Nation World Briefs: Nov. 5

NATION

11th victim discovered

Cleveland — The number of women found dead in the home of a convicted sex offender here rose to 11 on Wednesday, and the police announced their first identification of one of the victims. The victim, Tonia Carmichael, was 52 when she disappeared last November, the police said. She lived in Warrensville Heights, a Cleveland suburb, but her car was found about a mile from the Imperial Avenue home of the sex offender, Anthony Sowell, the police said. The remains were buried in Sowell's back yard, the police said, and it appeared that Carmichael had been strangled.

Lt. Thomas Stacho, a police spokesman, said the coroner's office had determined a skull found in a bucket in the basement of Sowell's home belonged to an 11th victim.

Swine flu found in pigs, cat

Washington: The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana have tested positive for swine flu, making it the first time the virus has been found in such hogs. The sample was collected in late October, and the USDA said the pigs as well as the people caring for the animals have recovered.

In Des Moines, Iowa, a 13-year-old cat has been infected with swine flu, veterinary and federal officials said Wednesday. It is believed to be the first case of the H1N1 virus in a feline.

Senate extends benefits

Washington: The Senate voted Wednesday to provide the jobless with up to 20 weeks in additional unemployment benefits and expand a first-time homebuyer tax credit to include a far larger pool of people entering the dormant housing market. The $24 billion bill, passed 98-0, also provides tax relief for struggling businesses. It comes to the rescue of more than 1 million out-of-work people who will run out of benefits by the end of the year. Everyone will receive 14 weeks of additional benefits, while those in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent and above, which includes Kentucky, get six weeks on top of that.

Maine goes for medicinal pot

Portland, Maine: Voters approved a referendum making Maine the fifth state to allow retail pot dispensaries, but medical marijuana advocates say it won't become like California, where hundreds of marijuana shops have popped up and come under critical scrutiny. California, Colorado, New Mexico and Rhode Island allow for places where medical marijuana patients can legally buy pot. Maine voters gave their approval Tuesday, 59 percent to 41 percent.

Seasonal flu shortages, too

New York: Even though the regular flu season has yet to start, the nation is facing a severe shortage of seasonal flu vaccine as well as swine flu vaccine. Federal officials and independent flu experts have said the situation was unavoidable, given that the global swine flu pandemic had raised demand for all flu shots far beyond what manufacturers can make in a year.

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a House subcommittee on Wednesday officials were "very frustrated" by the shortages but unable to prevent them.

Abortion deal sought

Washington: House Democratic leaders struggled Wednesday to strike a deal that would restrict the use of federal money to pay for abortions under sweeping health care legislation headed for debate on the House floor this week.

But the proposed compromise satisfied neither supporters nor opponents of abortion rights.

The haggling over abortion was part of a frenetic effort by House Democratic leaders to lock in the 218 votes needed to pass the legislation, and it highlighted the political land mines on the path to a vote tentatively set for Saturday.

Herald-Leader wire reports