Pope — On Monday, April 18, cardinals will gather to choose a new leader. The conclave when translated literally means "with key" — as in under lock and key, and the sequestered cardinals will begin the serious process of choosing new pontiff…Millions of mourners are still jamming the squares and streets of the Vatican for Friday's funeral. Vatican officials stopped additional mourners from lining up tonight — 10 p.m. in Rome — because there is not enough time for them to view the Pontiff's body by Thursday at 10 p.m. when the public procession must cease. The line so long and massive it can be seen from space; satellite images show mourners as the line snaking through the city…. That public viewing slowed for about fifteen minutes today for , arriving directly from the airport. Notably absent from the today's arrival of the U.S. delegation was . President Bush and the First Lady, and former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton comprised four of the five in the official U.S. delegation. The fifth? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
But President Carter — who is the only U.S. President to have welcomed the Pontiff to the White House wanted to be there. But, this wasn’t quite a presidential diss. According to Carter’s spokesperson, the former President "was quite willing to withdraw his request when he was subsequently informed that the official delegation would be limited to just five people and there were others who were eager to attend."
Jackson jury — It doesn’t take a judge or a lawyer to tell you allegations of child molestation are a serious matter, with serious consequences. Though. Apparently, some jurors think it’s funny. Two jurors in the Michael Jackson trial were heard . NBC News confirmed reports that three reporters standing outside the jury room on Monday, overheard comments they believe were made by a juror, quote "Oh boo-hoo, Michael Jackson tickled me." That followed by the laughter of what was presumed to be other members of the jury. Judge Rodney Melville has apparently been made aware of this potential jury misconduct but at this moment, according to the court administrator, there are no plans for an investigation.
Crime — As authorities swept in on the Campti, Texas mobile home they were met with an unexpected sight...The fugitive they'd sought for more than a decade — quietly sitting in front of the TV, watching the winning putt being sunk in the BellSouth Classic. Randolph Dial, a convicted murderer whose life story was unremarkable until the day . It's a Lifetime Movie waiting to happen….This afternoon, white supremacist . He was Convicted a year ago for attempting to solicit the murder of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow, his name came to prominence after the murders of that same Judge's husband and mother five weeks ago. Today's proceedings marked by a lengthy often rambling two-hour speech by Hale, in which he declared himself the victim and recited lines from the National Anthem. The Judge was unmoved, imposing the maximum sentence.
