Wedding Bells

Former pop princess Britney Spears shaves head last Friday evening at a California's San Fernando Valley Salon, CNN reported.

After leaving the salon, Spears headed to the Body & Soul tattoo parlor in nearby Sherman Oaks, Calif. According to Us Weekly, she got two tattoos there, one on her hip and one on her wrist.

When a Body & Soul employee looked at the pop star in disbelief and asked why she shaved her head, Spears said, "I don't want anyone touching me. I'm tired of everybody touching me," Us Weekly reports.

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According to CNN, two Iraqi insurgent groups have vowed to step up attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces to avenge the alleged rapes of women by members of the security force.

The first rape allegation was announced earlier this week. A 20-year-old Sunni woman claimed she was raped by three Iraqi policemen, CNN reported.

According to msnbc.com, a second rape allegation emerged Thursday .when a 50-year-old Sunni woman in Tal Afar, claimed she was raped by four Iraqi soldiers, who also tried to rape her daughters.

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Star Tribune reported that across the metro area, feral cats are a growing nuisance and public health risk according to community groups and animal control workers. . Statistics and estimates suggest that there could be anywhere from half a million to a million feral cats roaming the Twin Cities, reported Star Tribune.

Eyewitness news 5 reported that Minnesota's recent mild winters may have helped thecats reproduce at abnormal rates, packing animal shelters to capacity and forcing more officials to deal with this problem

The solution by animal-rights groups is trapping, spaying or neutering the cats, then vaccinating and releasing them. It keeps the cats alive, but is effective in decreasing population in the future years, Star Tribune reported.

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Five years ago, a University of Minnesota study discovered that a type of stem cell in mice could have a potential to treat disease as the same taken from embryos. But now the university and the lead scientist, Dr. Catherin Verfaillie, said a part of the study is flawed, reported the Star Tribune.

Questions were raised by a British magazine, New Scientist, a disclosed the incident in a article published last week.

An expert panel concluded that a process used to identify the cells was "significantly flawed, and that the interpretations based on these data, expressed in the manuscript, are potentially incorrect," reproted Star Tribune.

According to the Northwestern Chronicle, these findings are preliminary. Much more research must be done to reproduce the results reliably. The difficulty is finding money, scientists, and finding patent on their research, so future problems won't exist when spreading information.

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A new airport security machine that virtually strips off clothing made it's deput Friday in Phoenix, Arizona, reported the Star Tribune. This machine will detect weapons and explosives on airline passengers. It's a so-called "backscatter" that will be used at checkpoints in the airport, Tribune reported. It virtually strips of the clothing of the passenger, but the image looks more like a chalky figure than a real-like image. Airport officials said this screening will be voluntary for those for have to go through additional screening or they will have to be patted down, reported the Tribune.

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USmagazine.com reported that Prince Frederic von Anhalt claims that he is the latest Anna Nicole Smith's baby daddy. He filed for a paternity challenge in Santa Monica court Thursday. He said he had been sleeping with Anna Nicole for 10 years and denies he is after the 5-month-old Dannielynn's possible inheritance.

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Two pit bull dogs ripped off man's left hand and badly "mauled" his right arm. James Chapple, 59, of Tennessee, had just gotten off the bus and was walking home when two pit bulls ran out of an auto repair business, knocked him down and started biting him, reported Star Tribune.

He said he passed out and woke up in the ambulance. Doctors had to amputate his lower left hand and saved his right. He suffered many bite marks on his leg and on one ear, reported FOXNews.com. Owner of the pit bulls refused to comment.

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Al Queda leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was wounded in a firefight today, reported FOXNews.com. Masri was wounded and his aide Abu Abdullah al-Majemaai was killed. It occurred near Balad, a major US base, FOXNews reported.

Reports declined to say how al-Masri had been injured, reported CNN.com. A spokesperson said Iraqi police have the body of the aide but would not comment if al-Masri was captured. The US miliary, has so far made no comment on the report, CNN.com reported.

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Minnesota State Patrol released a crash video to promote safety and to remind motorists to give wide berth to emergency vehicles of face a citation, Pioneer Press reported. Too many state troopers and emergency vehicles have been struck by oncoming traffic.

Star Tribune reported that six emergency vehicles in the last month have been hit performing their duties. State Patrols are calling attention to the Ted Foss "Move Over" law, which is to pull over or give at least one lane of space for vehicle to pass by. The law was named by the Minnesota State Patrol after Minnesota State Patrol Cpl. was killed during a traffic stop in 2000. From 2001-2005 passing vehicles have injured 126 state troopers, Star Tribune reported.

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Great Value and Peter Pan peanut butter is linked to the spread of a salmonella outbreak all across the country affecting 39 states, included Minnesota, reported the Star Tribune. It has sickened 300 people since August, officials said. Doug Shulz, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Health Department said that five people have become sick and one person has been hospitalized in Minnesota, reported Star Tribune.

Lids of jars produced by ConAgra with product code '2111' can be returned to the company for a refund, reported the Pioneer Press. According to officials, it's a mystery of how the germ got into the peanut butter, it could be linked to dirty jars or equipment, reported Pioneer Press.

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Alfonso Rodriquez was sentenced to die today for the kidnapping and death of a University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin, reported Star Tribune.

He abducted Sjodin in November 2003 from a mall parking lot in Grand Forks, N.D. Six months later her body was found in Crookstone, Minn. by a ravine, according to Star Tribune.

Kare 11 reported that Rodriquez showed no emotion and declined the chance to speak during his sentencing. The judge said "It was the most difficult day of his life."

Rodriquez will be the 45th inmate on Federal death row. The average sentencing is carried out for about six to eight months, Kare11 reported.

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Star Tribune reported today that two more unvaccinated Minn. children die of the flu according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The names are not released yet, but one was 8 years old and the other was 17 months old. They were from Hennepin and Isanti county.

5 Eyewitness News reported that flu deaths in children are infrequent but not rare. There have been 13 flu deaths nationally this year, and 3 of the 13 have been in Minnesota.

State Health Officials have no explanation for the odd cluster of fatalities in Minnesota. 85% of the outbreaks in schools have been in the past 3 weeks this year, reported Kare11 News.

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Former playboy, model, and trimspa spokesperson died today of unknown causes. She was found collasped in her Florida hotel, according to officals. She was only 39 years old, reported Star Tribune.

She was staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino when she was rushed to the hospital after CPR was performed on her. She arrived at the hospital and was reported dead. According to Edwind Johnson, chief investigator for the Brownward Medical Examiners Office, said the cause of death was under investigation and an autopsy with be done on Friday, Star Tribune reported.

CNN reported her attorney Ron Rale told reporters she had been suffering from flu-like symptoms for the past few days. She left behind her newborn daughter Dannielynn Hope.

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Dec 30, Brandy was involved in a fatal car accident. The accident happened at 10:30 a.m, on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. Brandy was driving her 2007 Land Rover and didn't notice the cars in front of her. Her car struck a Toyota in front of her and the Toyota hit an Acura that slammed into the center divider. The driver of the Acura was taken to the hospital and died the next day. There was no evidence of alcohol and drugs, FOXNews reported.

She was charge with a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of one year and $1000 fine.She is now facing charges of vehicular manslaughter, E! News reported

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The annual torchlight parade is still on for Saturday, but will be cut shorter. Instead of the eight block path instead it will change to 3 blocks near Rice Lake Park, from 6-7. The below-0-temps and frigid air have caused some floats to drop out of the parade, Star Tribune reported.

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Twins Abbygail and Madysen Fitterer who were surgically seperated a month ago conditions have been upgraded to fair. The 6-month-old girls, who were born joined at the chest are now breathing on their own, Star Tribune Reported.

Their ventilators that helped them breathe were removed earlier this week. They are on their way to a smooth, gradual recovery. They will continue recovery at the Mayo Clinic's Eugenio Litta Childrens Hospital.

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100 people died an nearly 30 people were wounded this week in protest in Congo. Protesting electoral fraud through several towns. Those dead include security forces but majority were demonstrators, CNN reported.

Authorities order soldiers from nearby Kitona and surrounding areas to restore order and soldiers had automatic weapons and rockets. Government officials could not be reached to comment on the violence, MSNBC reported.

The protests started after the recent elections last weekend. It began as a peaceful protest and ended in a bloody riot.

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CNN is reporting that tornadoes ripped through central Florida early Friday morning, killing at least 19 people, and destroying homes, churches, and businesses.

Disaster crews with dogs are searching piles of debris for missing bodies. The tornadoes had a 40-mile path and covered four counties in Florida. It was the deadliest combination of thunderstorms to hit Florida in over a decade, according to the Star Tribune.

Pioneer Press is reporting that Florida's emergency team is doing all they can to search through the debris to find any survivors. It may take several days to determine the exact number dead, number one priority is to find anybody trapped in the debris.

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