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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved legislation to restore jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that expired late last year. It's fate in the House remains unclear, where majority Republicans generally oppose it. The bill was the first major piece of legislation that Democrats sent to the floor of the Senate when Congress convened early in the year. Among the concessions is an agreement to pay the $9.6 billion cost of the five-month bill by making offsetting spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.
FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — Army officials are sharing more information about what apparently prompted a soldier to kill three colleagues and himself last week at Fort Hood. The shooting erupted after Spc. Ivan (ee-VAHN') Lopez requested for leave from the Army post. An Army spokesman says Lopez was granted the leave. They also say Lopez argued with other soldiers in his unit.
PERTH, Australia (AP) — After four weeks of pursing false leads including ordinary flotsam, Australian authorities say they've detected the "most promising lead" yet in the search for the missing Malaysian airliner. Vessels using acoustic devices have picked up possible sounds that may have been emitted. Malaysia's defense minister says he is "cautiously hopeful there will be a positive development." The Boeing 777 vanished March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing with 239 people on board.
DETROIT (AP) — Police in Detroit say two men have been jailed in connection with the severe mob beating of a suburban motorist who had accidentally hit a 10-year-old boy who stepped in front of his truck. Prosecutor Kym Worthy calls the case "unbelievably tragic." A web page launched for the motorist's medical bills has raised more than $120,000. He has no medical insurance.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Coroner's office says actor Mickey Rooney died of natural causes yesterday. Police say he was with his family at his North Hollywood home. A superstar in his youth, Rooney was Hollywood's top box-office draw in the late 1930s to early 1940s. His long list of credits also includes "Night at the Museum" and "The Muppets."
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