LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY “This defendant’s chilling determination is a stark reminder that there are people - even
here in Oregon - who are determined to kill Americans.”
Dwight C. Holton,
the U.S. attorney for Oregon, referring to a Somaliborn teenager accused of trying to bomb a packed Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in Portland Article, 1ABoyfriend held in student’s death
CLAY, N.Y. - A 20-year-old Pennsylvania student who vanished a week ago while on Thanksgiving break in her hometown was killed by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, who then dumped her body in a park “like garbage,” a prosecutor said Saturday.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said 21-year-old Steven Pieper of Liverpool, N.Y., had been arrested on a charge of murder in the death of Jenni-Lyn Watson, a junior dance major at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., who disappeared Nov. 19. He pleaded innocent at his initial court appearance Saturday night in Clay.
Searchers earlier Saturday found the body of a woman thought to be Watson in Clay Central Park, Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said Pieper was upset when Watson tried to end their relationship in October. He said police think Pieper killed Watson at her parents’ house Nov. 19, and her body was “dumped, frankly, like garbage,” in the park.
Fitzpatrick said the remains have not been positively identified but are consistent in age and race with Watson.
An autopsy was expected to be performed today, he said.
NYC pushes small-business shopping
NEW YORK - New York is trying to help independent merchants by pioneering Small Business Saturday on the weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday - traditionally two of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Business owners who signed up get $100 worth of Facebook advertising, financed by American Express, which also promised $25 credit to 100,000 clients using their cards Saturday at small shops and boutiques.
“Black Friday is mostly for big stores, so it’s nice to have an incentive to shop in your own neighborhood,” said Kari Johnson, manager of Whisk, a cookware store with two venues, in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.
“We’re doing it to get people out to shop locally.”
The plan was launched earlier this month by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault.
Obama, family watch basketball game
WASHINGTON - It took 12 stitches to patch up that busted lip President Barack Obama got from a pickup basketball game - and Saturday he was back on the hard court, but this time as spectator.
Obama and his family took in the Oregon State-Howard University men’s basketball game a few miles from the White House. Obama’s brother-in-law is Craig Robinson, the Oregon State coach.
With the president were first lady Michelle Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson; and daughters Sasha and Malia.
The president was injured Friday morning during a game of basketball with friends and family at Fort Mc-Nair when he took an errant elbow in the mouth. Doctors stitched up Obama after he returned to the White House.
On Saturday the White House said Obama’s injury required stitches to the left side of his lower lip. The day before, staff members said it was the president’s upper lip that was sewn up. The White House offered no explanation for its error.
Man charged in 3 stabbing deaths
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A man was charged with murder Saturday in the stabbing deaths of his girlfriend and her two children after she didn’t show up for Thanksgiving dinner or work the next day, police and relatives said.
Police said officers found the three victims with knife wounds in their Columbus apartment Friday. Also discovered in the apartment was the suspect, who police said had self-inflicted stab wounds.
Caron Montgomery, 36, was arrested Saturday at Riverside Methodist Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Police said in a statement that Montgomery was charged with three counts of murder. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
Killed were 31-year-old Tia Hendricks, along with her children, 10-year-old Tahlia Hendricks and 2-year-old Tyron Hendricks-Montgomery.
Tia Hendricks’ aunt, Anita Hayes, said Montgomery was her niece’s live-in boyfriend and the boy’s father.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 11/28/2010