News Briefs

Fighting in Libya Claims Lives of Reporters

Fighting in Libya has claimed the life of a renowned British filmmaker and injured several other members of the press.

Tim Hetherington, a British photojournalist, filmmaker, and director, died after Libyan military forces attacked a rebel group in the city of Misrata in northeastern Libya. Hetherington is best known for his role as director in the documentary Restrepo, which tells of the year Hetherington spent in Afghanistan photographing the war.

Hetherington's death is the third known death of a foreign journalist since the fighting ignited in Libya in February.

Chris Hondros, also perished in the attack, he was a Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer for Getty Images,. Two other American and British photographers and journalists were injured.

There are 18 more journalists that have been captured and detained, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Virginia Board Rejects Proposal That Would Have Allowed Gay Adoptions

Despite emotional pleas by gay-rights groups, a state board overwhelmingly voted late Wednesday to continue a practice that some argue allows faith-based organizations in Virginia to discriminate in adoptions.

The State Board of Social Service's 7-to-2 vote came after a slew of faith-based groups and adoption agencies insisted that they be able to screen prospective parents based on religious or moral beliefs.

The proposed regulations would have added protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, disability, and family status. The current rules follow federal law banning discrimination based on national origin, race and color.

Virginia is one of 34 states where only single men, and women, and married couples can adopt, according to the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Lawmakers and activists have disagreed about whether the proposed regulations would have allowed other classes, including heterosexual or homosexual unmarried couples to adopt.

Buffalo Man Charged for not Telling of HIV Infection

Police have arrested an HIV-positive Buffalo man who allegedly had sex with more than one unsuspecting partner, city police said Wednesday.

Darryl Fortner, 21 years old, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a woman and failing to tell her he was HIV-positive.

Police would not confirm Wednesday whether the female was infected by Fortner.

Police have requested that Fortner's sexual partners contact them and seek medical treatment.

Fortner was arrested late Tuesday night and arraigned early Wednesday morning in City Court. He is being held in the Erie County Holding Center in lieu of $15,000 bail.

While the investigation is still in its early stages, it is reminiscent of the high-profile case of former Jamestown and New York City resident Nushawn Williams who pleaded guilty in 1998 to charges of statutory rape and infecting 13 young women with HIV.

A civil trial to determine Fortner's fate is scheduled for May 9 in Buffalo.

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