Boeing adds orders for 20 new planes

CHICAGO (AP) — Boeing Co. says it booked orders for 20 new aircraft in the last week, although it lost a few, too.

The new orders include 15 new 737s. That jet is a workhorse and it dominates Boeing's order book. Customers also ordered five new 777s, a larger plane often used on longer flights. None of the customers were identified.

Customers also canceled orders for a 737 and two 777s.

Besides the new orders, Boeing identified Continental Airlines Inc. as the customer for seven of its 737s. The airline was previously listed as an unidentified customer.

So far this year, Boeing has added orders for 278 planes, including 250 of the 737s.

APNewsBreak: Settlement in Wis. ride accident

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The lawyer for a 13-year-old Florida girl who fell about 100 feet to the ground from a Wisconsin amusement park ride says he's reached a settlement with the park.

Stuart Grossman said Friday a pre-lawsuit settlement has been reached with Extreme World in Wisconsin Dells but he couldn't release details. The court must approve it.

He says they still may file a lawsuit against the German manufacturer of the ride, Montic.

The state Department of Commerce has said the operator of the Terminal Velocity ride didn't follow protocol when Teagan Marti (TEE'-gehn MAHR'-tee) fell July 30.

The report says Teagan was dropped before the cage in which she was riding reached the top and before a net was in proper position. She remains hospitalized.

A number listed for Extreme World rang unanswered Friday.

Big 3 in Italy hoping to finish 2009 with wins

The top three teams in Italy will be looking to bounce back from disappointing results last week when they play their final Serie A matches of 2009.

Defending champion Inter Milan leads the league with 36 points, five ahead of AC Milan. Juventus is third with 30 points.

Inter, which drew 1-1 at Atalanta last Sunday, play Lazio at home and want to turn the spotlight back to on-field matters following two weeks in which coach Jose Mourinho has dominated the headlines.

Mourinho was sent to the stands during Inter's 2-1 loss to Juventus at the start of December.

"After the sending-off, I decided not to speak to anyone," Mourinho said. "And for someone like me who says what he thinks, to not speak is a little strange."

Lazio has had a poor start to the season and sits three points above the relegation zone in 15th place. Coach Davide Ballardini has managed to hang on to his job but the team needs to improve its form.

"The end of 2009 has been horrible, disastrous," Lazio striker Mauro Zarate said. "In 2010 we shall see a different Lazio. I don't want to hear talk about Serie B. I want to tell the fans to stay calm and trust us."

Milan travels to Fiorentina following a 2-0 loss at home to Palermo. The defeat ended an unbeaten run in the league that stretched back to the end of September.

"At the moment the team is doing well, apart from the last loss to Palermo," Milan defender Kakha Kaladze said. "It is never pleasant to lose at home, especially 2-0. But despite that, it is a good time for us.

"We are second in the table and at the start of the season no one would have thought we would be there."

Juventus' morale has been damaged since that win against Inter. The team was knocked out of the Champions League after losing 4-1 to Bayern Munich and then it lost 3-1 to Bari last Saturday.

Diego missed a penalty against Bari and the Brazilian is being blamed for Juventus' problems, along with Felipe Melo. Defender Giorgio Chiellini believes the whole team needs to take responsibility.

"We need to find some momentum because in the past few months after every great match we have played badly," Chiellini said. "There are too many ups and downs and it is difficult to understand why.

"Compared to last year, there has been a generational change. New players have arrived and it is not easy for them to fit in straightaway. In defense we lack familiarity, but that is the entire team's fault, not just the four defenders."

Also, it's: Bologna vs. Atalanta; Genoa vs. Bari; Livorno vs. Sampdoria; Napoli vs. Chievo Verona; Palermo vs. Siena; AS Roma vs. Parma; and Udinese vs. Cagliari.

Government releases reports from Elian Gonzalez raid: ; Agent contends photo from incident is misleading

WASHINGTON - "I never purposely pointed my weapon at ElianGonzalez" or his rescuer Donato Dalrymple, says the armed BorderPatrol agent photographed confronting the terrified 6-year-old Cubanboy during an April raid in Miami. The agent said Dalrymplevoluntarily released Elian "without any sort of a struggle" as theagent put his hand "firmly against Mr. Dalrymple's chest" to controlhis movements, according to government documents released Monday.

An Associated Press photograph of the fatigue-clad agent holdingan MP-5 submachine gun prompted sympathizers of Elian's Miamirelatives and others to criticize the raid as an excessive show offorce. The relatives said they were terrorized.

With the relatives defying a government order to give Elian tohis father, raiders snatched the boy April 22 at 5:15 a.m. whenCuban exile protesters outside the Miami home had dwindled to a fewdozen.

The Justice Department released written reports by the sixtactical unit officers who entered the house, but continued towithhold their names.

Taking the six reports together, the agents said they used noprofanity, no team member threatened to shoot anyone, team membersmade no threats to use force against anyone in the home, no oneinside the home was pushed to the floor or held to the floor, andElian's cousin, Marisleysis Gonzalez, was not touched in any way.

In addition, no pepper spray or other chemical irritants wereused inside the house, three locked doors were broken open onlyafter occupants did not open them as requested, and the fireselector of the submachine gun in the photograph was in the safeposition, making it "virtually impossible to fire the weaponinadvertently," the government said.

Alan Diaz, the freelance photographer on assignment for the APwho took the dramatic pictures, remembers more about the sounds thanthe sights of the moment.

"All I hear is that kid's crying," Diaz said two weeks later."The most awful cry you could ever hear in your life."

The team leader saw the AP photographer against the bedroom's farwall and out of the corner of his eye "saw someone peek out of thecloset and then disappear back into the closet."

"I ... pulled the door open until I could see inside the closet,"the agent said. He saw a boy held by a man who turned out to beDalrymple, who had helped fish Elian out of the Atlantic Ocean lastThanksgiving. "Dalrymple shouted, 'Don't take Elian.'"

"When I determined that Mr. Dalrymple was not a threat, Iimmediately went into a defensive controlling posture," the agentsaid. "I moved my left hand from the foregrip of my weapon andplaced it (my hand) firmly against Mr. Dalrymple's left chest area"and shouted to other team members.

"As I was doing this, I diverted the barrel of my weapon downwardand away from Mr. Dalrymple, creating distance between him and myweapon. I was using my left hand to control Mr. Dalrymple'smovements and to defend myself against a possible physical attack."

The agent said the widely published photograph "does not presenta clear rendition of the entire event."

"While my weapon was being pointed in the general direction I wassearching, I never purposely pointed my weapon at Elian Gonzalez orMr. Dalrymple," he said. "I was looking into the closet to determinewhether or not a threat existed. Immediately upon determining thatno threat existed in the closet, I transitioned to a defensiveposture."

Dalrymple handed Elian to team member 4, while the team leaderwas pressing on his chest. Team member 4 said, "There was nostruggle and I did not have to pull Elian away from Mr. Dalrymple.Mr. Dalrymple released Elian at the same time I put my hands onElian."

Team member 4 pivoted and handed Elian to a female agent. Theentire team then hurried out of the house.

RegionalHeadlines

MAN FACES CHARGES IN TWO ROBBERIES

WEST MILTON -- Police on Thursday charged a former West Milton manin two recent robberies, including Wednesday's holdup of the U.S.Bank at 303 S. Miami St.

Montgomery County sheriff's deputies arrested David Cooper, 22, ona warrant for felony burglary about 6 a.m. at the Parkway Inn, 2221Wagner Ford Road in Harrison Twp., sheriff's Capt. Mike Nolan said.The arrest was based on a tip from West Milton police.

Police Chief Michael Vickers said the bank robber made off with$3,500, but did not injure anyone. Police recovered a large sum ofcash, clothing matching the description of that worn by the robberand a large pellet gun resembling a .45-caliber pistol.

Vickers said the robber shown on videotape evidence resemblesCooper.

Vickers said Cooper also was charged in a Jan. 9 heist of $120 andtwo cartons of cigarettes from the Sunoco Food Mart, 1046 S. MiamiSt. No one was injured in the robbery.

UD STUDENT GETS 4 MONTHS IN PROTEST

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A second University of Dayton student arrestedduring a November demonstration at the former School of the Americasat Fort Benning has been sentenced to prison for trespassing on postproperty.

Brian D. DeRouen, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to four months andfined $500 after he demanded a trial. U.S. Magistrate G. MallonFaircloth sentenced him and a man from Oakland, Calif., to 30 daysmore than most of the defendants, who pleaded not guilty butstipulated to facts admitting their trespass. Faircloth cited"dilatory conduct" and "patently frivolous" defenses in the face ofthe evidence.

DeRouen's defense included the claim that he didn't enter the postNov. 21 to engage in political protest, but to pray for his country.

Meagan Doty, 22, a sociology major from St. Louis, received athree-month federal prison sentence Monday and a $500 fine. She saidshe hopes to begin serving her sentence after she graduates in May.

About 16,000 protesters gathered at the gates of Fort Benning inan annual protest organized by School of the Americas Watch.

Twenty protesters were originally arrested, 17 of whom werecharged with federal trespassing for climbing a 10-foot chain linkfence inside the post's outer fence.

PLANE CRASHES IN HIGHLAND COUNTY

WILMINGTON -- The Ohio Highway Patrol post at Wilmington isinvestigating a minor plane crash Thursday at Highland CountyAirport.

The incident began when authorities received a call about aprivate plane with a front landing gear malfunction.

A Beechcraft A-36 Bonanza flown by Justin I. Englehardt, 27, ofFort Thomas, Ky., landed at 2:39 p.m.

The front landing gear would not lock and the nose and propellerstruck the runway, causing minor damage to the front of the aircraft.

Englehardt and passenger Matthew D. Meyer, 25, of Cincinnati,weren't injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration also is investigating.

MAN ENTERS INSANITY PLEA IN HIT MAN CASE

HAMILTON -- A former Liberty Twp. man pleaded not guilty by reasonof insanity Thursday to charges he tried to hire a hit man while injail to kill his estranged wife and her family.

It was the third time Christopher Rezos has tried to kill hiswife, Amy, of Liberty Twp., authorities said.

He was charged with trying to kill her twice in July and was injail awaiting trial on Feb. 23 on those charges when the newallegations arose, authorities said.

Rezos, 35, was arraigned in Butler County Common Pleas Court onthree counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

He was indicted after authorities planted an undercover deputy inthe jail, officials said.

CONCORD TWP. REZONING APPROVED

TROY -- The Miami County commissioners Thursday approved therezoning of 36.3 acres in Concord Twp. from agricultural to single-family residential.

Merrimont Development Corp., developer of the Merrimontsubdivision, sought the rezoning of the land south of Swailes Roadand east of Merrimont Drive south of Troy.

County Planning Director Dan Brandewie said the rezoning wasrecommended as a logical extension of the subdivision.

Irving Shroyer of Merrimont Development Corp. said there are noplans to develop the land.

He said members of the owning Shroyer family agreed to seek therezoning so any development would be in keeping with the Merrimontarea.

JUDGE REDUCES

AWARD FOR 'LEMON'

TROY -- A Miami County judge reduced a jury's award to a Daytoncouple who claimed violations of vehicle warranties and Ohio's "LemonLaw" before granting a request for triple damages.

A common pleas jury in October awarded Ellen and Roscoe Reagans$181,923 in their lawsuit against Paul Sherry Vans and RVs Inc. ofPiqua. The Reagans claimed a new 1999 recreational vehicle theybought that year was defective and a continual problem despiteattempts to repair it.

Judge Jeffrey Welbaum this week ruled the verdict was excessivebased on evidence and law.

He issued a judgment for $53,778, then granted a request fortriple damages, bringing the judgment to $161,334.

Welbaum ruled the Reagans have 14 days to accept the award or moveforward with a new trial on damages only.

CINCY COUNCIL REJECTS TASER RULE

CINCINNATI -- It's strike three for a proposal to prohibitCincinnati police from using Tasers on children younger than 10.

For the third time in less than a month, the City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday to defeat the proposed restriction. A councilman proposedincreasing the current minimum age limit from 7 to 10, noting a lackof scientific evidence about the effects of the weapons on children'sbodies.

He also said police cannot control the 50,000-volt shock deliveredby a Taser.

RegionalHeadlines

MAN FACES CHARGES IN TWO ROBBERIES

WEST MILTON -- Police on Thursday charged a former West Milton manin two recent robberies, including Wednesday's holdup of the U.S.Bank at 303 S. Miami St.

Montgomery County sheriff's deputies arrested David Cooper, 22, ona warrant for felony burglary about 6 a.m. at the Parkway Inn, 2221Wagner Ford Road in Harrison Twp., sheriff's Capt. Mike Nolan said.The arrest was based on a tip from West Milton police.

Police Chief Michael Vickers said the bank robber made off with$3,500, but did not injure anyone. Police recovered a large sum ofcash, clothing matching the description of that worn by the robberand a large pellet gun resembling a .45-caliber pistol.

Vickers said the robber shown on videotape evidence resemblesCooper.

Vickers said Cooper also was charged in a Jan. 9 heist of $120 andtwo cartons of cigarettes from the Sunoco Food Mart, 1046 S. MiamiSt. No one was injured in the robbery.

UD STUDENT GETS 4 MONTHS IN PROTEST

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A second University of Dayton student arrestedduring a November demonstration at the former School of the Americasat Fort Benning has been sentenced to prison for trespassing on postproperty.

Brian D. DeRouen, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to four months andfined $500 after he demanded a trial. U.S. Magistrate G. MallonFaircloth sentenced him and a man from Oakland, Calif., to 30 daysmore than most of the defendants, who pleaded not guilty butstipulated to facts admitting their trespass. Faircloth cited"dilatory conduct" and "patently frivolous" defenses in the face ofthe evidence.

DeRouen's defense included the claim that he didn't enter the postNov. 21 to engage in political protest, but to pray for his country.

Meagan Doty, 22, a sociology major from St. Louis, received athree-month federal prison sentence Monday and a $500 fine. She saidshe hopes to begin serving her sentence after she graduates in May.

About 16,000 protesters gathered at the gates of Fort Benning inan annual protest organized by School of the Americas Watch.

Twenty protesters were originally arrested, 17 of whom werecharged with federal trespassing for climbing a 10-foot chain linkfence inside the post's outer fence.

PLANE CRASHES IN HIGHLAND COUNTY

WILMINGTON -- The Ohio Highway Patrol post at Wilmington isinvestigating a minor plane crash Thursday at Highland CountyAirport.

The incident began when authorities received a call about aprivate plane with a front landing gear malfunction.

A Beechcraft A-36 Bonanza flown by Justin I. Englehardt, 27, ofFort Thomas, Ky., landed at 2:39 p.m.

The front landing gear would not lock and the nose and propellerstruck the runway, causing minor damage to the front of the aircraft.

Englehardt and passenger Matthew D. Meyer, 25, of Cincinnati,weren't injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration also is investigating.

MAN ENTERS INSANITY PLEA IN HIT MAN CASE

HAMILTON -- A former Liberty Twp. man pleaded not guilty by reasonof insanity Thursday to charges he tried to hire a hit man while injail to kill his estranged wife and her family.

It was the third time Christopher Rezos has tried to kill hiswife, Amy, of Liberty Twp., authorities said.

He was charged with trying to kill her twice in July and was injail awaiting trial on Feb. 23 on those charges when the newallegations arose, authorities said.

Rezos, 35, was arraigned in Butler County Common Pleas Court onthree counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

He was indicted after authorities planted an undercover deputy inthe jail, officials said.

CONCORD TWP. REZONING APPROVED

TROY -- The Miami County commissioners Thursday approved therezoning of 36.3 acres in Concord Twp. from agricultural to single-family residential.

Merrimont Development Corp., developer of the Merrimontsubdivision, sought the rezoning of the land south of Swailes Roadand east of Merrimont Drive south of Troy.

County Planning Director Dan Brandewie said the rezoning wasrecommended as a logical extension of the subdivision.

Irving Shroyer of Merrimont Development Corp. said there are noplans to develop the land.

He said members of the owning Shroyer family agreed to seek therezoning so any development would be in keeping with the Merrimontarea.

JUDGE REDUCES

AWARD FOR 'LEMON'

TROY -- A Miami County judge reduced a jury's award to a Daytoncouple who claimed violations of vehicle warranties and Ohio's "LemonLaw" before granting a request for triple damages.

A common pleas jury in October awarded Ellen and Roscoe Reagans$181,923 in their lawsuit against Paul Sherry Vans and RVs Inc. ofPiqua. The Reagans claimed a new 1999 recreational vehicle theybought that year was defective and a continual problem despiteattempts to repair it.

Judge Jeffrey Welbaum this week ruled the verdict was excessivebased on evidence and law.

He issued a judgment for $53,778, then granted a request fortriple damages, bringing the judgment to $161,334.

Welbaum ruled the Reagans have 14 days to accept the award or moveforward with a new trial on damages only.

CINCY COUNCIL REJECTS TASER RULE

CINCINNATI -- It's strike three for a proposal to prohibitCincinnati police from using Tasers on children younger than 10.

For the third time in less than a month, the City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday to defeat the proposed restriction. A councilman proposedincreasing the current minimum age limit from 7 to 10, noting a lackof scientific evidence about the effects of the weapons on children'sbodies.

He also said police cannot control the 50,000-volt shock deliveredby a Taser.

RegionalHeadlines

MAN FACES CHARGES IN TWO ROBBERIES

WEST MILTON -- Police on Thursday charged a former West Milton manin two recent robberies, including Wednesday's holdup of the U.S.Bank at 303 S. Miami St.

Montgomery County sheriff's deputies arrested David Cooper, 22, ona warrant for felony burglary about 6 a.m. at the Parkway Inn, 2221Wagner Ford Road in Harrison Twp., sheriff's Capt. Mike Nolan said.The arrest was based on a tip from West Milton police.

Police Chief Michael Vickers said the bank robber made off with$3,500, but did not injure anyone. Police recovered a large sum ofcash, clothing matching the description of that worn by the robberand a large pellet gun resembling a .45-caliber pistol.

Vickers said the robber shown on videotape evidence resemblesCooper.

Vickers said Cooper also was charged in a Jan. 9 heist of $120 andtwo cartons of cigarettes from the Sunoco Food Mart, 1046 S. MiamiSt. No one was injured in the robbery.

UD STUDENT GETS 4 MONTHS IN PROTEST

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A second University of Dayton student arrestedduring a November demonstration at the former School of the Americasat Fort Benning has been sentenced to prison for trespassing on postproperty.

Brian D. DeRouen, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to four months andfined $500 after he demanded a trial. U.S. Magistrate G. MallonFaircloth sentenced him and a man from Oakland, Calif., to 30 daysmore than most of the defendants, who pleaded not guilty butstipulated to facts admitting their trespass. Faircloth cited"dilatory conduct" and "patently frivolous" defenses in the face ofthe evidence.

DeRouen's defense included the claim that he didn't enter the postNov. 21 to engage in political protest, but to pray for his country.

Meagan Doty, 22, a sociology major from St. Louis, received athree-month federal prison sentence Monday and a $500 fine. She saidshe hopes to begin serving her sentence after she graduates in May.

About 16,000 protesters gathered at the gates of Fort Benning inan annual protest organized by School of the Americas Watch.

Twenty protesters were originally arrested, 17 of whom werecharged with federal trespassing for climbing a 10-foot chain linkfence inside the post's outer fence.

PLANE CRASHES IN HIGHLAND COUNTY

WILMINGTON -- The Ohio Highway Patrol post at Wilmington isinvestigating a minor plane crash Thursday at Highland CountyAirport.

The incident began when authorities received a call about aprivate plane with a front landing gear malfunction.

A Beechcraft A-36 Bonanza flown by Justin I. Englehardt, 27, ofFort Thomas, Ky., landed at 2:39 p.m.

The front landing gear would not lock and the nose and propellerstruck the runway, causing minor damage to the front of the aircraft.

Englehardt and passenger Matthew D. Meyer, 25, of Cincinnati,weren't injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration also is investigating.

MAN ENTERS INSANITY PLEA IN HIT MAN CASE

HAMILTON -- A former Liberty Twp. man pleaded not guilty by reasonof insanity Thursday to charges he tried to hire a hit man while injail to kill his estranged wife and her family.

It was the third time Christopher Rezos has tried to kill hiswife, Amy, of Liberty Twp., authorities said.

He was charged with trying to kill her twice in July and was injail awaiting trial on Feb. 23 on those charges when the newallegations arose, authorities said.

Rezos, 35, was arraigned in Butler County Common Pleas Court onthree counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

He was indicted after authorities planted an undercover deputy inthe jail, officials said.

CONCORD TWP. REZONING APPROVED

TROY -- The Miami County commissioners Thursday approved therezoning of 36.3 acres in Concord Twp. from agricultural to single-family residential.

Merrimont Development Corp., developer of the Merrimontsubdivision, sought the rezoning of the land south of Swailes Roadand east of Merrimont Drive south of Troy.

County Planning Director Dan Brandewie said the rezoning wasrecommended as a logical extension of the subdivision.

Irving Shroyer of Merrimont Development Corp. said there are noplans to develop the land.

He said members of the owning Shroyer family agreed to seek therezoning so any development would be in keeping with the Merrimontarea.

JUDGE REDUCES

AWARD FOR 'LEMON'

TROY -- A Miami County judge reduced a jury's award to a Daytoncouple who claimed violations of vehicle warranties and Ohio's "LemonLaw" before granting a request for triple damages.

A common pleas jury in October awarded Ellen and Roscoe Reagans$181,923 in their lawsuit against Paul Sherry Vans and RVs Inc. ofPiqua. The Reagans claimed a new 1999 recreational vehicle theybought that year was defective and a continual problem despiteattempts to repair it.

Judge Jeffrey Welbaum this week ruled the verdict was excessivebased on evidence and law.

He issued a judgment for $53,778, then granted a request fortriple damages, bringing the judgment to $161,334.

Welbaum ruled the Reagans have 14 days to accept the award or moveforward with a new trial on damages only.

CINCY COUNCIL REJECTS TASER RULE

CINCINNATI -- It's strike three for a proposal to prohibitCincinnati police from using Tasers on children younger than 10.

For the third time in less than a month, the City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday to defeat the proposed restriction. A councilman proposedincreasing the current minimum age limit from 7 to 10, noting a lackof scientific evidence about the effects of the weapons on children'sbodies.

He also said police cannot control the 50,000-volt shock deliveredby a Taser.

Discovery astronauts coming home, say they were at limit in fixing ripped solar wing

With the mission finally coming to a close, Discovery's commander acknowledged Tuesday she was "extremely concerned" about the safety of the spacewalker who went out to fix the space station's ripped solar wing.

And the spacewalker, Scott Parazynski, said he barely managed to reach the tangled wires that had snagged the wing. If the damage had been just another foot (30 centimeters) away, "it would have been a Plan B or C or D," he told The Associated Press. "I don't know what it would have been."

As they prepared for an early Wednesday afternoon landing, the seven astronauts recalled for the AP the dramatic highlight of their 15-day space station construction mission.

Saturday's emergency repair of the torn wing at the international space station was an unprecedented and daring feat whipped up by flight controllers in just a few days.

Discovery's commander, Pamela Melroy, described how nervous she was when Parazynski approached the torn wing on the end of a 90-foot robotically operated boom.

"You may have heard me at one point kind of squeak out 'Be careful' as I saw the solar array coming toward him," Melroy said. She got more comfortable as she saw him do just that, and she took comfort that another spacewalker was watching the wing "like a hawk" from its base and calling out the clearances.

Parazynski said he could have used another pair of hands once he got right up to the solar wing, which was coursing with more than 100 volts of electricity. He had to stabilize the wing as it swayed back and forth, using a hockey-like stick wrapped with insulating tape. He figured out a way to hold the stick and another tool in one hand, while using his other hand to loop homemade braces into the wing.

It was like nothing he had ever experienced on previous spacewalks or in the pool where astronauts train. No one, in fact, had ever been so far away from the safe confines of the space station before.

"It was an unbelievably long distance away," he said. "You never come face to face with a solar array, so it was a very unique experience."

Parazynski said he was energized by the wake-up music that was beamed up that morning courtesy of his 10-year-old son, Luke _ the theme from the movie, "Star Wars."

The lightsaber that was used by the character Luke Skywalker in the 1983 sequel "Return of the Jedi" is flying aboard Discovery, to mark the 30th anniversary of the original film.

"All of us have been really dying to get into the lower holds of the ship and dig out the lightsaber," Parazynski said. "But it really would be a lot of work, I think, and I think Pam would frown upon it."

Discovery also is bringing back some samples of the steel shavings that are clogging a rotary joint needed to turn another set of solar wings at the space station, as well as an astronaut who spent five months there, Clayton Anderson.

Anderson said he cannot wait to cook up his "special secret recipe" to go with a medium-rare steak once he's back home in Houston with his family. He's also craving ice-cold drinks and ice cream, unavailable in space.

"It's kind of a bittersweet time for me to come home, but I'm ready," he said.

___

On the Net:

NASA: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov

BALCO jury hears from 4 Raiders Running back Wheatley strikes photographer before testifying

SAN FRANCISCO -- Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley hita photographer outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hours prior totestifying before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab.

Wheatley was one of five NFL players -- including four Raiders --to appear Thursday before the panel. Others included former NFLdefensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield and Kansas City Chiefswide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Also appearing before the grand jury Thursday was Marion Jones,who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 SydneyOlympics.

"I can't make any comment, you guys. I would if I could, but Ican't," Jones said as she left the grand jury room following herafternoon appearance.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TVcameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist andslapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Bergertook a photo of him Thursday morning.

Berger, a free-lance photographer on assignment for The AssociatedPress, said he was nothurt. He filed a report with the FederalProtective Service, but it was not clear whether Wheatley would becharged.

Wheatley, who appeared before the grand jury in the afternoon,declined to comment when asked repeatedly about the incident.

The five players -- also including Raiders fullback ChrisHetherington and defensive tackle Chris Cooper -- were the first non-track and field athletes to testify in the case.

Stubblefield, the NFL defensive player of the year in 1997 whilewith the San Francisco 49ers, declined to comment after his morningappearance. His attorney, Michael Armstrong, also refused to comment.

Morton, who had four seasons with more than 1,000 yards receivingfor the Detroit Lions before joining the Chiefs two seasons ago, alsorefused to comment after his morning appearance.

Track and field stars, including Tim Montgomery, the world record-holder at 100 meters and Jones' boyfriend, have appeared before thepanel in previous weeks. Dozens of other athletes, includingbaseball's Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and boxer Shane Mosley, alsohave been subpoenaed.

It's not clear what, if any, drug charges might result from theinvestigation. An appearance before the grand jury, or beingsubpoenaed to testify, does not mean an athlete is a target of theprobe.

Federal officials have refused to discuss the grand jury or thescope of its secret proceedings, but two sources familiar with thegrand jury have said the probe is focusing on drug use by athletes aswell as possible tax evasion by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.

An attorney for BALCO founder Victor Conte has said his client isa target of the grand jury investigation.

BALCO also is at the center of an investigation by anti-dopingagencies into the newly discovered steroid THG. An unidentified coachwho turned in a used syringe containing THG said he got the substancefrom Conte, who has denied being the course of the substance.

At least five track and field athletes already have testedpositive for THG and face two-year bans.

BALCO jury hears from 4 Raiders Running back Wheatley strikes photographer before testifying

SAN FRANCISCO -- Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley hita photographer outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hours prior totestifying before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab.

Wheatley was one of five NFL players -- including four Raiders --to appear Thursday before the panel. Others included former NFLdefensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield and Kansas City Chiefswide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Also appearing before the grand jury Thursday was Marion Jones,who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 SydneyOlympics.

"I can't make any comment, you guys. I would if I could, but Ican't," Jones said as she left the grand jury room following herafternoon appearance.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TVcameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist andslapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Bergertook a photo of him Thursday morning.

Berger, a free-lance photographer on assignment for The AssociatedPress, said he was nothurt. He filed a report with the FederalProtective Service, but it was not clear whether Wheatley would becharged.

Wheatley, who appeared before the grand jury in the afternoon,declined to comment when asked repeatedly about the incident.

The five players -- also including Raiders fullback ChrisHetherington and defensive tackle Chris Cooper -- were the first non-track and field athletes to testify in the case.

Stubblefield, the NFL defensive player of the year in 1997 whilewith the San Francisco 49ers, declined to comment after his morningappearance. His attorney, Michael Armstrong, also refused to comment.

Morton, who had four seasons with more than 1,000 yards receivingfor the Detroit Lions before joining the Chiefs two seasons ago, alsorefused to comment after his morning appearance.

Track and field stars, including Tim Montgomery, the world record-holder at 100 meters and Jones' boyfriend, have appeared before thepanel in previous weeks. Dozens of other athletes, includingbaseball's Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and boxer Shane Mosley, alsohave been subpoenaed.

It's not clear what, if any, drug charges might result from theinvestigation. An appearance before the grand jury, or beingsubpoenaed to testify, does not mean an athlete is a target of theprobe.

Federal officials have refused to discuss the grand jury or thescope of its secret proceedings, but two sources familiar with thegrand jury have said the probe is focusing on drug use by athletes aswell as possible tax evasion by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.

An attorney for BALCO founder Victor Conte has said his client isa target of the grand jury investigation.

BALCO also is at the center of an investigation by anti-dopingagencies into the newly discovered steroid THG. An unidentified coachwho turned in a used syringe containing THG said he got the substancefrom Conte, who has denied being the course of the substance.

At least five track and field athletes already have testedpositive for THG and face two-year bans.