Hard New Ledes

1. The number of child abuse or neglect cases in America rose from 2.5 million to 2.7 million at the end of 2009, according to a Baltimore Child Abuse Prevention Center survey released Wednesday. The survey showed that three to four children die from child abuse every day in America.

2. MILWAUKEE – Police arrested nearly 150 anti-abortion protesters who were blocking the entrances to an abortion clinic Wednesday. Nearly 2,500 people, who have been protesting outside the clinic for three days, said that they plan to demonstrate for six weeks.

3. A man robbed a Great Wall of China Restaurant delivery driver at gunpoint Wednesday at an apartment complex on Western Ave., police said. The man, who opened the complex's outside security door for the driver, threatened to kill him unless he handed over the Chinese food.

4. BOULDER, Colo. - One person was injured Wednesday morning in a fire that caused $45,000 in damages to a two-bedroom home on Main Street, fire officials said.

5. The number of murders and violent crimes committed has increased while the number of rapes and robberies has decreased significantly, according to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report of crime rates from January to March 2010.

6. United Nations Environment Program researchers found that damage to the earth's ozone layer is increasing, according to a United Nations scientific panel report released Wednesday. The ozone layer, which absorbs some of the sun's cancer-causing ultraviolet rays, could decrease 3 percent in the next decade, researchers said.

7. SANTA ANA, Calif. - Police arrested a 71-year-old woman after she doused her husband with rubbing alcohol and lit him on fire Wednesday. June Carter called paramedics six hours after she allegedly tried to murder Paul Carter, 62, who was confined to a wheelchair and had cancer, police said.

8. Lower broadband prices caused the American broadband user rate to surpass that of dial-up users in 2009, according to Nielsen/NetRatings.

9. Princeton University officials decided that each department cannot award more than 35 percent of its students with A's.

10: Up to 47 million adults may be putting themselves at risk for injury, health and behavior problems because they aren't meeting their minimum sleep needs, the National Sleep Foundation said. About 70 million Americans are affected by a sleep problem, the foundation said.

Editing needless words

PANORA, Ia. – 525 mourners met the deceased Army Spec. Michael Mills Friday at the crowded United Methodist Church.

Instead of a parade down Main Street, there was a stream of cars that stretched from the church to the West Cemetery outside of town.

There were flags at half-staff, and red, white and blue ribbons tied to flower sprays that surrounded the altar. There were also tears – of grief, not joy.

To the rest of the country, Mills was one of 191 Americans killed in the war and one of 28 people killed Feb. 25 when an Iraqi suicide bomb exploded.

To the 1,100 people here, Mike Mills was the 23-year-old hometown boy who carried on a family tradition by joining the Army.

Mill’s funeral provided a somber contrast to the joyous reunions held for returning troops throughout the country.