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At least 12 killed at immigration center in NY

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) _ A gunman opened fire on a room where immigrants were taking a citizenship exam in downtown Binghamton on Friday, killing as many as 13 people before committing suicide, officials said. Gov. David Paterson said at a news conference that 12 or 13 people had been killed. The suspected gunman carried identification with the name of 42-year-old Jiverly Voong of nearby Johnson City, N.Y., a law enforcement official said.

Jobless rate bolts to 8.5 percent, 663K jobs lost

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The nation's unemployment rate jumped to 8.5 percent in March, the highest since late 1983, as a wide swath of employers eliminated 663,000 jobs. It's fresh evidence of the toll the recession has inflicted on America's workers, and economists say there's no relief in sight. If part-time and discouraged workers are factored in, the unemployment rate would have been 15.6 percent in March, the highest on records dating to 1994, according to Labor Department data released Friday.

Obama tries American-style campaign on Europe

STRASBOURG, France (AP) _ Courting Europe with an American-style campaign, President Barack Obama on Friday talked up his plans _ popular here _ to eliminate nuclear weapons, close the Guantanamo Bay prison and tackle global warming. In return, he's hoping for European popular support in the anti-terror fight in Afghanistan.

Fed 'extremely uncomfortable' about bailouts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ While acknowledging that the Federal Reserve was "extremely uncomfortable" about last year's bailouts of big financial companies, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday the central bank's strategy to ease the financial crisis is working. Bernanke was referring to the Fed's unprecedented decisions last year to step in and financially back JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s takeover of then-troubled investment house Bear Stearns and throw its first of four financial lifelines to insurance giant American International Group Inc.

Iowa high court legalizes gay marriage in state

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Iowa's Supreme Court legalized gay marriage Friday in a unanimous and emphatic decision that makes Iowa the third state _ and the first in the nation's heartland _ to allow same-sex couples to wed. In its decision, the high court upheld a lower court's ruling that found a state law restricting marriage to between a man and woman violated Iowa's constitution.

Obama: US cannot shoulder Afghan burden alone

STRASBOURG, France (AP) _ European nations pledged Friday on the eve of NATO's 60th anniversary summit that they would support America's new Afghan war strategy with more civilian aid and small troop increases. President Barack Obama said Europe should not expect the U.S. to shoulder the military burden alone. NATO leaders have been reluctant to commit significant new military forces to the deadlocked conflict despite Obama's plan to add 21,000 U.S. troops to the force of 38,000 fighting the rising insurgency. The Europeans have focused on increasing humanitarian and development aid.

Dow closes over 8,000, logs 4th week of gains

NEW YORK (AP) _ Not even grisly job losses could get in the stock market's way Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average clawed higher to end above 8,000 for the first time in nearly two months, and logged its fourth straight week of gains. The last time the Dow rose for four consecutive weeks was between September and October of 2007 _ when the index reached its all-time high above 14,000.

Malawi court rejects Madonna adoption request

LILONGWE, Malawi (AP) _ In a surprise move, a judge on Friday rejected Madonna's request to adopt a second child from Malawi and said it would set a dangerous precedent to bend rules requiring that prospective parents live here for some period. Madonna's lawyer, Alan Chinula, said later Friday that he has "filed notice for appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal." He says no date was immediately set.

English villagers send Google snapper packing

LONDON (AP) _ You're never far from a camera in Britain, a country that has accepted the presence of millions of surveillance cameras in its streets, shopping centers and public spaces. But for the villagers of Broughton in southern England, the roving eye of Google was one camera too far. A gaggle of residents in the affluent hamlet formed a human chain to turn away a car shooting images for Google Street View, the popular service that allows Internet users to see high-quality photos of houses and streets around the world.

Mets agree to deal with Sheffield, 1 HR shy of 500

NEW YORK (AP) _ Gary Sheffield plans to go for No. 500 with the New York Mets. One home run shy of the milestone, Sheffield reached a contract agreement with New York on Friday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers in a surprising move. The deal is contingent on Sheffield passing a physical Saturday, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.