Weekend in review: Top stories, multimedia

4/14/2008
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Sister Patricia Marie McClain and others from Lial Catholic School in Whitehouse know they may not get close - but they're still hoping for a chance to see the Pope. Early tomorrow morning, Sister Pat and 34 Lial students and teachers will board a bus and head to Washington. They'll be in the nation's capital the same time as Pope Benedict XVI, who arrives on Shepherd One Tuesday morning, but they will not be able to attend the Papal Mass at Nationals Park on Wednesday.

ANN ARBOR - It has rained all spring on new Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez, and that's odd considering the Wolverines have been relegated to practicing indoors. But at seemingly every turn during Rodriguez's first spring camp at UM, there has been controversy or bad news waiting for him.

Two Ohio Highway Patrol troopers in Sandusky were disciplined after one was photographed by the other while dressed in a Ku Klux Klan-like costume, said Sgt. Craig Cvetan, a spokesman for the patrol in Columbus. Trooper Eric Wlodarsky used a cell phone on Jan. 20 to photograph Trooper Craig Franklin, who wore what appeared to be the garb of a KKK member, Sergeant Cvetan said. Both troopers were on duty at the time.

BRYAN - Gorham Fayette High School teacher Tabatha Fidler, facing a criminal charge that she had sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy, has resigned. Ms. Fidler, 27, submitted her resignation to the district by letter April 4. The school board accepted it at its regular meeting Thursday, Superintendent Russell Griggs said.

The Rev. Frank Murd has resigned as pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Maumee because he is under investigation based on an accusation of improper sexual contact with an adult, the Toledo diocese reported yesterday. Sylvania Township police are investigating the accusation against Father Murd, 65, who has been pastor of St. Joseph's since July, 2003.

COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland yesterday vowed to veto a just unveiled Republican energy regulation plan if it reaches his desk. "The bill allows immediate and unfettered access for FirstEnergy to go to market, exposing businesses and consumers in Cleveland, Toledo, and Akron to the risk of skyrocketing electricity prices," he said.

For the second consecutive day, a juror hearing the case of three area men accused of terrorism-related charges was dismissed. Prior to the start of testimony yesterday, attorneys and U.S. District Court Judge James Carr met for about 30 minutes during which the juror was excused. Judge Carr asked the remaining jurors not to speculate on why the action was taken.