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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country giant Merle Haggard, who celebrated outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as "Okie From Muskogee" and "Sing Me Back Home," has died today, his 79th birthday. His manager says the country icon died in Palo Cedro, California, of pneumonia. A masterful guitarist, fiddler and songwriter as well as singer, the Country Music Hall of Famer recorded for more than 40 years, releasing dozens of albums and No. 1 hits.
NEW YORK (AP) — Hillary Clinton is punching her way toward the New York primary, hitting Democratic primary rival Bernie Sanders on his truthfulness and readiness for office. The new spate of attacks underscores the importance of the New York contest to her campaign -- and the mounting frustration of Clinton with the lingering primary battle. It follows her loss to Sanders in yesterday's Wisconsin primary.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior U.S. military officer says the Pentagon will consider opening more small outposts that would provide artillery support and other aid to Iraqi forces as they prepare to retake the northern city of Mosul. Rear. Adm. Andrew Lewis tells reporters there may be situations where the U.S. would either open a base or reopen one that was used in the earlier Iraq war. Fewer than 200 U.S. Marines are already at a base outside Makhmour, where they've provided targeting assistance and artillery fire for the Iraqis in a recent expansion of the U.S. combat role in Iraq.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former coal executive who's been sentenced to a year in prison in connection with the deadliest U.S. mine explosion in four decades says he is not guilty of any crime. Following his sentencing today, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship said that the 29 men who died in the 2010 explosion "were great guys, great coal miners." But he added that, "It is important to everyone that you know that I'm not guilty of a crime." A federal judge today handed down the sentence, which included a $250,000 fine.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators say they've uncovered how a lottery employee allegedly rigged jackpots and have charged his brother in connection with prizes in Oklahoma and Colorado. Tommy Tipton, a former justice of the peace in Texas, surrendered to Iowa authorities today. He's the brother of Eddie Tipton, who was convicted of fixing a $16.5 million jackpot and faces charges related to other jackpots.
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