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Blair converts to Catholicism

LONDON, England (AP) — Tony Blair, who often kept his religious views private while serving as Britain’s prime minister, has converted to Catholicism, officials said Saturday.

Blair, who had long been a member of the Church of England, converted to the Catholic faith during a Mass held Friday night at a chapel in London, the Catholic Church said.

It can be confirmed that Tony Blair has been received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the head of the church in England and Wales, the church said in a statement.

I’m very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church, the statement quoted Murphy-O’Connor as saying.

For a long time he’s been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he’s been following a program of formation for his reception into full communion. Our prayers are with him, his family and his wife at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together, Murphy-O’Connor said.

There had long been speculation that Blair planned to convert to Catholicism. His wife, Cherie, is Roman Catholic, the couple’s children have attended Catholic schools, and Blair had regularly attended Catholic, rather than Anglican, services.

Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in June.

The former prime minister told the BBC this year that he had avoided talking about his religious views while in office for about 10 years for fear of being labeled a nutter.

In England’s last census, 72 percent of people identified themselves as Christian. Many are Anglicans affiliated with the Church of England, which was created by royal proclamation during the 16th century after King Henry VIII — who married six times — broke ties with the Roman Catholic Church in a dispute over divorce.

The Church of England has said that less than 10 percent of its members are regular churchgoers.

Britons often are surprised by people who openly and fervently discuss their religious views, and the degree to which faiths such as evangelicalism can influence U.S. politics.
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Deadly snowstorm causes accidents, road closures

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri (AP) — A blinding snowstorm blew across the Plains on Saturday, causing at least two deaths and dozens of injuries in numerous multi-car pileups and forcing authorities to close portions of several major highways.

One person died in a chain-reaction pileup involving as many as 80 vehicles, including several tractor-trailer rigs, on Interstate 40 in Amarillo, Texas, police said.

Many were holiday travelers, including some families with small children not dressed for the cold weather, police Sgt. Shawn McLeland.

Other drivers spotted them and opened Christmas presents to provide warmer clothing for the children. Watch the massive wreck on I-40 in Texas

The tangle of twisted cars and trucks shut down the interstate for most of the day. Authorities believe the pileup was caused by blowing snow and the resulting zero visibility.

In northeast Kansas, at least one person was killed in a 30-car pileup on Interstate 70, prompting authorities to close a 40-mile stretch of the highway. The pileup occurred about 30 miles west of Topeka. Watch the whiteout conditions in Topeka

The fierce snowstorm caused another wreck involving 20 to 40 vehicles, including three tractor-trailer rigs, on Interstate 29 in St. Joseph in western Missouri. Police closed about 100 miles of I-29 to the Iowa state line.

The Plains storm also blew heavy snow across Oklahoma and parts of Nebraska and Iowa, a region still recovering from a severe ice storm early last week that knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. See how winter precipitation forms

Wind was blowing at sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph in Oklahoma, where U.S. 412 near Mooreland in western Oklahoma was closed after 15 to 20 cars slid off the road or had been involved in collisions, authorities said. Watch the weekend weather forecast

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said a six-car collision on U.S. 64 in the state’s northwest corner involved an ambulance that was carrying victims from the scene of another accident. Low visibility forced the closure of some highways.

The storm also impacted flights at airports in the Midwest, as the busy pre-Christmas weekend travel was getting underway. The delays rippled across the country, delaying flights in the New York region.

In Chicago, flights in and out of O’Hare International Airport were delayed an average of two hours, and about 100 flights were canceled, airport spokesman Gregg Cunningham said.

Flights departing from Newark Liberty International Airport for O’Hare were delayed about three hours, as were flights to the Dallas area.
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‘Boy Meets World’ actress faces drunk driving charge

NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) — Former child star Danielle Fishel, a teen heartthrob on ABC’s Boy Meets World, was arrested this week on a drunken driving warrant from Los Angeles County, police said.

Fishel was arrested Thursday just before 5 a.m. after officers stopped a car she was in, said Newport Beach Sgt. James Rocker. She was released from jail shortly after her arrest.

Fishel grew up in Yorba Linda and spent more than seven years playing Topanga, the love interest of Boy Meets World star Ben Savage.

In 2006, Fishel became the spokeswoman for NutriSystem after she announced on The Tyra Banks Show that she was so thrilled about losing 20 pounds with the diet program that she wanted to be the company’s spokeswoman.

In February, Fishel became a special correspondent for The Tyra Banks Show. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Dangerous snowstorm causes accidents, road closures

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri (AP) — A strong snowstorm that cut visibility nearly to zero in some places as it rolled across the Plains on Saturday caused numerous vehicle pileups and forced authorities to close portions of several major highways.

Dozens of vehicles were involved in a pileup on Interstate 29 in western Missouri, authorities said.

Sections of some Oklahoma highways were closed because of whiteout conditions.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said preliminary reports indicated 20 to 40 vehicles, including three tractor-trailer rigs, were involved in the early afternoon chain-reaction wreck on Interstate 29 at St. Joseph.

Multiple ambulances were sent to the scene but there was no immediate indication how many people were injured or if there were any fatalities. Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph said it was treating several people from the accident though none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

The patrol closed about 100 miles of I-29 from Dearborn, which is between Kansas City and St. Joseph, to the Iowa state line. The storm blew locally heavy snow across Oklahoma, eastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, plus parts of Nebraska and Iowa.

In Oklahoma, U.S. 412 near Mooreland was closed because 15 to 20 cars had slid off the road or had been involved in collisions, authorities said.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said a six-car collision on U.S. 64 in the state’s northwest corner involved an ambulance that was carrying victims from the scene of another accident. Parts of that highway and others in the Panhandle were closed because of blowing snow and low visibility. Watch a massive wreck on I-40 in Texas

The Kansas Department of Transportation said a 40-mile stretch of I-70 west of Topeka was closed because of a weather-related 30-car pileup. It was not immediately clear how many people were injured or if there were any fatalities in either pileup. Watch the whiteout conditions in Topeka

By early afternoon, the storm had dropped 3 inches of snow in the St. Joseph area, said National Weather Service meteorologist Julie Adolphson. Accumulations of up to 7 inches were possible in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Watch the weekend weather forecast

Wind was blowing at sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph in Oklahoma, threatening to bring down tree limbs damaged during the severe ice storm early last week that blacked out hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. See how winter precipitation forms

Farther west, Colorado roads remained icy in spots following a storm Friday. Eastbound I-70 was closed about 20 miles east of Denver for more than two hours after a wreck in which five people were injured.
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Valencia escape as Koeman sees red

ZARAGOZA, Spain — Under-pressure manager Ronald Koeman was sent to the stands before his struggling Valencia side battled back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw away to Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Valencia had lost four of their last five matches, and seemed set for another defeat after goalkeeper Juan Luis Mora suffered a nightmare first half.

Mora, promoted to the starting line-up for the first time since the 2005-06 season after Koeman axed veteran Santiago Canizares, conceded a penalty in the 16th minute when he brought down Ricardo Oliveira.

The resulting kick was delayed while Zaragoza replaced their own keeper, the injured Cesar, with Lopez Vallejo. But top scorer Diego Milito stepped up to put the home side ahead.

Mora was also at fault after half an hour when he flapped helplessly at a cross by Sergio Garcia and diverted into his own net, while former Valencia striker Oliveira had a headed effort ruled out for a foul just before half-time.

Koeman brought on defender Ivan Helguera and towering striker Nikola Zigic after the interval, but the Dutchman was sent off in the 58th minute after losing his temper.

Milito fluffed a great chance to make it 3-0 in the 75th minute, and Valencia hit back immediately as Serbia’s Zigic used his height to head past Vallejo from a left-wing cross to score the club’s first goal in five league matches.

And Valencia leveled seven minutes later with a superb solo effort from David Silva, who collected a pass from Joaquin and waltzed past Robert Ayala before lashing a left-foot shot into the far corner.

The visitors had a chance to win in time added on, but striker Angel Javier Arizmendi hit the post and Vallejo parried the follow-up.

The result kept Valencia in seventh place, on goal difference behind Racing Santander — who were crushed 4-1 at Sevilla in the late game.

Striker Fredi Kanoute put the hosts ahead from close range in the 25th minute, but defender Ezequiel Garay leveled with a header from a Jorge Lopez corner four minutes after half-time.

Substitute forward Javier Chevanton made it 2-1 on 66 minutes from outside the penalty area before Jesus Navas and Brazilian Adriano sealed Sevilla’s victory with late goals after Garay was sent off for a second booking 12 minutes from time.

In Saturday’s other match, Getafe moved up to 10th place with a 2-0 win at Almeria.

Defender Lucas Licht put the visitors ahead in the 32nd minute with a left-foot shot from Manu Del Moral’s cross and Ruben de la Red’s header wrapped up the victory with four minutes to go to leave Getafe behind Mallorca and Zaragoza on goal difference on 21 points.

Meanwhile, the highlight of Sunday’s matches is the first ‘El Classico’ clash of the season between leaders Real Madrid and second-placed Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Barca will be without injured Argentina forward Lionel Messi, but France striker Thierry Henry is expected to make his comeback after a month out with back and pelvic problems.
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