Today's News in Brief

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

Looking for answers down tornado alley
The latest tornado in Missouri has experts asking why 2011 has spawned so many deadly storms, with many blasting through heavily populated areas.
(By Brian Vastag and Ed O’Keefe)

A costly ‘special relationship’?
Obama visits London at a time when Britain is debating whether it can afford its global role.
(By Anthony Faiola)

U.S., allies weigh Yemen options
Officials, however, acknowledge that any action they pursue to force Saleh’s resignation poses risks in this strategic but turbulent and fragile country.
(By Karen DeYoung)

High court upholds order to reduce Calif. prison population
The Supreme Court says prison conditions there are “incompatible with the concept of human dignity.”
(By Robert Barnes)

Report tracks earnings among the majors
Over a lifetime, the earnings of workers who have majored in engineering, computer science or business are as much as 50 percent higher than the earnings of those who major in the humanities, the arts, education and psychology.
(By Peter Whoriskey)

POLITICS
Congress races to extend Patriot Act, send to Obama in Europe before Friday deadline
WASHINGTON — The tortoise-like Senate is under uncommon pressure to pass a four-year extension of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act before key provisions expire Friday. But the deadline is even tighter, because President Barack Obama is in Europe.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Advocates to military: Keep evidence in rape cases to enable prosecution, disability claims
WASHINGTON — The military too quickly destroys records from the hundreds of rapes and sexual assaults reported confidentially each year, say victims’ advocates and some members of Congress.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Top Supreme Court lawyer says WWII-era predecessor hid key information on Japanese internment
WASHINGTON — Nearly 70 years after the Supreme Court upheld the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, the government’s top high court lawyer says one of his predecessors concealed critical information that could have tipped the cases.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

In reminder of al-Qaida's strength without bin Laden, Yemeni bomber leaves fingerprint behind
WASHINGTON — The FBI has a fingerprint and forensic evidence linking al-Qaida’s top bomb maker in Yemen to a trio of explosive devices used in recent attacks on the United States, tangible reminders that Osama bin Laden’s death has not eliminated the threat from the group’s most active and dangerous franchise.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Despite his worries about cutting US military strength, Gates sets path for lower budgets
WASHINGTON — One of Robert Gates’ final tasks before retiring as defense secretary is to set the Pentagon on a budget-cutting course he had spent much of his 4 1/2-year tenure trying to avoid — a path that could shrink the military’s role in the world.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

STYLE
Ask Amy: Adults stuck on childhood favoritism
Dear Amy:During childhood, my husband’s parents blatantly favored him at the expense of his siblings.For the 25 years we have been married, he, I, and our two children have been the target of his brother’s resentment, acted out at their family’s frequent gatherings.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Does tip include alcohol?
Dear Heloise: I read the restaurant tipping hint in the Houston Chronicle. The reader suggests doubling the tax as an easy way to figure out the tip. This will work only if you don’t order alcoholic beverages. (Heloise here: This is not the case everywhere and in every situation.)
(, King)

Miss Manners: Artist doesn’t want to give away personal information
Dear Miss Manners:I live on a disability pension for a condition that is not readily apparent. I also occasionally sell works of art. When I am asked what I “do,” I usually state that I am an artist. Few are willing to leave it at this and persist with comments like “But you certainly can’t pay the rent with THAT!”
(, United Media)

Frank Stewart’s Bridge: See declarer’s hand

(, Tribune Media Service)

Take time to adjust to newly single status
Getting divorced, and have reconnected with a 20-years-ago lost love. We’ve hit it off great, but she wants to be neither the rebound nor the transitional person.
(, The Washington Post)

SPORTS
A's shut down by Weaver, get runner thrown out at plate by Hunter in 4-1 loss to Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Josh Outman did the job in his first major league outing in almost two years. The Oakland Athletics offense didn’t. Of course, Jered Weaver had something to do with that.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hunter throws out runner at plate, drives in go-ahead run for Angels in 4-1 win over A's
ANAHEIM, Calif. — If given a choice of cutting down the potential tying run at home plate or delivering a tiebreaking hit late in the game, Torii Hunter would always go with the clutch defensive play.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

All Night Long: Florida State League game goes 23 innings, Jupiter beats Clearwater 2-1
JUPITER, Fla. — A minor league game in the Class-A Florida State League lasted 23 innings Monday night before the Jupiter Hammerheads finally beat the Clearwater Threshers 2-1.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Padres lose again as Pujols ends longest HR drought with solo shot in 3-1 win
SAN DIEGO — Hours after shaking up their lineup by demoting light-hitting leadoff batter Will Venable, the San Diego Padres went out and lost again with little offense.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pujols ends longest HR drought with solo shot as Cardinals beat Padres 3-1
SAN DIEGO — One ball left the yard and another one didn’t, both providing highlights for the St. Louis Cardinals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

WORLD
Palace says Prince William and the former Kate Middleton to meet Obamas during state visit
LONDON — Palace says Prince William and the former Kate Middleton to meet Obamas during state visit.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ash cloud from Iceland volcano reaches western Norway and Denmark, disrupting air traffic
OSLO, Norway — Authorities say the ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland has swept over western Norway and Denmark, stalling air traffic in part of Norway and causing delays in Copenhagen.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, resists pressure to reform in PM comments
MBABANE, Swaziland — The prime minister of sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy says Swaziland will resist pressure from the West over democratic reforms.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Roadside bomb kills 10 Afghan laborers
A roadside bomb hit a truck packed with laborers, killing at least 10 of them onTuesday in Afghanistan’s restive southern Kandahar province, a doctor at a local hospital said.
( by Sayed Salahuddin , The Washington Post)

Moscow court hears Khodorkovsky appeal on 2nd conviction, oil magnate calls charge 'absurd'
MOSCOW — A Moscow court is expected to decide whether to overturn imprisoned oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s conviction for stealing from his company and laundering the proceeds.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Fix Faceoff: 2012 Presidential Election
Political blogger Chris Cillizza's fast-paced video Q&A about the 2012 presidential election.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Talk about Travel
Have a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel section's editors and writers are at your service.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s big stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

TECHNOLOGY
Twitter Buys TweetDeck For $40 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Yahoo's giving email service long-promised facelift in bid to widen appeal, attract more users
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo Inc. is giving its popular email service a long-promised facelift in an attempt to make it more appealing to people who are increasingly using Facebook, Twitter, Google and other online alternatives to communicate.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Jeff Jarvis: When It Comes To New Journalism, ‘Transparency Is The New Objectivity’

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Symantec Continues Move Into eDiscovery, Acquires Clearwell Systems For $390 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Happy Toy Machine Allows You To Build Your Own Plush Toys

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

BUSINESS
Ford sees chance to woo Japanese buyers as rivals battle production delays
TOKYO — Ford sees a big chance in coming months to snatch buyers away from the Japanese automakers that are battling production delays caused by the March earthquake and tsunami.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Investor decides to sell Va ethanol plant, lays off majority of workers
HOPEWELL, Va. — Osage Bio Energy says it’s throwing in the towel on plans to brew ethanol from Barley at a plant in Hopewell.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Malaysia to export durians to China in July, but faces tough task breaking Thai dominance
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia will start exporting durians to mainland China from July, challenging Thailand’s virtual monopoly on shipments of the spiky, stinky delicacy that many Southeast Asians hail as “the king of fruits.”
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

DNA evidence said to link ex-IMF leader with NYC hotel maid who says he sexually assaulted her
NEW YORK — DNA taken from former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn matches material on the uniform of a hotel maid who says he sexually assaulted her, two people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Brazil's Congress debates changes to forest law that environmentalists say threatens Amazon
SAO PAULO — Brazilian legislators are pushing to resume debate Tuesday on changes to an environmental law that watchdog groups warn will speed destruction of the Amazon rain forest.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)