Veterans home chief replaced amid probe

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The official who ran Wisconsin's largest nursing home for veterans has been replaced amid an ongoing investigation into more than $800,000 in unauthorized spending.

Bill Crowley had been the commandant of the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King since 2003. Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Andy Schuster said Thursday that Crowley is no longer the commandant, but he wouldn't say whether he resigned or was fired.

The department had previously asked Wisconsin's justice department to review $820,000 worth of spending at the home that wasn't authorized by lawmakers. More than 700 veterans and spouses live on the home's 320-acre campus.

Tropical storm watch issued for N.C. coast

MIAMI (AP) — Forecasters have issued a tropical storm watch for the North Carolina coast ahead of Tropical Storm Danny.

Forecasters say large swells are expected to produce dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. East Coast over the next day or two.

The watch is in effect from Cape Lookout north to Duck, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

Danny is centered about 485 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and moving north at 8 mph.

Scientists probing boulder avalanche

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Scientists are trying to determine if a boulder avalanche that forced the closure of a historic Yosemite hotel was a one-time event or a precursor of more rockslides to come.

The Ahwahnee Hotel remained closed Thursday following the landslide a day earlier that peppered the storied building's parking lot with boulders. One was the size of two SUVs.

The rockslide caused no injuries among the hotel's 300 guests, but three cars were damaged.

Woman sent to prison for faking abduction

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A suburban Philadelphia woman accused of faking an abduction and fleeing to Disney World with her 9-year-old daughter will spend nine to 23 months in prison.

Bonnie Sweeten, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to identity theft and making false reports to police.

Authorities say the white mother of three called police on May 26 and said she and her daughter had been abducted by two black men. Prosecutors say she instead used a stolen driver's license to fly to Florida and check into a Disney hotel.

At sentencing, a judge called Sweeten a manipulative, cold-hearted woman who made her daughter a pawn. Federal authorities are investigating allegations Sweeten stole from family members and an employer.

Shuttle launch to be attempted tonight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA will try to launch space shuttle Discovery to the international space station late tonight, after back-to-back delays caused by bad weather and fuel valve trouble.

It will be the third try for NASA, which is still struggling to understand why a critical shuttle fuel valve appeared to malfunction Tuesday midway through the fueling process.

The valve was tested Wednesday night, and all indications were that it was a problem with a sensor rather than the valve itself.

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California official to sue governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's insurance commissioner says he plans to sue Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration over plans to sell part of the state workers' compensation insurer for $1 billion.

Steve Poizner announced Thursday he'll fight the sale of part of the State Compensation Insurance Fund. The fund is the insurer of last resort to provide compensation to workers who get injured on the job.

Poizner says selling a portion of the business or taking money from its assets violates the state constitution.

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