South Bend, Indiana; May 6, 2008

Local

Clinton, Barama Do Last-Minute Campaigning: Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each did some last-minute campaigning in South Bend and Elkhart this weekend in preparation for today’s Indiana Primary.

Clinton made a surprise appearance at the Howard Park General Store Sunday.

Howard Park is next to her campaign headquarters on East Jefferson Street. Clinton delivered a 20-minute speech on her campaign platform and checked out the general store. The Clinton motorcade also stopped for ice cream at a Dairy Queen on South Bend Avenue before heading to Indianapolis.

Residents on Jackson Boulevard in Elkhart got a surprise visit Monday—from Obama. The Illinois senator parked his luxury touring bus and started walking through the neighborhood.

As word spread, at least 200 people lined the sidewalk. At least one previously undecided voter said the visit convinced her to vote for Obama—she was impressed by the fact that Obama looked her in the eye.

Clinton needs to win big in Indiana and North Carolina today to overcome Obama’s large delegate lead. The two states have 187 of the remaining 404 uncommitted pledged delegates. Clinton would need to win 70% of the remaining pledged delegates to catch up.

Polls showed Clinton with a four-point lead in Indiana and Obama with an eight-point margin in North Carolina.

John McCain has already clinched the Republican presidential nomination. Local Republicans’ big race is the one between Luke Puckett, Tony Zirkle, and Josaph Roush to see who will face incumbent U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly in the general election.

Donnelly is unopposed in the primary.

Incumbent Governor Mitch Daniels has no serious opposition in the Republican primary.

Democrats will also choose between former U.S. Representative Jill Long-Thompson and Indianapolis businessman—and South Bend native—Jim Schellinger for the nomination to oppose Daniels in the Fall.

St. Joseph Election officials say that four times as many people have voted early or voted absentee as compared to four years ago because of the historic nature of this election.

Coddens Leaves Washington Coaching Job: Marilyn Coddens is leaving the Washington High School girls basketball coaching job to become the school's athletic director.

The 14-year coach has compiled a 76-6 record with the Lady Panthers the last three years, including the 2007 IHSAA Class 4A state championship.

SBCSC Teachers on Picket Line: South Bend Community School Corporation teachers are picketing for a new contract.

They have been working this school year without a new contract; the last one expired August 15.

The expired contract was approved in 2005 with a 1% annual raise.

Principal Shot at Again: Police in LaPorte County are investigating the second shooting since January directed at Michigan City High School's principal.

Nine bullets were recovered from Principal Mark Francesconi's rural LaPorte home. No one was home at the time.

On January 28 someone shot bullets into Francesconi's office at the high school.

Police have no suspects.

Announcements

Homeless Veterans: If you are disabled and cannot work full-time (or are over 65), you may be entitled to a disability pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information and complete eligibility requirements, call 1-800-827-1000.

You can also contact: Dianne W. Brown, Homeless Veterans Coordinator by calling 317-554-0000, extension 82589 or direct dial 317-988-2589 at Indianapolis VAMC, Room C-2065. Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 2-3:45 p.m.

Sports

Silver Hawks 7, Lumberkings 1: Christian Beltre (2-2) and Bryan Henry combined for a 3-hitter for the Silver Hawks (10-19).

They were helped by a pair of 2-run homers. Aaron Hanke connected in the second and Sean Coughlin teed off on a Blake Beavan pitch in the fourth.

The Hawks added three runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Matthew Oxendine and a 2-run double by Taylor Harbin.

The two teams meet again tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Monday NBA Playoff Scores: Pistons 100, Magic 93 (Pistons lead 2-0); Hornets 102, Spurs 84 (Hornets lead 2-0).

Monday NHL Playoff Scores: No games scheduled.

Monday MLB National League: Reds 5, Cubs 3; Cardinals 6, Rockies 5; Phillies 11, Diamondbacks 4; Dodgers 5, Mets 1.

Monday MLB American League: Blue Jays 1, White Sox 0; Red Sox 6, Tigers 3; Angels 4, Royals 0; Athletics 2, Orioles 1; Mariners 7, Rangers 3.

Monday MLS Scores: No games scheduled.

Monday WNBA Exhibition Scores: Mystics 90, Monarchs 82.

National/World

Burma Cyclone Death Toll Tops 15,000 (VOA): Myanmar’s government says at least 15,000 people are confirmed dead, in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, and another 30,000 are missing. The military government has begun allowing foreign assistance and granting unprecedented access to some international aid agency representatives.

Officials estimate hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless.

The hardest-hit area is in the Irawaddy River delta region, where the vast majority of the deaths are reported. Ten-thousand people are said to have died in one town, alone. The area is Myanmar’s main rice-producing region.

Among the agencies waiting for access is a team from the United States. First Lady Laura Bush said Monday that the United States is ready to send help as soon as Burma allows an American disaster response team to enter the country.

Witnesses in Rangoon say anger is building among residents complaining of the military’s slow response to the disaster.

A tropical cyclone is a storm system fueled by the heat released when moist air rises and the water vapor in it condenses. Tropical cyclones can produce extremely strong winds, tornadoes, torrential rain, high waves, and storm surges.

Weather

Today High 77 Low 56 Partly Cloudy

Wed High 67 Low 47 Chance Storm

Thu High 61 Low 41 Chance Storm

Fri High 63 Low 41 Partly Cloudy

Sat High 65 Low 43 Partly Cloudy

TV Schedule: 16--8 p.m., Most Outrageous Moments; 8:30-10 p.m., Saturday Night Live: Best of Molly Shannon; 22—8 p.m., NCIS; 9 p.m., Shark; 25—8 p.m., Beauty and the Geek; 9 p.m., Reaper; 28—8 p.m., American Idol 9 p.m., Hell’s Kitchen; 46—8 p.m., Lester Sumrall Teaching; 8:30 p.m.; Paid Programming; 9 p.m., Harvest; 57—8 p.m., Dancing With the Stars: Judges’ All-Time Top 10; 9 p.m., Dancing With the Stars; 69—8 p.m., Twins at White Sox.