UPI NewsTrack articles from March 2009

UPI NewsTrack archives from March 2009

Crash engineer invited teens to ride along.
March 1, 2009... LOS ANGELES, March 1 (UPI) -- The engineer at the controls during a deadly commuter train crash in Los Angeles appears to have allowed teenagers to ride with him, federal investigators say. The engineer, Robert Sanchez, was one of the 25...

Maoists blamed for blast at Indian station.
March 1, 2009... NAGPUR, India, March 1 (UPI) -- A bombing blamed on a Maoist group at a train station early Saturday disrupted rail service along a main line in central India. The building at Bhanulata blew up at about 3:30 a.m., The Times of India...

Almagro wins Acapulco men's final.
March 1, 2009... ACAPULCO, Mexico, March 1 (UPI) -- Nicolas Almagro beat Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4 to win Saturday's men's final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel (Mexican Open) tennis tournament in Acapulco. The fourth-seeded Spaniard captured his fifth career...

NBA: Utah 102, Sacramento 89.
March 1, 2009... SALT LAKE CITY, March 1 (UPI) -- Ronnie Brewer and Mehmet Okur had 26 points apiece Saturday night to lead the Utah Jazz past Sacramento 102-89. Brewer pulled down seven rebounds and Okur grabbed five, while Deron Williams finished with 16...

Man charged in killing of rugby player.
March 1, 2009... LIMERICK, Ireland, March 1 (UPI) -- A Dublin, Ireland, man was formally charged Saturday with killing an Irish rugby player allegedly gunned down by mistake in a Limerick gang dispute. Barry Doyle, 23, made a brief appearance at the...

Van Pelt, Wilson tied at Mexico golf event.
March 1, 2009... PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico, March 1 (UPI) -- Brad Van Pelt shot 3-under-par 67 Saturday to join overnight co-leader Mark Wilson atop the leaderboard after 54 holes at the PGA Mayakoba Golf Classic. Wilson shot 1-under 69, and the pair carries...

3 banks promise $30B for Eastern Europe.
March 1, 2009... BRUSSELS, March 1 (UPI) -- Three development banks have promised $30 billion to keep the financial system in Eastern Europe from collapsing. The action by the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the...

Alleged teen police impersonator freed.
March 1, 2009... CHICAGO, March 1 (UPI) -- A 14-year-old Chicago boy who allegedly posed as a police officer has been freed from custody. Judge Andrew Berman ordered electronic monitoring for the teenager, the Chicago Tribune said. He had been in detention...

NHL: Edmonton 3, Minnesota 2.
March 1, 2009... EDMONTON, Alberta, March 1 (UPI) -- Dwayne Roloson stopped 43 shots and the Edmonton Oilers stifled a third-period Minnesota rally Saturday night to beat the Wild 3-2. Tom Gilbert scored the decisive goal after an assist by Liam Reddox in...

U.S. report: Thailand not drug source.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Thailand was not a major source country for illegal drugs in 2008, the annual U.S. report on trafficking said. The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, produced by the State Department, said...

Buffett apologizes for poor peformance.
March 1, 2009... OMAHA, March 1 (UPI) -- Billionaire U.S. investor Warren Buffett says he himself is to blame for his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., having its worst year ever in 2008. "During 2008 I did some dumb things in investments," he wrote...

Hearst papers to ration free Web content.
March 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO, March 1 (UPI) -- Hearst Corp. says its U.S. newspapers will hold back some printed content from their free Web sites as online advertising slows sharply industrywide. Just how much print newspaper content Hearst will keep off...

UPI NewsTrack TopNews.
March 1, 2009... Fierce ideological fights coming on budget WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's first budget request is likely to spark fierce ideological clashes, with its deficit spending being the main event, analysts say. ...

Hariri slay probe moves to U.N. tribunal.
March 1, 2009... THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 1 (UPI) -- An investigation of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is moving to a U.N. tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, officials say. The Hariri assassination inquiry after...

20 buildings destroyed in Ala. tornado.
March 1, 2009... SALEM, Ala., March 1 (UPI) -- Residents of a central Alabama town were surveying damage Sunday after a suspected tornado destroyed 20 buildings, witnesses say. The severe storms struck Salem, Ala., about 50 miles northwest of Birmingham,...

Blair arrives in Gaza to assess damage.
March 1, 2009... BEIT HANOUN, Gaza, March 1 (UPI) -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Gaza Sunday saying he'll listen to Palestinian residents and "relay their account" of the Israeli incursion. Blair said he wanted to see first-hand the...

Rihanna's father backs her Brown decision.
March 1, 2009... MIAMI BEACH, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- Ronald Fenty, father of pop singer Rihanna, says he supports his daughter's apparent decision to reconcile with her boyfriend, U.S. singer Chris Brown. Fenty said while he has not seen his daughter since...

Chavez sends troops to rice producers.
March 1, 2009... CARACAS, Venezuela, March 1 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has sent troops to take control of the country's rice-producing sector, accusing it of causing food scarcities. Chavez, in a televised address Saturday, also...

Somalia to impose Islamic law.
March 1, 2009... MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 1 (UPI) -- Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed says he will impose a form of Islamic law, or Shariah, within the country, a key demand of armed insurgents. But Ahmed told reporters Saturday he won't agree to...

Piven Broadway exit headed to arbitration.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- The producers of Broadway's "Speed-the-Plow" say they will pursue independent arbitration against Jeremy Piven over the U.S. actor's exit from their play. "Plow" producers said in a statement Friday in the wake...

'Gossip' to feature No Doubt performance.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- The ska-pop band No Doubt says it will perform on an upcoming episode of the U.S. TV teen drama "Gossip Girl." The band said on its Web site that it will perform the song "Stand and Deliver" by Adam and the Ants...

Beyonce confesses she's 'messy' at home.
March 1, 2009... LOS ANGELES, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Beyonce says while she may always look immaculate in public, in her private home life she is "messy" and "relaxed." The pop singer, whose full name is Beyonce Knowles, also admitted her home habits...

Scarlet resigning as Tribeca creative head.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Peter Scarlet says he is resigning as creative director for New York's Tribeca Film Festival just ahead of its eighth reincarnation. Scarlet said he decided to exit the film festival world after a six-year tenure...

'Guys and Dolls' returning to Broadway.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Actress Kate Jennings Grant says the Broadway revival of the classic musical "Guys and Dolls" is like swooping down a mountain slope on skis. Grant says starring in the latest incarnation of the beloved 1950...

Groups mobilize healthcare reform support.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. healthcare reform groups say they are starting campaigns to counter industry lobbyists and Republican opposition to White House proposals. With the healthcare industry already gearing up to oppose U.S....

Italian TV host finds Leonardo portrait.
March 1, 2009... ROME, March 1 (UPI) -- An Italian TV host and science journalist says he believes he has detected a self-portrait created by multitalented Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Piero Angela said Friday he discovered the suspected Leonardo...

Obama raises hopes on climate treaty.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- A top British official says U.S. President Barack Obama may be able to convince nations to unite for an international treaty on climate change. "The No. 1 thing will be for everyone to see that the United...

Siegfried & Roy on stage one last time.
March 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS, March 1 (UPI) -- The magic act Siegfried & Roy made a brief farewell appearance on a Las Vegas stage this weekend with Montecore, the white tiger that almost killed Roy Horn. The Las Vegas Sun reported Sunday that Horn and...

Study says diet, exercise reduces cancer.
March 1, 2009... LONDON, March 1 (UPI) -- Healthy eating and exercise could reduce bowel and breast cancer cases by more than 40 percent in Britain, the World Cancer Research Fund says. Beyond Britain, the research fund's study estimates about one-third of...

GM pension spending under scrutiny.
March 1, 2009... DETROIT, March 1 (UPI) -- A drastic decline in General Motors Corp.'s U.S. pension funds during a year-long period was due, in part, to questionable spending practices, experts say. Pension Research Council Executive Director Olivia...

UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News.
March 1, 2009... 'Madea' still No. 1 in U.S. theaters LOS ANGELES, March 1 (UPI) -- "Madea Goes to Jail" was No. 1 in U.S. theaters for a second weekend in a row, Box Office Mojo figures showed Sunday. The Tyler Perry comedy pulled in another $16.5...

Gates assesses success in Iraq.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that plans for American troop withdrawals from Iraq will likely take place as scheduled. In an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, Gates said he felt...

Police: Man stole ambulance after crash.
March 1, 2009... EUREKA, Calif., March 1 (UPI) -- A 20-year-old California man stole an ambulance from paramedics sent out to help him after he crashed into some trees, police allege. The California Highway Patrol alleges after Derick Gates of Hoopa drove...

Ochoa wins tournament in Thailand.
March 1, 2009... CHONBURI, Thailand, March 1 (UPI) -- Lorena Ochoa used a 6-under-par 66 Sunday to record a three-stroke victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand golf tournament in Chonburi, Thailand. Ochoa, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, who is the world's...

Rare two-headed calf dies.
March 1, 2009... ALDRICH, Mo., March 1 (UPI) -- A Missouri farmer says he is unsure what he will do with the carcass of a rare two-headed calf that died a day and a half after birth. The brown bull calf was born with two fully formed heads connected to the...

Elephant shrew's birth a mystery at zoo.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The National Zoo says an elephant shrew was born and resided at the Washington tourist site for several weeks before zoo staff finally noticed it. The zoo said in a statement that Small Mammal House workers...

Competitors urge scrutiny of AIG bailout.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- An insurance trade group says U.S. government bailouts for American International Group Inc. must not be used by the firm for competitive advantages. The American Insurance Association, in a letter sent to...

Emanuel forecasts budget approval by April.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama expects to have congressional approval of his budget by April, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday. In an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" program, the former...

Jaidee wins Indonesia Open.
March 1, 2009... BALI, Indonesia, March 1 (UPI) -- Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee shot a closing 3-under-par 69 Sunday to win the European Tour's Indonesia Open by two strokes over three players. Jaidee, a one-stroke leader after Saturday's third round,...

Police suspect wanted to be cop.
March 1, 2009... CHULA VISTA, Calif., March 1 (UPI) -- Police in Chula Vista, Calif., say Romeo Montillano not only wanted to be a cop, but was also wanted by the cops for a prior misdemeanor. Police spokesman Bernard Gonzales said an arrest warrant had...

COL BKB: Louisville 62, Marquette 58.
March 1, 2009... LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 1 (UPI) -- Led by Terrence Williams' 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists Sunday, sixth-ranked Louisville beat No. 10 Marquette 62-58 in a key Big East battle. His two free throws gave Louisville an...

Facebook a new abstinence choice for Lent.
March 1, 2009... NEWARK, N.J., March 1 (UPI) -- A growing number of Christians in the United States are swearing off the social networking Web site Facebook for Lent, a priest says. The Rev. John Grimm of Seton Hall University said such modern...

U.S. East Coast braces for snowstorm.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Atlantic seaboard was under storm warnings Sunday, with heavy snows to span from North Carolina to Maine, forecasters said. The storm began by producing snow in the Carolinas and Georgia Sunday morning,...

Bowden quits as GM of Nationals.
March 1, 2009... VIERA, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden resigned Sunday, saying he didn't want to be a distraction to the team. Bowden said false allegations in news reports compromised his ability "to properly...

UPS courier finds bag of lottery tickets.
March 1, 2009... TORONTO, March 1 (UPI) -- A UPS courier in Toronto says he was surprised when he discovered a torn bag he found by the side of the road was filled with unused lottery tickets. Paul Neves said he ran across the ripped plastic bag while...

Missing Alberta teen found after 2 days.
March 1, 2009... RED DEER, Alberta, March 1 (UPI) -- A missing Canadian teenage girl has been found apparently unharmed after a two-day absence, officials said Sunday. Jordan Knelsen-Long, 16, of Red Deer, Alberta, was found alive and safe Saturday night...

Harper: Afghan goals need to be realistic.
March 1, 2009... NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Canadians still support the NATO mission in Afghanistan but are looking for a realistic strategy there, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says. Canadians, for the most part, "remain supportive of the mission, that we...

U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn wins again.
March 1, 2009... BANSKO, Bulgaria, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. star Lindsey Vonn skied to her fourth straight super-G victory Sunday, beating Switzerland's Fabienne Suter by just over half a second at Bansko, Bulgaria. Vonn, the overall World Cup leader, had...

COL BKB: Kansas 90, Missouri 65.
March 1, 2009... LAWRENCE, Kan., March 1 (UPI) -- No. 15 Kansas shot 56 percent in the first half Sunday on the way to a 26-point halftime lead and a 90-65 victory against eighth-ranked Missouri. The Jayhawks sprinted away from an early 4-3 deficit for a...

Cruise ship passengers get sick.
March 1, 2009... SAN DIEGO, March 1 (UPI) -- A cruise ship was back at sea Sunday after a stop in San Diego to drop off dozens of passengers who came down with a stomach ailment, officials said. A Holland American cruise line spokesman said 106 people...

NHL: Pittsburgh 4, Dallas 1.
March 1, 2009... DALLAS, March 1 (UPI) -- The surging Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Evgeni Malkin's goal and two assists, won for the fifth time in six games Sunday, topping the Dallas Stars 4-1. Jordan Staal, Miroslav Satan and Kris Letang also tallied for...

NHL: Chicago 4, Los Angeles 2.
March 1, 2009... CHICAGO, March 1 (UPI) -- Chicago's Jonathan Toews scored with 47 seconds left in the first period Sunday and the Blackhawks went on to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Dustin Byfuglien, Duncan Keith and Dave Bolland posted the other goals...

Mark Wilson bags his 2nd PGA trophy.
March 1, 2009... PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico, March 1 (UPI) -- Mark Wilson shot a 2-under-par 68 Sunday to win the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico, his second title on the PGA Tour. Wilson finished at 13-under 267 for a two-shot margin over J.J. Henry, who...

2-year-old Kentucky girl missing.
March 1, 2009... FRANKFORT, Ky., March 1 (UPI) -- An Amber Alert remained in effect Sunday for a 2-year-old Kentucky who disappeared with her father, who authorities consider armed and possibly suicidal. Frankfort police said Breanna Woodside hasn't been...

Clinton in Egypt for talks.
March 1, 2009... CAIRO, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Egypt Sunday to begin talks on efforts to rebuild Gaza and find a way to peace in the Middle East. In her first visit to the region since becoming the United States'...

COL BKB: Michigan St. 74, Illinois 66.
March 1, 2009... CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 1 (UPI) -- No. 9 Michigan State quelled a late rally Sunday and clinched at least a tie for the Big Ten regular-season title with a 74-66 win over 20th-ranked Illinois. The Spartans held a 37-30 halftime advantage...

Bird flu vaccine works on mice.
March 1, 2009... HONG KONG, March 1 (UPI) -- A modified vaccine once used to treat smallpox has proven effective in treating mice infected with the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, Hong Kong researchers say. While human trials are at least two years off, the...

Mullen: Iran has nuke weapon material.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. officials think Iran has sufficient material to produce a nuclear weapon, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen said Sunday. "We think they do, quite frankly," the U.S. Navy admiral said on CNN. "Iran...

NBA: New Orleans 99, New Jersey 96.
March 1, 2009... EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., March 1 (UPI) -- Chris Paul's 19-foot jumper with 40 seconds left Sunday gave the New Orleans Hornets a 99-96 win over the New Jersey Nets. When the all-star guard sank his dramatic game-winner, New Orleans trailed...

Kyle Busch wins Las Vegas Sprint race.
March 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS, March 1 (UPI) -- Kyle Busch won Sunday's Sprint Cup Shelby 427 auto race in Las Vegas, his home town, giving him and team owner Joe Gibbs their first victory in "Sin City." Busch's No. 18 Toyota cruised to victory after he passed...

Whales, dolphins stranded on Aussie beach.
March 1, 2009... CURRIE, Australia, March 1 (UPI) -- A wildlife expert said Monday he was confident at least some of the nearly 200 whales and several dolphins beached on Australia's King Island could be saved. The marine mammals beached themselves on the...

Postal Service reveals new stamps.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The late African-American author Richard Wright is among those being honored by the U.S. Postal Service with new stamps this year. Wright, who died in 1960 at age 52, will appear on the 61-cent stamp. Wright is...

NBA: Indiana 100, Denver 94.
March 1, 2009... INDIANAPOLIS, March 1 (UPI) -- Jarrett Jack scored eight of his 28 points in the fourth period Sunday to rally the Indiana Pacers to a 100-94 victory against the Denver Nuggets. When the final period started, Denver held a 75-68 advantage,...

Chinese lunar probe hits moon.
March 1, 2009... BEIJING, March 1 (UPI) -- China's first unmanned lunar probe reached the moon's surface Sunday, completing its 16-month mission, Chinese sources said. Sources with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National...

Victoria braces for new bush fires.
March 1, 2009... MELBOURNE, March 1 (UPI) -- Officials ordered a burning ban Monday in the Australian state of Victoria as concern mounted the region might be hit with more bush fires. Firefighters battled a series of blazes in Victoria Sunday and the...

Kenseth exits race early at Las Vegas.
March 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS, March 1 (UPI) -- Matt Kenseth's date with destiny Sunday ended early at the Sprint Cup Shelby 427 auto race in Las Vegas when he left after six laps with mechanical failure. Kenseth had been a surprise winner at the series' first...

NHL: Tampa Bay 8, Calgary 6.
March 1, 2009... TAMPA, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis each scored twice and Mark Recchi had five assists for Tampa Bay Sunday, leading the Lightning over Calgary 8-6. A power-play goal by Lecavalier with 11:28 remaining...

Conservative epithet of choice: 'Socialist.
March 1, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- "Socialist" has apparently arrived as a favorite negative term for conservatives to use in describing political opponents, The New York Times said Sunday. In an analysis of rhetoric employed recently by...

Study: Race a factor in drug arrests.
March 2, 2009... WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Blacks in the United States have been arrested on drug charges at higher rates than whites for nearly three decades, a study indicates. Human Rights Watch said blacks are arrested at higher rates even though...

NBA: Cleveland 88, Atlanta 87.
March 2, 2009... ATLANTA, March 2 (UPI) -- LeBron James drew a foul and sank a free throw with 1.6 seconds left Sunday night to help the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 88-87 win over Atlanta. James -- who finished with 26 points and 11 assists -- had gone...

NBA: Dallas 109, Toronto 98.
March 2, 2009... DALLAS, March 2 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds Sunday night to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 109-98 victory over Toronto. Josh Howard had 16 points and Antoine Wright scored 15 for the Mavericks, who have...

U.S. coed claims police abuse.
March 2, 2009... PERUGIA, Italy, March 2 (UPI) -- A U.S. coed accused of murder in Italy told the court police mistreated her as they questioned her in the death of her British house mate. Amanda Knox, 21, is accused of killing Meredith Kercher in Perugia...

Animal Liberation Front mole tells all.
March 2, 2009... LONDON, March 2 (UPI) -- A police informant who infiltrated a British animal liberation group says he sympathizes with people who are "genuinely concerned at the plight of animals." Adrian Radford, a former soldier and intelligence services...

Watercooler Stories.
March 2, 2009... Conservative epithet of choice: 'Socialist WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- "Socialist" has apparently arrived as a favorite negative term for conservatives to use in describing political opponents, The New York Times said Sunday. In an...

Car crash kills 3 children, 2 adults.
March 2, 2009... CALGARY, Alberta, March 2 (UPI) -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said three children and two women were killed Sunday in a gruesome car crash in southeastern Alberta. RCMP Sgt. Greg Squire said a van carrying six people skidded...

Storm barrels up Atlantic Coast.
March 2, 2009... NEW YORK, March 2 (UPI) -- Schools closed and traffic snarled Monday as a storm blew into New England after burying states along the U.S. Atlantic Coast, meteorologists said. The storm left nearly a foot of heavy wet snow in parts of New...

Obama taps Sebelius for HHS.
March 2, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Monday said he would nominate Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to head the department of Health and Human Services. The appointment will make her Obama's point person on healthcare...

N. Korea complains of U.S. military drills.
March 2, 2009... PANMUNJOM, South Korea, March 2 (UPI) -- The first high-level talks between North Korea and the United Nations Command in years yielded complaints about upcoming military drills, sources say. Citing unnamed military sources, the South...

Police review stun gun use on minors.
March 2, 2009... HAWTHORNE, Calif., March 2 (UPI) -- The use of stun guns to subdue violent school children is under review in one California city after police used a device on an autistic boy, officials said. Hawthorne, Calif., police are reviewing the...

Wedding bus crash in India kills 11.
March 2, 2009... NEW DELHI, March 2 (UPI) -- A bus driver in northern India was trying to pass another vehicle when a train crashed into the bus, killing 11 wedding guests aboard, officials said. The crash happened in the Budaun district of the Uttar...

Unrest in Ukraine appears on the rise.
March 2, 2009... KIEV, Ukraine, March 2 (UPI) -- Signs of unrest are growing in Ukraine, as the economy edges closer collapse, various observers said. Protesters have camped out in Kiev, the nation's capital. One protester, Vasily Kirilyuk, predicted "a...

AG notifies Olmert of possible indictment.
March 2, 2009... JERUSALEM, March 2 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert might be indicted on corruption charges, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has indicated. The attorney general notified Olmert's lawyers Sunday that he was considering charging...

Bid a ploy to bar auction on 2 sculptures.
March 2, 2009... BEIJING, March 2 (UPI) -- A Chinese man said Monday he won't pay his bid on two pieces auctioned in Paris to block future auctions on the items the Chinese government says were looted. Cai Minghao, a collections adviser with the National...

Boehner gets tough with GOP laggards.
March 2, 2009... WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, is cracking down on Republican members who don't meet performance benchmarks, observers say. Boehner, who has overseen GOP losses in key House districts in the...