Iraqi Army Kills Leader of Shiite Cult

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ Iraq's army announced Monday it killed the leader of a heavily armed cult of messianic Shiites called "the Soldiers of Heaven" in a fierce gunbattle aimed at foiling a plot to attack leading Shiite clerics and pilgrims in the southern city of Najaf on the holiest day of the Shiite calendar.,”

UW leaders use public hearings to sell admissions plan

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – University of Wisconsin System leaders tried to sell changes to their freshman admissions policy to the public Monday, saying race and other factors must be considered to ensure a diverse student body.

UW System President Kevin Reilly said academic factors including test scores, the quality of high school classes and grade-point average would remain the most important. But he said the policy would allow admissions officers to look beyond those factors to ensure diversity in race, income and talent among the system's 160,000 students.

"This policy would allow each institution to admit students whose academic preparation, background and personal experience suggests they will succeed," he said.

Doyle proposes creation of Department of Children and Families

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Gov. Jim Doyle said Monday he wants to create a new state agency to handle programs for children and needy families to save money in the long term and streamline services.

"I am committed to ensuring that children and families have access to the services they need to get off to the best start they can in life," Doyle said Monday at the La Causa Child Care and Early Education Center.

The new Wisconsin Department of Children and Families would administer the child welfare, child support, child-care services and welfare-to-work program, now split between the state Workforce Development and Health and Family Services departments.

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