OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING-20TH ANNIVERSARY
Service held to mark 20 years since Oklahoma City bombing
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β About 1,000 people have gathered at the former site of the Oklahoma City federal building to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the terrorist bombing there that killed 168 people and injured many others.
Christian singer Michael W. Smith sang “Friends” and “How Great Thou Art” and Catholic Archbishop Paul Coakley prayed for continued healing at Sunday’s service at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood.
The service started with a 168-second moment of silence and concluded with survivors and tearful relatives reading the names of those killed in the April 19, 1995, attack.
Timothy McVeigh, an Army veteran with strong anti-government views, was executed for carrying out the bombing. His accomplice, Terry Nichols, is serving life in prison.
Sound:
154-w-32-(Tim Maguire, AP correspondent, with nat sound, victims relatives and former President Bill Clinton)–A special ceremony marks the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. AP correspondent Tim Maguire reports. ((cut opens with sound)) (19 Apr 2015)
< 140-a-13-(Former President Bill Clinton, in remarks)-“the Oklahoma standard”-Former President Bill Clinton says Oklahoma City has done something good out of something so evil. (19 Apr 2015) < 142-r-14-(Sound of reading of names, of those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing)–Sound of reading of names of those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing. (19 Apr 2015) < 141-a-13-(Former President Bill Clinton, in remarks)-“by beginning again”-Former President Bill Clinton says people in Oklahoma City chose honor, service and kindness after that horrific day 20 years ago. (19 Apr 2015) < 143-r-23-(Sound of reading of names, of those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing)–Sound of reading of names of those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing. (19 Apr 2015) < 133-a-15-(Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, in remarks)-“and absolutely unimaginable”-Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating says he still remembers the horrible day, 20 years ago. (19 Apr 2015) < 131-a-13-(Governor Mary Fallin, R-Okla., in remarks)-“and never forget”-Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin says out of despair has come hope in Oklahoma City. (19 Apr 2015) < 134-r-31-(Sound of singing, at the 20th anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City)–Sound of singing at the 20th anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City. (19 Apr 2015) < 130-a-13-(Governor Mary Fallin, R-Okla., in remarks)-“used for good”-Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin says much good has come out of the horror of 20 years ago. (19 Apr 2015) < 132-a-12-(Former Mayor Ron Norick, in remarks)-“all the time”-Former Mayor Ron Norick says he will always remember the horror the families went through 20 years ago. (19 Apr 2015) < 129-r-20-(Sound of bagpipes, as crowd files in for memorial service in Oklahoma City)–Sound of bagpipes as crowd files in for memorial service in Oklahoma City. (19 Apr 2015) < 028-a-07-(Jannie (JAY’-nee) Coverdale, grandmother of two boys killed in Oklahoma City bombing, in AP interview)-“loved ones died”-Jannie Coverdale lost her two- and five-year-old grandsons in the Oklahoma City bombing, and says there’s “no such thing” as moving on, even after two decades. (19 Apr 2015) < 031-a-14-(Bud Welch, father of Oklahoma City bombing victim, in AP interview)-“else just yourself”-Bud Welch lost his daughter in the Oklahoma City bombing and says for him, forgiveness was the most important part of the healing process. (19 Apr 2015) < 033-a-06-(Bud Welch, father of Oklahoma City bombing victim, in AP interview)-“never healed anyone”-Bud Welch, who lost his daughter in the Oklahoma City bombing, says it prompted him to begin speaking out against the death penalty, because he believes it’s based on the same principles that led to her killing. (19 Apr 2015) < 030-a-14-(Bud Welch, father of Oklahoma City bombing victim, in AP interview)-“lose a child”-Bud Welch, who lost his daughter in the Oklahoma City bombing, says twenty years later, he feels that he has fully healed. (19 Apr 2015) < ISLAMIC STATE IS video purports to show killing of Ethiopians in Libya CAIRO (AP) β A video released by the Islamic State group appears to show the killing of two different groups of captured Ethiopian Christians in Libya. The 29-minute video released online Sunday purportedly shows two groups of captives. It says one group is held by an Islamic State affiliate in eastern Libya and the other by an affiliate in the south. A masked fighter delivers a long statement warning Christians that, quote, “you will not have safety, even in your dreams, until you embrace Islam.” The video then switches between footage that purportedly shows the captives in the south being shot dead and the captives in the east being beheaded on a beach. The video bore the official logo of the Islamic State’s media arm and resembled previous videos released by the extremist group. Sound: 122-c-12-(Joseph Krauss, AP correspondent)-“captured Egyptian Christians”-AP correspondent Joseph Krauss reports it appears that the video is genuine, as it resembles earlier releases produced by the extremist group. (19 Apr 2015) < 121-c-18-(Joseph Krauss, AP correspondent)-“on the beach”-AP correspondent Joseph Krauss reports on the release of a video from the group the Islamic State that appears to show the killings of Ethiopian Christians in Libya. (19 Apr 2015) < 117-v-33-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)–A video released by the Islamic State group appears to show the killing of two different groups of captured Ethiopian Christians in Libya. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. ((watch for dating)) (19 Apr 2015) < 118-c-22-(Jackie Quinn, AP correspondent)-“beheaded on a beach”-AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports there’s been a video released that purports to show the killings of Ethiopian Christians in Libya. ((watch for dating)) (19 Apr 2015) < JUNCTION CITY CHIEF Junction City police chief claims religious discrimination JUNCTION CITY, Ore. (AP) β The police chief in Junction City, Oregon, is accusing the city and a former official of discriminating against him due to his Christian beliefs. The Register Guard newspaper reports that Police Chief Mark Chase made the claims after officials investigated him and put him on paid administrative leave for more than five months. Chase says the city and then-city administrator Melissa Bowers tried to remove him from his position because of anti-Christian bias. According to newly disclosed records, Chase said Bowers asked him whether he received direct communication from God that guided his decisions, to which he responded that he is a man of faith but felt her questioning was improper. According to the released records, nine formal complaints made by members of the Police Department prompted two investigations of Chase and the department. One investigation found unsatisfactory leadership and management, dysfunctional interpersonal relations and a stressful office culture for employees. ZIONIST ELECTIONS After Israeli elections, US Zionists cast votes of their own NEW YORK (AP) β Call it the other Israel election. The World Zionist Congress β a global Zionist body that formed more than a century ago but retains significant influence in Israel β is holding elections for U.S. delegates to its global assembly. At stake is leadership of an organization that helps manage agencies in Israel with budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. While past voting for the congress has attracted little attention beyond a small circle of American Zionist groups, liberal U.S. Jewish leaders hope this time will be different. They point to the election as a way their communities can register discontent with the direction of the Israeli government after Benjamin Netanyahu won re-election last month. Hard-line American Zionists are mobilizing as well to advance their priorities, including support for Jewish settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians for their future state. The congress is the top legislative body of the World Zionist Organization, which meets every four or five years. This year’s congress will meet in Jerusalem in October. ISRAEL-TOPOL Israel honoring actor known as Topol TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) β The actor who starred as Tevye the milkman in the movie “Fiddler on the Roof” is being awarded the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, the Jewish state’s most prestigious honor. Chaim (hym) Topol, who worked professionally under just his last name, Topol, is now nearly 80 years old but is still active in theater and charitable work. While the role that defined his film career was Tevye, Topol appeared in more than 30 movies, and could have made more if he’d been willing to set other interests aside. But it was the 1971 film “Fiddler on the Roof” that sealed Topol’s status as an international film celebrity and Jewish symbol for his renditions of such hits as “If I Were a Rich Man.” All told, he said he has played the part more than 3,500 times on stage, most recently in 2009. Topol has devoted most of his later years to charity as chairman of the board of Jordan River Village, a camp serving Middle Eastern children with life-threatening diseases. In Jordan River Village, Topol says everyone gets along well. In his words, “Jews and Arabs and Christians and Muslims and Jewish are hugging each other.” Sound: 207-a-13-(Chaim (hym) Topol, actor whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, in AP interview)-“I’m not sure”-Actor Chaim Topol, whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” says his film career gave him a comfortable life. (19 Apr 2015) < 208-a-10-(Chaim (hym) Topol, actor whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, in AP interview)-“hugging each other”-Actor Chaim Topol, whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” says people get along in his Jordan River Village charity. (19 Apr 2015) < 209-a-10-(Chaim (hym) Topol, actor whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, in AP interview)-“have other interests”-Actor Chaim Topol, whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” says he could have made more films than he did. (19 Apr 2015) < 206-a-09-(Chaim (hym) Topol, actor whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, in AP interview)-“age of 14”-Actor Chaim Topol, whose roles included Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” says he was an unlikely movie star. (19 Apr 2015) < POPE-EXPO-ENVIRONMENT Pope hopes Milan world’s fair will help environmental effort VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis says Milan’s world’s fair, which opens on May 1, can inspire decision-makers to help save the “health of the planet that God entrusted to the care of the human race.” Francis on Saturday praised Expo’s theme of exploring ways the planet can feed its people. The exposition, which runs for six months, will highlight modern technologies that Francis says can help guarantee “healthy, safe and sufficient food for all peoples.” Meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Vatican, Francis expressed hope Expo would encourage deeper reflection about the environment’s deterioration. Francis is working on an encyclical, a major Vatican position paper, laying out church teaching on the environment. It is expected to be published in the next few months. POPE-CARDINAL GEORGE Pope expresses sadness for Chicago prelate’s death VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has expressed sadness for the death of Cardinal Francis George, the retired archbishop of Chicago. In a condolence telegram sent to current Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, the pontiff offered “heartfelt condolences” to the 2.2 million Catholics in the third-largest U.S. archdiocese. George, who was 78, died on Friday after suffering from cancer. Pope Francis expressed gratitude for the cardinal’s years of service to the church in Yakima, Washington; Portland, Oregon and Chicago. TURIN SHROUD Turin Shroud goes back on display for faithful and curious TURIN, Italy (AP) β The Shroud of Turin, which some believe was Jesus’ burial cloth, has gone back on display in the northern Italian city. Turin’s archbishop says interest in the shroud is so keen that many pilgrims who saw it in 2010 are returning to see it again. The 14-foot long cloth will be displayed until June 24. Pope Francis will view it on June 21. Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia said Saturday that people of all faiths and even non-believers are coming. Reservations are mandatory but free of charge to see the shroud, which is displayed in a climate-controlled case in Turin’s cathedral. MORMON CONVERSIONS-RESEND Conversion rate lags behind Mormon missionary increase SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β New figures from the Mormon church show that a record increase in missionaries hasn’t led to an equally dramatic spike in converts. Statistics released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints show there were nearly 300,000 converts last year. The figure marked a 9 percent increase from two years ago, even though the number of missionaries increased by 44 percent. Mormon church spokesman Eric Hawkins says a number of factors may contribute to fewer baptisms per missionary, including a world that is increasingly secular. Mormon scholars say the decline is most likely because many of the new missionaries went to North American areas that were already flush with Mormons. They say it may also show that missionaries are focusing on bringing inactive members back into the faith.
