• Tubbs Jones had long political career capped by seat in the House
Stephanie Tubbs Jones' political résumé was filled with both public service and political activism. And her numerous accomplishments include many firsts:

• Army plans more help to fallen soldiers' families
Washington - The Army is mailing out thousands of letters to survivors of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, asking what it can do to better help them, even years after the deaths of their loved ones.

• Auburn Career Center in Concord Township selected as model high school - Honored
Auburn Career Center in Concord Township recently was selected as one of 23 model high schools for 2008 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. As a model school, Auburn becomes a member of the Successful Practices Network. The Auburn staff will exchange best instructional practices, successful methods and peer support with the more than 600 Network schools across the country.

• Cervical cancer treatment less cost-effective with age
Atlanta - An expensive vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer makes sense for young teens when it comes to cost-effectiveness, but not for women in their 20s, contends a new report.

• Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed released from jail after serving drunken driving sentence
Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed was released Wednesday from the Cleveland House of Correction in Highland Hills after serving 10 days for his second drunken driving conviction in three years.

• Cleveland schools expected to be back on academic watch
After a year of trumpeting gains in achievement, Cleveland school officials say they expect to tumble back into "academic watch" when state report cards are released next week.

• Crash during takeoff in Madrid kills 153 headed to vacation resort
Madrid, Spain - A jetliner heading to the Canary Islands vacation resort crashed during takeoff Wednesday, and 153 people were believed dead. It was Spain's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years.

• CSU professor joins search for answers
In a spacious Cleveland State University laboratory lined with bones and relics, Jennifer Clark handed the binder of photos and reports to Dr. Robert Mensforth, her mentor and former forensic anthropology professor.

• New voting system set for Cuyahoga County elections
A new voting system is one of several changes the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections will debut for the Nov. 4 presidential election.

• Deal sets terms for U.S. to leave Iraq, officials say
Baghdad - Iraqi and U.S. negotiators have completed a draft security agreement that would see American troops leave Iraqi cities as soon as June 30, Iraqi and American officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

• Foreign News Briefs

• Foreign News Briefs
,bbs

• Strickland fails to negotiate deal on sick-leave proposal
Columbus- Gov. Ted Strickland's effort to negotiate a compromise to keep a controversial sick-leave proposal off the November ballot ended Wednesday without a deal.

• Her generous smile welcomed friends and strangers
Even people who didn't know U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones responded to her as if she were a friend.

• Tax credits proposed for college graduates who stay in Ohio
Columbus- The youngest members of the Ohio legislature have proposed a tax credit they hope will reverse the trend of college-educated young people fleeing the Buckeye State for jobs elsewhere.

• Bat Gala is Saturday in Cleveland Metroparks' South Chagrin Reservation - Happenings
Enjoy an evening of bat games and crafts, bat songs and stories around the campfire, bat presentations, bat exhibits and face painting during the free Bat Gala event from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Shelterhouse Picnic Area in Cleveland Metroparks' South Chagrin Reservation in Bentleyville. The picnic area is off Hawthorn Parkway, east of SOM Center Road. For more information, call 440-247-7075.

• Lorain Law Director Mark Provenza charged with drunken driving, hit and run
Lakewood -- Lorain Law Director Mark Provenza was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with drunken driving and hit and run after plowing into a house on Bunts Road, police said.

• Medicare releases hospitals' death rates for pneumonia, heart attacks and heart failure
Three hospitals in Northeast Ohio stand out for treatment of pneumonia, according to new data released by Medicare.

• National News Briefs
,bbs WASHINGTON

• News agencies, PD apologize for Tubbs Jones death report error
Confusion about the condition of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones resulted in several news agencies, including The Plain Dealer, reporting prematurely that she had died.

• On the campaign trail

• Cuyahoga County Government Reform panel cancels meeting because of Tubbs Jones' affliction
The Commission on Cuyahoga County Government Reform canceled Wednesday's meeting because of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones' death after she suffered an aneurysm Tuesday night.

• Political arrests threat to peace, Sunnis warn
Baghdad - Top Sunni politicians on Wednesday accused Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces of carrying out political arrests, and warned this could push Iraq into another round of sectarian fighting.

• Quick treatment crucial when brain aneurysm ruptures
When people hear the word "stroke," many think of an often-fatal condition that only strikes the elderly.

• Russian move on Georgia makes U.S. rethink strategy
Washington - For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States is contemplating a Russia that has used military force against a neighbor and wondering what, if anything, it must do to counter it.

• Solon boy, 12, dies after collapsing at soccer practice in Glenwillow
A 12-year-old Solon boy died Tuesday night after collapsing during soccer practice at the Norman Payne Sports Complex in Glenwillow.

• Chick-fil-A fans wait in line for coupons at new Mentor store
Mentor -- Dan Cathy needed to be one with his loyal fans.

• Trial date set in Officer Joshua Miktarian killing

• Tropical storm floods homes, crews rescue trapped residents
Port St. Lucie, Fla. -- Emergency crews launched airboats into submerged streets Wednesday to rescue central Florida residents trapped by flood waters from Tropical Storm Fay, which soaked the state for a third day. Hundreds of homes were flooded in areas of Brevard and St. Lucie counties. The storm could dump 30 inches of rain in some areas of Florida and the National Hurricane Center said up to 22 inches have fallen near Melbourne, just south of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic Coast. By Wednesday evening, the storm's center had moved over the Atlantic Ocean, and forecasters expected it to strengthen slightly before turning toward the mainland.

• U.S. deaths in Iraq

• Vermilion teachers strike looms
The first day of school in Vermilion is Tuesday, but it's unclear how long the district's teachers will remain in classes.