Despite Threats, Pakistani Women Cast Votes in Election

Saturday, May 11th, 2013, 1:57pm

(Aisha Chowdhry, Special for USA TODAY) -- Despite threats from militant groups, many women headed to the polls in Pakistan to vote in the country's historic elections Saturday.

Attacks killed 24 and wounded dozens more during the day in a continuation of what has been a brutal election season with more than 130 people killed in bombings and shootings.

"There is always a fear factor of your life but we are all going to die eventually, depends on the way you are going to die," said Madiha Latif, "might as well go down doing something right, I guess." Latif is a polling agent and the brains behind the non-partisan voter campaign "Pakistan Votes."

Saturday's historic elections mark the country's first transition from one elected government fulfilling its term to another - without a military coup - and Pakistan's 37 million registered women voters are eager to make an impact.

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Newtown panel: Tear down Sandy Hook, rebuild on same site

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 10:24pm

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) - Officials in Newtown, Conn., say the district should tear down the elementary school where 20 first-graders and six educators were shot to death in December and construct a new building on the property.

A task force of 28 town elected officials unanimously recommended the plan Friday night after residents expressed mixed opinions on what should be done with Sandy Hook Elementary School. The proposal now goes to the local school board, which has final authority.

The panel had narrowed a list of choices to renovating or rebuilding on the school site or building a new school on property down the street. Each would cost between about $48 million and $60 million.

The 430 surviving students are attending a renovated school renamed Sandy Hook Elementary School in the neighboring town of Monroe.

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Paramedic from Texas Plant Blast Arrested for Pipe Bomb

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 10:08pm

(USA TODAY) -- A volunteer paramedic who was among the first on the scene of a massive explosion last month at a West, Texas fertilizer plant was arrested early Friday and charged with possession of a destructive device.

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Benghazi memo edits show State, White House involvement

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 8:08pm

(USA TODAY) -- A top State Department official pressed the CIA and the White House to delete any mention of terrorism in public statements on the Benghazi terror attack to prevent critics from blaming lax security at the consulate, according to documents obtained by ABC News.

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DC Residents Fight To Keep Schools Open

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 6:26pm

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA 9) --- DC residents spilled out from the District courthouse after listening to lawyers speak on their behalf for a lawsuit filed against school closures. The lawsuit is filed by the community organization, Empower DC.

Attorney Jamie Raskin said the school closures raises the issue of racial discrimination, when the schools proposed to be shut down are in the poorest DC neighborhoods with mostly black and Hispanic students.

Raskin represented the plaintiffs in front of the judge and provided an extensive argument. He is a Constitutional Law professor at American University.

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CAUGHT ON CAM: Police Looking For Suspects in Assault With a Deadly Weapon

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Friday, May 10th, 2013, 3:22pm

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Police are looking to identify two suspects in connection with an assault with a deadly weapon incident.

It happened on Thursday at approximately 6:06 p.m., in the 2400 block of Elvans Road, S.E. A surveillance video shows the two suspects:

The Police is offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. You can call police at at (202) 727-9099.

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Toddler Shot in SE, Cop Crash and Shooting in NE

Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 11:15pm

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A 3-year-old toddler was shot in Washington, police said. The incident occurred at approximately 6:11 p.m. when the girl was shot in the 2400 block of Elvans Road, S.E.

The child, who was shot in the street while on a balcony, was breathing when taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police are looking for a suspect described as a black male, light complexion, 5'10" tall and last seen in a black jacket, black shirt and black jeans. He was last seen headed towards Pomeroy Road, S.E., police said.

Police are trying to determine what prompted the shooting. They believe the girl or apartment were not the targets, and that the girl was hit by a stray bullet.

In another incident, three people, including two police officers, had to be taken to the hospital following a traffic accident in Northeast, officials say.

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