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A signal that the 2011 general elections could be deadly emerged last weekend, as a House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) was killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Oghogho Omoregbe, who wanted to contest the Oriomhwon/Uhunwonde Federal Constituency in Edo State, was killed shortly after he declared his intention to contest in next year's general elections.

The 36 year old civil engineer and farmer was allegedly trailed to his rented apartment at Aitoe Idubor Avenue, off 2nd Ugbor Road, in Benin, at about 10pm. He was pursued to the back of the house where he was shot in the presence of his mother-in-law, by the gunmen who were said to have fled the place immediately.

Recounting her ordeal to journalists at the late Mr Omoregbe's wife's family house, at No 60, Awo Street, Stella Amadasun, the mother-in-law, said the late Oghogho, who just married his wife, Osato, last November, was still alive until they got to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he was rushed to after they could not receive medical attention at the Central Hospital owing to the one-month-old strike of health workers in the state.

"He just came back from the campaign on Saturday; he came home for the first time and then left again, instructing his wife to prepare food for him," said Mrs Amadasun..

"He came with a boy and then they prayed together before he left again and told his wife that he would be back. This was around 9pm. Later that night, we heard the sound of a car and my daughter told me that it was her husband.

"Shortly after he opened the gate and was going back into his car to drive inside the compound, we heard him shout, Jesus, thief, then he ran into the other corner of the compound but he fell down when there was no escape route, then I ran to them and was begging that they should spare him, at least because of their one-month-old first child. Then I heard gunshots and they ran through the other side.

"I quickly ran to him and started shouting for help. He called for his parents before he passed out, then police was called. They were about five of them but we did not see their faces because it was dark."

Peter Ogboi, the state police spokesperson, said the state commissioner of police, Kachi Udeoji, has ordered that the homicide section of the police take over the case from Ugbor Police Station where the case was reported.

"As I talk to you, the commissioner of police has already directed that the case be taken over by the headquarters and the homicide department is already working and very soon, we will unravel the culprits. What we have done so far is to confirm the death."

On whether the killing was politically motivated, Ogboi said, "We cannot say that yet until the special session by the commissioner gives its report."

The late Oghogho Omorogbe, in a chat with journalists last Wednesday where he declared his intention to contest, attributed the rising rate of crime, including armed robbery and kidnapping, to the inability of elected political office holders to give right leadership to the people, accusing them of living in affluence amidst poverty.

THE NATION:

Mustapha Onoyvieta, the army colonel that was an Aide de Camp, (ADC) to late President Yar'Adua has been ordered back from his command training to face a probe for the role he played in events during the illness of the late president.

Sources close to the Presidency say Goodluck Jonathan has finally bowed to pressure and a probe has been instituted into the activities of Mr. Onoyvieta and other aides of the late president.

At least four of these aides are reported to be under investigation.

Apart from Mr.Onoyvieta, the late president's Chief Security Officer (CSO), Yusuf Tilde; the former commander of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), Aminu Adamu; the former administrative officer at the Presidency, Muhammeed Dodo, are all apparently being queried.Photo Adc to Late Yaradua Onoyiveta

The probe is going to centre on disregard for superior authority, deliberate hoarding of information and misinformation pertaining to the health status of the late president, and misappropriation of funds.

Now this begs the question What about Turai Yaradua What role did she play in this charade and will she be prosecuted ?

In 13 World Cup games thus far, Nigeria has won 4 (over Bulgaria 2x, Greece and Spain), drawn 1 (against England) and lost 8 (to Argentina 3x, Italy, Paraguay, Denmark, Sweden and now Greece). One more loss and we will end up with a 4-1-9 record !

Michael Jackson's brother Randy rushed to hospital after suffering heart attack

Michael Jackson’s youngest brother has been rushed to the hospital after suffering a mild heart attack.

Randy Jackson, 48, was immediately taken to Huntington Memorial in Pasadena, California, after he began experience chest pains earlier today.

He was working on arrangements for a service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park to mark the first anniversary of the pop star's death on June 25.

Randy Jackson, pictured attending Dr Conrad Murray's hearing with sister Janet in LA yesterday, has been rushed to hospital

A Jackson family friend tells Mail Online: 'It appears Randy has had a mild heart attack, but he is okay.

'He was joking around with his father and he is feeling pretty good all things considered.

'He’s been under a tremendous amount of stress lately but Randy’s a fighter. He’ll pull through.'

Randy is recovering at the Huntington Memorial in Pasadena, California

It is yet another blow to the Jackson family, who were left bitterly disappointed yesterday when Dr Conrad Murray was given permission to continue practicing medicine in California while he awaits trial over
Michael's death.

Randy, who was not part of the Jackson Five, joined father Joe, mother Katherine, sister LaToya and brother
Jermaine at the hearing in a Los Angeles court house.

Murray is accused of administering Michael Jackson the fatal dose of Propofol and Judge Pastor set August 23 as the date for
the start of the preliminary hearing.

Randy (second from right) with his brothers Marlon, Jackie, Michael and Tito in 1979

A Minnesota teenager had to have his testicle amputated after
being punched in the groin by a classmate, KARE11.com reported
Friday.

David Gibbons, 14, was changing classes in his Crosby, Minn. high school when he was attacked by another student playing a game
called “sack tapping.”

David’s mother, Christy Gibbons, said it wasn’t until hours later that they realized something was wrong.

"One o'clock in the morning he woke me up and told me he was in excruciating pain," she said.

David was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd, Minn. where surgeons removed his right testicle.

And David is not the only student who has suffered the consequences of the “sack tapping” game.

"It's just gotten way out of control," said Dr. Scott Wheeler, a urologist in Brainerd, Minn. who says he performs three to four
surgeries a year on boys with ruptured testicles and other
complications as a result of “sack tapping.”

"One o'clock in the morning he woke me up and told me he was in excruciating pain," recalls Christy Gibbons, David's mom. Not long
after, David was in surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd having
his right testicle removed.

"This may be called a game, but it's not a game. It's dangerous and it needs to stop," said Christy.

It's a notion seconded by Dr. Scott Wheeler, a Brainerd urologist.

"It's just gotten way out of control," said Wheeler, who now performs "three to four surgeries a year" on boys with ruptured testicles and
other complications of being groin punched - with dozens more coming in
with less severe injuries. "It's high school, junior high, elementary
school," said Wheeler.

Dubbed "sack tapping" by some students, the practice is now featured in dozens of homemade videos on YouTube.

"We're gonna see who our first victim is," says a student in one video before punching an unsuspecting male student in the groin as he
walked down a school hallway.

It is painful to watch and Dr. Wheeler says increasingly common. "All parents, you need to have this talk with your kids not to do it. It's
lost its humor. It's not a game anymore. People get hurt."

"I don't know how to stop it," said David, who says he's been the recipient of similar attacks in the past. His parents pulled him out of
school and are now planning a move to a different school district.

Jamie Skjeveland, superintendent of Crosby Ironton schools, says the investigation of the incident involving David is complete, but he
declined to comment on any disciplinary action for privacy reasons.

On Wednesday morning the Gibbons are scheduled to meet with Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan to learn if criminal charges will be filed
against the other student.

"This kid doing that, he should definitely be held responsible for that," said Denny Gibbons, David's dad.

Doctors have told David that even though he lost a testicle in the attack, he should still be able to have children someday.

David's mom mostly wants other parents to be aware. "I seen the pain he was in. I seen what he went through every day, and it just breaks my
heart and I don't want any other child to have to go through this."

Well not exactly yet as our juliet has not decided yet to join him .

A heartbroken pensioner who thought his wife was going to die killed himself near the spot where the couple first courted - only for her to get better.

The body of 84-year-old Reginald Heydon was found by police in the River Trent at Shardlow, near Derby, more than three weeks after he disappeared.

An inquest heard that at the time he went missing, Mr Heydon's wife of 60 years, Marjorie, 83, was in a critical condition in hospital.

Derby Coroner's Court was told doctors had told Mr Heydon and his family that his wife was not expected to live much longer.

Hours later on November 2 last year, the pensioner wrote a note to his family, left his home and was never seen alive again.

But in a tragic twist, his critically ill wife recovered from her illness and was discharged from hospital.

Last night Mr Heydon's son, Paul, said: 'We had the impression she had hours to live. We were told that on the day that she went into intensive care.'

But after his father had been found dead, his mother recovered and was able to come home.

'That was the real tragedy. If only he had waited,' he said.

Derby and South Derbyshire Deputy Coroner Louise Pinder said the note Mr Heydon left had made it clear what his intentions were.

She said: 'The contents of the letter do suggest he was contemplating taking his own life. There was a suggestion he was going to the river.'

Despite a police search involving helicopters, dogs and a special task force to search the river his body was not found until November 25 by a passerby.

Acting Sergeant Robert Buckley told the court that the area had a significance. He said: 'The river had been a courting area to which they went.'

A postmortem examination carried out on the body gave the cause of death as a vasovagal attack - a nervous attack leading to fainting - caused by submersion in cold water.

Ms Pinder said he would not have suffered. She gave a verdict that Mr Heydon had taken his own life.

The court heard that, during his later years, Mr Heydon had been inclined to drink to alleviate anxiety.

He was taking an anti-depression and his the deterioration of his wife's condition in hospital had exacerbated that.

The inquest was told his wife had undergone surgery at the Royal Derby Hospital for a swallowing problem, after which her condition became critical.

Mr Heydon said of his father: 'When the news came about mum he seemed like he knew how serious it was.

'He had accepted things were not going to be the same. But she got better and she was able to come home afterwards.'

Rima Fakih of Dearborn, Mich., won the pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip after strutting confidently in an orange
and gold bikini, wearing a strapless white gown that resembled a wedding
dress and saying health insurance should cover birth control pills.

When asked how she felt about winning the crown, she said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."

Pageant officials said historical pageant records were not detailed enough to show whether Fakih was the first Arab American, Muslim or immigrant to win the Miss
USA title. The pageant started in 1952 as a local bathing suit
competition in Long Beach, Calif.

Fakih told reporters she sold her car after graduating college in Michigan to help pay for her run in the Miss Michigan USA pageant.

She said she believed she had the title on Sunday after glancing at pageant owner Donald Trump as she awaited the results with the first runner-up,
Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard.

"She's a great girl," said Trump, who owns the pageant with NBC in a joint venture.

In a moment that was replayed during the broadcast, Fakih nearly fell while finishing her walk in her gown because of the length of its train. But
she made it without a spill and went on to win.

"I did it here, I better not do it at Miss Universe," she said. "Modeling does help, after all."

Fakih replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and won a spot representing the United States this summer in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. She also gets a one-year lease
in a New York apartment with living expenses, an undisclosed salary,
and various health, professional and beauty services.

During the interview portion, Fakih was asked whether she thought birth control should be paid for by health insurance, and she said she believed it should
because it's costly.

"I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it's a controlled substance," Fakih said.

Woolard handled the night's toughest question, about Arizona's new immigration law. Woolard said she supports the law, which requires police enforcing another law
to verify a person's immigration status if there's "reasonable
suspicion" that the person is in the country illegally.

She said she's against illegal immigration but is also against racial profiling.

"I'm a huge believer in states' rights. I think that's what's so wonderful about America," Woolard said. "So I think it's perfectly fine for Arizona to create that
law."

Miss Virginia USA Samantha Evelyn Casey was the second runner-up, Miss Colorado USA Jessica Hartman was third runner-up, and Miss Maine USA
Katherine Ashley Whittier was the fourth runner-up.

The young women already glammed up for lingerie shots that became an online sensation and received online ratings from the public before the women face a panel of
seven celebrity judges in the live pageant.

Most of the field of contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were eliminated just after the pageant began and the entire
group danced onstage to "TiK ToK" by Ke$ha.

A panel of eight judges, including NBA star Carmelo Anthony, Treasure Island casino-hotel owner Phil Ruffin and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, were judging the girls throughout the night.
It was hosted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone and TODAY's Natalie
Morales.

After 15 contestants strutted in swimsuits, five were eliminated. Another five were eliminated after the evening gown competition.

Miss Nebraska USA Belinda Renee Wright won the Miss Congeniality award, roughly one week after her father was killed in a farm accident. Miss Alabama USA Audrey Moore
won Miss Photogenic after an online fan vote.

The pageant aired live to East Coast viewers on NBC..

.The family of Kayode Ogunlusi, in Ayegunle-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Monday, lost their children after taking a cassava meal prepared by the family. Five other members of the family, who also ate the cassava meal, are now on admission at the emergency unit of the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. Mr. Ogunlusi, the father of the deceased children, who only regained consciousness after receiving medical attention, said the family ate the cassava meal on Sunday night as dinner.

He explained that few hours after taking the meal, two of the children started vomiting, while one became unconscious. The father, who disclosed that the food was prepared by his wife, said members of the family were later taken to a private hospital in the town for initial treatment by their neighbours..

A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

The Itawamba County school district's board decided Wednesday to drop the prom because of what it called recent distractions but without specifically mentioning the girl's request, which was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The student, 18-year-old high school senior Constance McMillen, said the cancellation was retaliation for her efforts to bring her girlfriend, also a student, to the April 2 dance.

"A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this, so in a way it's really retaliation," McMillen told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson. Calls to McMillen by The Associated Press late Wednesday went unanswered.

School policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. The ACLU of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change that policy, arguing that banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen's constitutional rights.

Instead, the school board met and issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the event at Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events."

The statement didn't mention McMillen or the ACLU. When asked by The Associated Press if McMillen's demand led to the cancellation, school board attorney Michele Floyd said she could only reference the statement.

"It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors," district officials said in the statement. "However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."

Kristy Bennett, legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, said the district was trying to avoid the issue.

"But that doesn't take away their legal obligations to treat all the students fairly," Bennett said. "On Constance's behalf, this is unfair to her. All she's trying to do is assert her rights."

Itawamba County is a rural area of about 23,000 people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line. It's near Pontotoc County, Miss., where more than a decade ago school officials were sued in federal court over their practice of student-led intercom prayer and Bible classes.

Anna Watson, a 17-year-old junior at the high school, was looking forward to the prom, especially since the town's only hotspot is the bowling alley, she said.

"I am a little bummed out about it. I guess it's a decision that had to be made. Either way someone was going to get disappointed — either Constance was or we were," Watson said. "I don't agree with homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."

Other students are on McMillen's side.

McKenzie Chaney, 16, said she wasn't planning to attend the prom, but "it's kind of ridiculous that they can't let her wear the tuxedo and it all be over with."

A Feb. 5 memo to students laid out the criteria for bringing a date to the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the opposite sex.

The ACLU said McMillen approached school officials shortly before the memo went out because she knew same-sex dates had been banned in the past. The ACLU said district officials told McMillen she and her girlfriend wouldn't be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo, and that she and her girlfriend might be asked to leave if their presence made any other students "uncomfortable."

McMillen said she feared she would be thrown out of the prom because "we do live in the Bible Belt."