Local
Children of single moms face poverty obstructions
(AP) - Nearly half of all births in New Mexico last year were to single mothers, and some experts say those children are more vulnerable to future problems than children born into two-parent families.
Social workers, economists and health officials say children born to single mothers face problems ranging from violence and a lack of health care mostly because of poverty.
The 2000 Census shows that 46 percent of children of working, single mothers in New Mexico live in poverty and 31 percent live in near-poverty. Only 7.2 percent of children of married couples who both work live in poverty.
In 2002, New Mexico was ranked first in the nation for all children living in poverty, sixth in the percentage of families headed by a single parent and third in the teen birth rate.
State
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Clovis hospital in same boat of needing doctors
CLOVIS (AP) - Plains Regional Medical Center needs another four dozen doctors, a hospital official said.
"Clovis probably has never had enough doctors to begin with, but right now we are probably 40 to 50 physicians short of all kinds," said hospital administrator Brian S. Bentley.
The physician shortage is a nationwide problem, Bentley said, brought on by a number of factors that range from the expense of training doctors to cuts in government funding for residency programs and barriers to the immigration of foreign doctors since Sept. 11, 2001.
But Clovis has suffered losses recently that have sharpened its local crisis.
"We've had two cardiologists and two surgeons leave and an orthopedic surgeon who died suddenly," Bentley said.
Plains Regional Medical is stepping up its efforts to recruit new doctors. Bentley said he expects to spend $2 million on recruiting and startup costs for new doctors in the next year.
National
McCain rips Congress, Bush on spending sums
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is throwing away astonishing amounts, "spending money like a drunken sailor," and President Bush shares the blame because he is not using his veto power, said Republican Sen. John McCain on Sunday. McCain, an avid critic of spending for lawmakers' pet projects in their districts and states, said the president's reluctance to veto legislation makes it harder for congressional negotiators to kill such spending.
Sniper may testify in trial of his alleged accomplice
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Convicted sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad could find himself in another courtroom this week, this time as a witness in the trial of his alleged partner in crime, an 18-year-old who sees him as a father figure.
Lee Boyd Malvo's lawyers have subpoenaed Muhammad and plan to call him to the stand this week.
Whether he will be willing to testify remains to be seen, however. Muhammad, whose trial ended last week with a Virginia Beach jury recommending the death sentence, still faces prosecution in several other states.
International
U.S. repels simultaneous attacks in Iraq killing 46
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - U.S. troops repelled simultaneous attacks Sunday afternoon in the northern city of Samarra, killing 46 Iraqis, wounding at least 18 and capturing eight, the U.S. military said. Five American soldiers and a civilian were wounded. Many of the dead attackers were found wearing uniforms of the Fedayeen, a militia loyal to Saddam Hussein, said Lt. Col. William MacDonald of the 4th Infantry Division. MacDonald described the attack as massive and well coordinated.
Syria gives Turkey 22 suspects tied to attacks
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Syria handed over 22 suspects to Turkey on Sunday in connection with four deadly suicide bombings in Istanbul, the semiofficial Anatolia news agency reported. The suspects, all Turks, reportedly fled the country after the attacks, which targeted two synagogues in near-simultaneous bombings Nov. 15 and the British consulate and a British bank in twin attacks five days later. Sixty-one people were killed.
