Iraq war critic Rep. Murtha dies
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77.

The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.

In 1974 Murtha, then an officer in the Marine Reserves, became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. Ethical questions often shadowed his congressional service, but he was best known for being among Congress’ most hawkish Democrats. He wielded considerable clout for two decades as the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending.

Murtha voted in 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, but his growing frustration over the administration’s handling of the war prompted him in November 2005 to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Retired fire dept. worker wins lotto
n RALEIGH, N.C. — A retired fire department employee in North Carolina is the winner of Saturday’s Powerball lottery jackpot.

Frank Griffin of Asheville came forward Monday to claim his prize. The lump sum payment is about $47 million after taxes.

The 66-year-old owns a janitorial services company and used to be a driver and engineer for the Asheville Fire Department.

He said he wants to take care of his three children and grandchildren and take his wife on a trip to Hawaii. He also plans to play more golf.

Toll stands at 5 in plant blast
n MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Search-and-rescue crews declared a section of an exploded power plant too unstable to comb through Monday, a task that lost urgency when officials said everyone assigned to work at the plant the day of the blast had been accounted for and the death toll should stand at five.

Mayor Sebastian Guiliano sounded a note of caution Monday afternoon, however, saying rescue crews had been unable to get to all areas of the plant and he could not say for certain that no more victims would be found.

Gov’t shut down by snowstorm
n WASHINGTON — Federal workers and school children got a day off Monday as the Mid-Atlantic region dug out from as much as 3 feet of snow that made travel nearly impossible and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people.

Federal agencies that employ 230,000 in Washington were closed, as were many local governments, businesses and school districts. Utilities warned it could be days before power is restored to everyone.

With more snow expected today and Wednesday — as much as a foot in some places and close to another foot and a half in Philadelphia — stranded travelers wondered when they might escape the icy, gray mess.

Toyota resale values drop again
n IRVINE, Calif. — The Blue Book value of used Toyotas has been reduced again as the Japanese carmaker’s troubles persist.

Kelley Blue Book said Monday it was lowering the resale value of recalled Toyotas for the second time in less than a week. That leaves the cars’ value an average of 3.5 percent lower than a week ago, with further cuts still possible.

Officers to retrieve Edwards sex tape
n RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina judge wants security officers to accompany a former John Edwards aide as he goes to retrieve a sex tape of his former boss.
Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones said in an order released Monday that the Orange County sheriff has appointed a security firm to help recover the video and other items. Former Edwards loyalist Andrew Young has said he has the original tape and copies stored in an Atlanta safety deposit box. Jones wants the security officer to accompany Young into the vault.

Jones has declared Young was in contempt for not immediately turning over the tape. Edwards’ mistress, Rielle Hunter, has sued Young for invasion of privacy. Young said the tape shows Edwards in a sexual encounter with a woman he assumes to be Hunter.