Briefs

LOCAL & VCU

Richmond Main Library hours could change with budget cuts

Richmond officials are trying to keep this year’s budget crunch from closing the Main Library on Saturdays. And while it means a scramble for dollars, officials are also working to continue a long-standing arrangement with Chesterfield County that gives South Richmond residents free access to the Bon Air Library.

The Richmond Public Library has been preparing to cut hours at the downtown Main Library, the system’s budget is proposed to drop from $5.2 million this year to $4.7 million next year.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Man stabbed Sunday night in Fan

An argument led to a stabbing the night of April 25 in Richmond’s Fan District, police said. Officers were called at 11:46 p.m. after a 24-year-old man was stabbed while visiting an apartment in the 1600 block of Monument Avenue near North Lombardy Street, said Richmond police Lt. John Darnes.

The victim was taken to VCU Medical Center with injuries that were not life threatening, Darnes said. The assailant left the scene after the stabbing.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Man fatally shot by Chesterfield police

A man was shot and killed by a Chesterfield County police officer who was answering a call about a domestic situation on the 11100 block of Lucks Lane at about 9:30 p.m. April 25.

During a confrontation with police in the driveway of a residence, the individual was shot and died at the scene, said Lt. Mike Louth. Police are continuing to investigate the shooting. No other details are available at this time.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL

Swine flu empties Mexico City’s churches, streets

Churches stood empty Sunday in heavily Roman Catholic Mexico City after services were canceled, and health workers screened airports and bus stations for people sickened by a new strain of swine flu that experts fear could become a global epidemic.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrardo said two more people died of swine flu overnight in the overcrowded capital, and three other deaths are suspected to have been caused by the strain. Another 73 more people were hospitalized with influenza, possible swine flu.

City Health Secretary Armando Ahued said most of the fatalities involve victims who only sought medical help after the disease was well advanced and urged people to seek urgent care.

President Felipe Calderon has assumed new powers to isolate people infected with the deadly swine flu strain that health officials say has killed up to 86 people and likely sickened about 1,400 in the country since April 13.

Brief by The Associated Press

Canada confirms 4 swine flu cases among students

Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer says the east coast Canadian province has four confirmed cases of swine flu.

Chief Public Health officer Dr. Robert Strang said April 24 four students from King’s-Edgehill School in Nova Scotia ranging in age from 12 to 17 or 18 are recovering. All of them had what he describes as “very mild” cases of the flu.

Canadian officials are planning a briefing today in Ottawa on the swine flu situation, which the World Health Organization has declared to be a “public health emergency of international concern.” Mexico’s health minister says the disease has killed up to 86 people and likely sickened more than 1,400 since April 13.

Brief by BBCNews.com

Iraqi PM: US raid is ‘violation’ of security pact

An Iraqi official says the prime minister has called a deadly April 26 pre-dawn raid by U.S. forces a “violation of the security pact.”

The fallout over the raid that killed a woman in southern Iraq is one of the most serious challenges to the agreement that requires American commanders to coordinate raids and other planned strikes with the Iraqi government and military.

A statement read by a spokesman’s office says al-Maliki has affirmed that the raid “is considered a violation of the security pact.”

The statement also says al-Maliki is asking the top U.S. commander in Iraq to “release the detainees and hand over those responsible for this crime to the courts.”

Brief by The Associated Press

Sri Lankan rebels call ceasefire

Tamil Tiger rebels fighting government forces in northeast Sri Lanka have declared a unilateral ceasefire. Rebel spokesman Seevaratnam Puleethevan told the BBC the move was because of an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”

Sri Lanka’s defense secretary however, dismissed the announcement as “a joke,” insisting the rebels must surrender. The rebels have been beaten back to a 5 square mile area. The United Nations says some 50,000 civilians remain trapped but the army puts the number at 15,000.

Brief by BBCNews.com