he could think of — deep inside his closet. "I didn't tell anyone," he said. The 24-year-old quickly moved the baseball into a safety deposit box after the season was finished, realizing its potential worth. And with Bonds still looking for a place to play this season, Sutton decided to come forward with the ball. Sutton has hired SCP Auctions to run an online auction that starts March 31 and could fetch as much as $1 million.

Weather VI. Detailed Local Forecast for Los Altos Hills • • •

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Tonight: Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 48F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 59F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy during the evening. A few showers developing later during the night. Low around 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Saturday: Rain showers along with windy conditions. High 56F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Sunday: Sunshine. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 40s. Monday: Abundant sunshine. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 40s