Utah governor signs bill against the No Child Left Behind Act

Utah Governor Jon Huntsman signed a bill Monday resisting President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act.

According to CNN.com, the legislation gives Utah's education standards priority over federal requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act; it allows education officials to disregard provisions of federal law that conflict with the state's program.

Utah educators prefer to use the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students, which analyzes the student's progression throughout his or her school career instead of comparing the child's abilities against the abilities of the children in his grade from previous years, as in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Involvement in Afgahnistan, Iraq could hinder U.S. defenses

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has issued a report to Congress that said the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan could hinder the U.S. ability to fight in other wars.

According to CNN.com, Gen. Richard Myers, the chairman, supplied the report, an annual document about the military's ability to carry out war plans, to the lawmakers.

In a news conference last week, President Bush said Myers told him that "we have plenty of capacity."

Because of the U.S. deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the report concludes that future armed conflicts would last longer and produce higher casualties

Practically mute firefighter talks with his family last Saturday

Almost 10 years after a brain injury left a firefighter virtually mute, he suddenly started talking to his wife and sons last weekend.

According to the Associated Press, the firefighter was a severely injured car accident victim who had spent 19 years in silence.

The former firefighter, Donald Herbert, has lived at a nursing home in suburban Buffalo, for more than seven years.

Last Saturday, he suddenly asked for his wife, Linda. And over the next 14 hours, until he fell asleep early last Sunday morning, he chatted with her, his four sons and other family and friends, catching up on what he had missed.

Rough-toothed dolphins let go Tuesday after being stranded

Seven rehabilitated rough-toothed dolphins were released last Tuesday off the Florida Keys, two months after stranding on a mud flat near Marathon in the middle Keys.

According to the Associated Press, Marine Mammal Conservancy volunteers took the dolphins to a point in the Atlantic Ocean about 14 nautical miles off Key Largo in two catamaran dive boats. They were released almost simultaneously and stayed together, and they were seen looking for food.

The mammals were among 68 that grounded March 2.

Thirty-six of the dolphins died on the beach or in the water, but 32 were treated at three South Florida marine mammal centers. Five are still being treated. It is not known when they will be released.

50 Iraqis dead, 100 wounded after Wednesday bombing

Fifty Iraqis were killed and 100 were wounded when a bomber detonated explosives outside of a police recruitment center where people were gathered to apply for employment Wednesday.

According to FOXnews.com, several buildings were destroyed and more than seven parked cars were destroyed by the blast.

There are conflicting reports about the number of casualties and whether the bomber walked into the crowd or was simply parked beside the crowd when the bomb was detonated.

According to FOXnews.com, the attack was the deadliest by insurgents in Iraq since Feb. 28, when a car bomber struck a crowd of police and National Guard recruits outside a medical clinic in Hillah, south of the capital.

"American Idol" contestant claims relationship with judge

Former "American Idol" contestant Corey Clark has claimed he had a sexual relationship with "Idol" judge Paula Abdul and received coaching from her on how to win, according ABC News.

Clark, who apparently is hoping to publish a book about his "Idol" experiences, said Abdul assisted him with his styling for the show, and provided him with prescription cough syrup -- prescribed to her -- to help soothe his throat, according to ABC.

Clark was pulled from "Idol" in 2003 after documents were uncovered showing a previous arrest for alleged battery against his sister; he later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges.

Pakistani militant leader caught, officials on track for Bin Laden

Abu Farraj al-Libbi, Pakistan's most wanted militant, was arrested after a firefight on the outskirts of Mardan, 30 miles north of Peshawar, capital of the deeply conservative North West Frontier Province, according to abcnews.com.

Officials said Wednesday they now were "on the right track" to catch Osama bin Laden.

Al-Libbi, a native of Libya who authorities say is a close associate of bin Laden and acted as al-Qaida's operational chief is described as an "al-Qaida planner" and held a senior place in the terror group's hierarchy.

London boy finds snake in box of "Golden Puffs" cereal

A 5-year-old London boy found a unique "surprise" in his cereal box -- a two-foot long snake.

According to MSNBC.com, Jordan Willett found a corn snake in a packet of "Golden Puffs" his parents had bought from discount store Netto in Telford, central England.

Corn snakes, which feed on mice and birds, are commonly kept as pets around the world.

"This does seem to be a bizarre incident but we are treating it seriously," said Netto trading director Clive Cooper.

Pentagon analyst turns himself in for giving out classified info

Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin was arrested and charged with providing classified information about potential attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, the Justice Department announced Wednesday, according to CNN.

Law enforcement sources said the the information was provided to members of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

"Approximately 83 separate classified U.S. government documents were found during a search of Franklin's West Virginia home in June 2004. The dates of these documents spanned three decades, said the Justice Department, according to CNN.