Drone Strike Killed No. 2 in Al Qaeda, U.S. Official Says

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Al Qaeda’s deputy leader, Abu Yahya al-Libi, was killed in a drone strike in northern Pakistan, an American official confirmed on Tuesday, in the biggest single success in the controversial campaign’s eight-year history.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, described Mr. Libi as one of Al Qaeda’s “most experienced and versatile leaders,” and said he had “played a critical role in the group’s planning against the West, providing oversight of the external operations efforts.”

The official did not give details about how Mr. Libi’s death had been confirmed. In past drone strikes against militant leaders, American intelligence officials have monitored cellphone and text and Internet messages to confirm the effects of the missions.

The drone strike occurred on Monday in a small village outside Mir Ali, a major hub of Pakistani and international militancy in North Waziristan. At the time, American officials announced that Mr. Libi had been the strike’s target, but could not confirm his condition. Pakistanis living in the area of the strike reported that he had been either killed or seriously wounded, and that 15 other people had been killed.

Mr. Libi, who was believed to be in his late 40s, moved up to become Al Qaeda’s deputy, behind Ayman al-Zawahri, after an American commando raid killed Osama Bin Ladenin Pakistan in May 2011. He already had a high profile in the militant world: he escaped the American prison atBagram, Afghanistan, in 2005, and went on to make a series of videos that established him as a leading voice calling for attacks on the United States — and as a charismatic focal point for a terrorist group that was widely seen as being in decline.

This is not the first report of Mr. Libi’s demise: rumours of his death coursed through jihadi Web sites in December 2009 after a similar strike in South Waziristan. But if his death is borne out this time, it would be an important chapter in an airstrike campaign that has infuriated Pakistani officials but has remained one of the United States’ most effective tools in fighting militant leaders.

Characterizing what the loss would mean to Al Qaeda, the American official said: “Zawahri will be hard-pressed to find any one person who can readily step into Abu Yahya’s shoes — in addition to his gravitas as a longstanding member of AQ’s leadership, Abu Yahya’s religious credentials gave him the authority to issue fatwas, operational approvals, and guidance to the core group in Pakistan and regional affiliates. There is no one who even comes close in terms of replacing the expertise AQ has just lost.”

The drone strike on Monday was the third in Pakistan in three days, and the tempo of the strikes picked up greatly after American and Pakistani negotiations to reopen NATO supply lines to Afghanistan bogged down last month. American officials have said in recent days that the increase in strikes was because of improved weather and an increase in cross-border militant operations now that the Afghanistan fighting season had gotten fully under way, rather than serving as a political message to the Pakistani government.

Still, Pakistani officials openly perceive the drone strikes to be part of the American bargaining strategy, and have insisted that the attacks end.

A senior Pakistani security official said that Pakistani intelligence had no independent confirmation of Mr. Libi’s death. Even if it was proved, he added, his country’s opposition to the drone campaign would not change.

“Practically speaking, the drone strikes are a big success. But strategically they are a huge loss. They creates more polarization, more enemies, and are an attack on our sovereignty,” he said. “We have always told the Americans that if anyone should carry out these strikes, it should be us.”

How to watch the 'Transit of Venus:' See the planet pass in front of the sun at 6p.m. ET

Venus will pass in front of the sun tonight, in a rare spectacle that won't grace the night sky again for more than 100 years.

The planet's passage in front of the sun, known as the “transit of Venus,” begins after 6 p.m. EDT in the U.S., and will continue for 6 hours and 40 minutes.

WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?

Venus should appear as a little black dot on the surface of the sun. It may not be as impressive a sight as a solar eclipse, but it is much rarer.

HOW CAN I WATCH IT SAFELY?

In order to watch the transit safely, stargazers must wear eclipse glasses or watch it through a telescope that filters the sunlight. Looking straight into the sun without these things can lead to permanent eye damage.

You can also watch the once-in-a-lifetime event online. NASA's website has a directory of live webcasts that will let you see how the entire transit appears in different locations across the globe.

WHEN CAN I WATCH IT?

If you're living in most areas of North and Central America, you'll probably have to catch the transit between 6:03 p.m. EDT or 3:06 p.m. PDT and sunset tonight, according to Space.com.

Those in Hawaii, Alaska, eastern Australia and eastern Asia will get to observe Venus' progress across the sun during the entire day.

In most of Europe, eastern Africa and western Asia, can catch the tail end of the transit after sunrise.

Gilani directs authorities to appoint Malik as PM's advisor

A day after Pakistan's Supreme Court suspended Rehman Malik's membership of parliament on the grounds of dual nationality, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today directed authorities to appoint him an advisor to the premier so that he could continue heading the Interior Ministry.

Gilani instructed the Cabinet Division to appoint Malik as an advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs.

The Cabinet Division’s notification stated that Malik had held the post of advisor in 2008 before he was elected to the Senate or upper house of parliament the following year.

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry yesterday issued an interim order that suspended Malik’s membership of the Senate.

The bench passed the order after he was unable to produce a declaration issued by the UK Border Agency regarding the renunciation of his British citizenship.

The apex court asked Malik to prove by the next hearing on June 13 that he was not a British citizen when he contested polls to the Senate in 2009.

If he is unable to do so, the court will take further action against him, the order said.

Earlier in the day, Malik did not attend office and removed the national flag from his residence and official vehicle.

In a statement issued in the evening, Malik said he had always respected the judiciary and obeyed its decisions.

He thanked the President, Prime Minister and the Pakistan People’s Party for his appointment as an advisor on interior affairs.

"I will continue my struggle for elimination of terrorism and criminals and will fight on every forum for the welfare of the people," he said.

Though Malik has claimed that he did not visit UK Border Agency during a recent trip to London, Dawn News channel reported it had documents which showed that the UK agency had issued a letter on May 29 regarding Malik's renunciation of his British citizenship.

This revelation indicated that Malik had British citizenship when he contested the Senate polls in 2009.

Under existing rules, Malik would have been ineligible to contest the polls.

Officials said Malik will hold the post of advisor on interior affairs until the Supreme Court gives the final verdict in the case.

The apex court is currently hearing a case regarding the alleged dual nationality of over a dozen lawmakers.

Who Is Peter Rosenberg?

Did radio DJ Peter Rosenberg just become one the most influential music critics in hip-hop? A morning DJ on New York hip-hop mainstay Hot 97, Rosenberg ignited a war of words this weekend, simply by referring toNicki Minaj‘s song “Starships” as “bulls**t” while on stage at the station’s annual Summer Jam concert. In response, Minaj’s patron Lil Wayne yanked her and her fellow Young Money artists from the show lineup. Twitter has been on fire ever since. And all because of a DJ (and recently hired TV host) who recently said “the days of hip-hop being about beef are coming to a close.” Who is he?
Since joining the Hot 97 staff in 2007, Rosenberg has gradually made his presence known both on the air and online, where he runs a podcast and YouTube channel, and built a reputation as a tastemaker.
It was Rosenberg who scored the first interview with elusive rapper Earl Sweatshirt (of Odd Future) following his return to the scene. And his long-form live-interview series, Noisemakers, has become an increasingly important venue for hip-hop’s elite: this year’s Noisemakers sessions included have a visit to the influential South By Southwest music festival, where he interviewed a seemingly not sober Nas.
More recently, MTV tapped Rosenberg to host its brand new game show, Hip Hop Squares, where he plays X’s and O’s with some of the biggest stars in hip-hop. In particular, Rosenberg has talked up the program as a showcase for the camaraderie among artists as diverse as Common, Ghostface Killah and DJ Khaled. “It’s true, the days of hip-hop being about beef are coming to a close,” he told XXL recently.
He has cited the show as a relief from the often-contentious discussions that feed morning radio. He told XXL

And being on morning radio on Hot 97, I often get caught up in these situations where I’m saying things about people and blah, blah, blah. It wasn’t like, Rosenberg, say something really out there that’s going to get people to talk. “What’s your opinion on this record? Don’t you think this sucks?” That’s like half of my life, people coming up to me and asking me if I think something sucks. And sometimes I do.

But while he commands a degree of respect, Rosenberg has never been shy about his willingness to play provocateur. On Twitter, where he refers to himself as the “Jewish Johnny Carson”, his photo is a shot of him with Howard Stern. And Summer Jam wasn’t the first time Rosenberg had thrown shade on Minaj. Just two weeks earlier, he used one of his “The Realness” segments to blast her “Right By My Side” video. “Nicki Minaj may not make good rap, but at least she makes out with good rappers,” he said of her video co-star, Nas.

Obummer, Nobama: Ranking the Best Obama Pun Insults

The Republican National Committee and allied Super PACs have all made countless puns on "hope and change" at the expense ofPresident Obama this election, but those with the true creative gift for Obama punnery are the the unpaid and unheralded anonymous trolls on news websites and conservative message boards. They don't get the paychecks or accolades of conservative consultants, but these trolls have introduced dozens of Obama puns into our vocabulary. We've decided to rank some of the best. 
RELATED: The Countdown to the Endeavour's Last Mission
"Bad puns will not stir the populace, and while the effective pun seems impishly tossed-off, writing one is not easy," Jerry Adler explains for New York, ticking through some classics, like the terrible 1852 Democratic slogan "We Polked You in ’44, We Shall Pierce You in ’52." Trolls' Obama puns are much better. We are ranking them puns by three metrics. First, syllabic fidelity, or whether the pun rhymes with Obama, or at least has the same vowel sounds and number of syllables as the president's name. Second, relevance, or whether the pun communicates a widespread complaint about a specific Obama policy instead of merely a negative emotion. Third, elegance, which we define as whether the pun can be easily read -- its meaning instantly communicated -- without forcing the reader to pause and puzzle over it. We graded each pun on these three qualities from 1 to 5 and added them to find the winner.

Bill Clinton stumps for Obama, slams 'calamitous' Romney

Bill Clinton campaigned with President Barack Obama, sprinkling political stardust on his Democratic successor and blasting challenger Mitt Romney for embracing the politics of "constant conflict."

The presumptive Republican nominee's campaign is using recent Clinton comments praising Romney's business record againstObama, but the ex-president left absolutely no doubt he was behind the Democrat.

"The alternative would be, in my opinion, calamitous, for our country and the world," Clinton warned.

Clinton, with Obama at his side, was speaking to some 50 Obamasupporters who paid $40,000 each to attend a reception at the Manhattan home of hedge fund billionaire Marc Lasry, founder of Avenue Capital Group.

Clinton campaigned fiercely against Obama in 2008 when his wife sought, and barely lost, a historic battle for the Democratic nomination, but he has since mended fences with the president and is a trumpeter of Obama's economic policy -- even if he may at times stray off script.

But the husband of now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stayed fiercely on message at the first of the three Monday events, insisting the president has "good policies (and) a good record.

"He's made the best of a very challenging situation. He deserves to be reelected," Clinton argued.

Romney and Republicans in Congress, Clinton said, "have adopted Europe's economic policy" of "austerity and unemployment," turning the tables on the common Romney campaign argument that Obama was embracing economic socialism akin to some governments across the Atlantic.

While Obama's policy is "job growth now, and long-term budget restraint," Republicans by contrast are focused on "wrongheaded" economics, Clinton said.

"The politics (are) wrong on the Republican side; the economics are crazy," he added.

Obama weighed in to say Republicans have abandoned the "basic consensus" that the market was the best generator of wealth, and that investments in infrastructure, education and the environment were critical.

Republicans "have run from a preference for market-based solutions to an absolutism when it comes to the marketplace, a belief that all regulations are bad, that government has no role to play," Obama said.

The 2012 election is more than anything about the US economy and jobs, and the coming months will see the parties clash over the role and size of government and how best to rein in runaway debt while fueling economic growth.

The two presidents proceeded to a gala at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel, where 500 guests paying at least $2,500 were to see a performance by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, according to the Obama campaign.

They capped off the fundraising with a Broadway concert, complete with stars like James Earl Jones and Mandy Patinkin, for about 1,700 people.

Obama will rake in at least $3.6 million for the evening, according to a campaign official.

More important perhaps was for Obama to be seen in the warm company of the only Democrat to serve two full terms in the White House since the 1950s as he struggles to get the US economic recovery out of the slow lane.

Five months ahead of November's general election, Obama is locked in a tight race against Romney, and the support of Clinton -- whose personal charm and ability to connect with voters and donors are legendary -- is seen as vital.

But last week, he undercut Obama's narrative of Romney as a ruthless corporate raider whose time at the head of private equity firm Bain Capital made him the wrong choice for the White House, sayingRomney had a "sterling" business record and "crosses the qualification threshold" to be president.

Republicans pounced, releasing web videos quoting Clinton as defending Romney's record and accusing Obama of opposing free enterprise.

Striding into New York with Clinton at his side could help Obama assuage concerns about him among wealthy Democratic donors, including those in the financial industry, many of whom are fond of Clinton, who presided over a 1990s boom.

In the wake of the flak over Bain, Democrats took a different tack this week, rolling out an ad slamming Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts and saying he left the state with "one of the worst economic records in the country."

Obama senior advisor David Axelrod said the ad was receiving a $10 million rollout in swing state markets this week.

Romney has bashed Obama for incurring a net job loss since taking office in January 2009 -- when the tanking economy was hemorrhaging hundreds of thousands of jobs per month.

Axelrod countered that once Obama's policies took root, the US economy produced 27 straight months of job growth.

Jerry Sandusky's Jury Selection Begins In Pennsylvania Court

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Three of the 16 jurors and alternates needed for former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky's child sex-abuse trial were selected Tuesday morning as the high-profile case got under way in earnest after months of legal wrangling and intense publicity.

A middle-aged woman selected told the court she has been a Penn State football season-ticketholder since the 1970s and that her husband works for the medical group where the father of key witness Mike McQueary previously worked. Also selected were a 24-year-old man with plans to attend an auto technician school and a mother of two who works in retail.

Prospective jurors also learned that the wife and son of Sandusky's former boss, Joe Paterno, were among the potential defense witnesses. Members of Sandusky's family also were on a list shown to the prospective jurors, along with assistant coach McQueary and his father, John McQueary.

Mike McQueary, on leave from the team, has said he saw Sandusky naked in a team shower with a young boy more than a decade ago and reported it to football coach Joe Paterno.

Mike McQueary is also on the prosecution's list, along with young men who have accused Sandusky of abusing them.

Sandusky, 68, faces 52 criminal counts and potential penalties that could result in an effective life prison sentence for alleged abuse involving 10 boys. The former Penn State assistant football coach has denied the allegations.

During jury selection, Sandusky's lawyer sought to have the Penn State ticketholder eliminated without using one of the eight challenges each side gets. Judge John Cleland turned him down and, after conferring with Sandusky, attorney Joe Amendola allowed her to be chosen.

Among those who were struck from the pool were a nurse who said people make up stories all the time – prosecutors used a challenge for her – as well as a man who had volunteered for the Sandusky-founded charity The Second Mile. Also struck were a mother of 10 who said she has made up her mind and a Penn State fan and township manager who said news coverage of the case has been destructive to her community.

Cleland told the more than 220 potential jurors he would not sequester them, meaning they can spend nights at home during the trial that is expected to last several weeks.

While about a dozen TV news trucks and more than 50 reporters waited outside the courthouse for updates, Cleland urged the jury pool to avoid news accounts or social media postings.

"No one in the world will know as much about this trial as the people sitting in the jury box," Cleland told them.

Sandusky is attending jury selection, and laughed at some of Cleland's humorous remarks to potential jurors. But when Cleland told the pool the nature of the charge, Sandusky put his head down.

More than 600 summonses were sent out to residents in Centre County, the home of Penn State University's main campus. The process of finding the 12 jurors and four alternates could take days.

Cleland addressed the prospective jurors in a somber, packed courtroom. The prospective jurors were to be taken in groups of 40 for more questions and, ultimately to face one-on-one questioning in a third phase, for those who were not dismissed beforehand. The jurors who were selected were allowed to leave for the day.

The fact that jurors are being chosen from among people who live in the State College area was a victory for the defense, which had argued against bringing in jurors from elsewhere in the state.

Early in the process, jurors were asked to indicate through a system in which they held up cards whether they had connections to Penn State.

About a dozen signaled that they worked or had retired from the university; another half-dozen said they had spouses who worked for the school.

Four indicated they knew Sandusky. Two said they knew his wife, Dottie, who was not in court on Tuesday.

Two potential jurors indicated they had previously volunteered with The Second Mile.

Of the first group of 40 to be questioned Tuesday morning, Cleland dismissed five for medical reasons or vacation plans.

Looking worn out and concerned, Sandusky didn't say anything during that phase of jury selection, in contrast to the polite "good mornings" exchanged by attorneys to potential jurors.

Cleland said he hoped to get through all the potential jurors on Tuesday, but that prospect appeared highly unlikely.

Some of the alleged victims are expected to testify during the trial, the opening of which is likely to begin on Monday morning. Cleland said the trial may last three weeks.

Prosecutors have claimed that Sandusky groomed boys he met through the charity he founded for at-risk youth in 1977, then attacked them, in some cases in his own home or inside university athletic facilities.

The Toughest Sissy in the World: The Moment I Triumphed Over My Bullies

I almost want to thank all the bullies in my life: the ones who called me "n*gger," "retard," "sissy boy," and "f*ggot"; those who threatened to throw punches at me and took my lunch money at the bus stop; those who actually threw punches at me and rubbed my face in asphalt; my dad, who whipped me with his belt until I did a dive I was too scared to do in my regular practice; the coaches who belittled me and intimidated me into pushing myself beyond what I thought I was capable of; and the man who raped me at knifepoint, whom I then stayed with for another six years. They all helped shape me, and without those experiences I could not be the person I am today. I had to learn to "forgive" myself and then find it in my heart to "forgive" them and even bless the light in them, no matter how dim that light was. But thanking them would be going too far, and it would be inaccurate. In the end it was my inner sense of self, my willpower and determination, that got me through and helped me take those experiences and literally turn them into gold.

In 1988, at the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, on my ninth dive in the men's 3-meter springboard preliminaries, I struck my head on the board. Going into that Olympic event I was the favorite to win a gold medal, but in that split-second I became the "underdog." I was scared, having been diagnosed as HIV-positive six months prior, and aware that I was in a country that would have deported me if my status were known. It was what followed that made me realize the strength and power I had within me. I was taken to a room off the pool deck, where my head was sewn up. It wasn't bad, just four or five stitches. When my coach, Ron O'Brien, asked if I wanted to continue, I responded, without thinking, "We worked too long and hard to get there, and I don't want to give up without a fight."

I firmly believe that you don't achieve greatness on your own. I drew inspiration from my coach and from an Indiana boy, Ryan White, a friend who suffered from hemophilia and contracted HIV from his clotting factor. He went on to become a national spokesperson for people with HIV, working tirelessly before his 1990 AIDS-related death to make us visible and get increased government funding. He was a fighter, and in that moment I needed to find that fighter in me.

I set the board, and my dive was announced. I could hear an audible gasp from the audience. It was a similar dive to that in which I'd struck my head: a reverse one-and-a-half with three and a half twists. I patted my chest with a grimace on my face, and I heard a nervous chuckle from the crowd. It made me laugh a bit, and I realized these people wanted to see me succeed.

Only 22 minutes passed between the moment I struck my head on the board and the execution of that dive. I took a breath and went forward, trusting my training, my coach, and a young boy in Indiana. I did that dive, and as it turned out, it was the highest-scoring dive of that Olympic Games. In that moment I became the toughest sissy in the world. I went on to repeat that dive during the finals and took home the gold medal.

I never would have had that kind of strength and fortitude to succeed without my life's experiences, and I mostly attribute my strength in that moment to my tormentors. But it was only after I stopped playing the "victim" role that I truly began living a life of freedom. I found the will to learn and follow the path I was put on this Earth to follow. The experiences in which I felt "less-than" are the gems of my life, because I survived.

Each of us has a hero inside us and a uniqueness that we may not see at first, because we are so concerned with "fitting in." We may have a different walk or talk, a different way of learning, a physical appearance that doesn't match others' expectations, or a different way of expressing ourselves. In time, in my own experience, I learned to celebrate my uniqueness, cherish who I am as a human being, and act out of love and compassion for my fellow human beings. And, to borrow my mom's saying, "I make everywhere I go better, because I was there." I practice that every day and live it to the best of my ability.

To those who are being tormented, use those moments to find that inner self and that fortitude. It does get better!

Green Bay Packers Players Urge Wisconsinites To Vote In Recall Elections

Green Bay Packers players are helping to get out the vote in the Wisconsin recall elections.

On Monday, wide receiver Tori Gurley and tight end Jermichael Finley tweeted their support for the labor movement in their state, noting that they are members of unions:

Wisconsin Recall: Scott Walker, Tom Barrett Make Final Pitches To Voters

MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to reelect one of the most polarizing politicians in the country, choosing between two starkly opposite visions of how to run the state. Symbolically, the election's importance is second only to the presidential contest, and both gubernatorial candidates -- Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) -- made sure their supporters understood the stakes one last time on Monday.

"So here we are. It's the last 28 hours," said Barrett at his final major rally. "It's like a heavyweight boxing match. And in this corner, you've got Scott Walker with his millions and millions of out-of-state dollars. And in this corner, you've got Tom Barrett, and he's got YOU."

"We've only got a few hours left. The polls open tomorrow morning -- just a few hours from now. And in less than 22 hours, the polls close," said Walker at his final event. "The polls show us ahead. I was just up in the shadow of Lambeau Field this evening, and I said -- you know, I'm borrowing from the Packers -- 'We can't spike the ball on the 10-yard line. We've got to get it all the way through to the end zone. ... The truth is on our side."

Barrett's rally on Monday was at the Local 72 UAW Hall in Kenosha, Wis., where union members were serving cheese bratwursts before the event started and there were occasional outbursts of "This is what democracy looks like!" and other chants. Walker's, held later in the evening, was at the American Serb Memorial Hall in south Milwaukee -- a banquet facility with eight chandeliers, a professional sound system and a slightly dressier crowd.

"This is not about the word 'I.' This is about the word 'we,'" said Barrett in his pitch to supporters. "We are in this together. We are in this together to reclaim our state. To make sure that our children and their grandchildren and their grandchildren can be here. So we can have a middle class in a state we're proud of. This is about our values. It's about Wisconsin values. That's why we need each other. That's why we have to keep working. That's why we have to win this election tomorrow."

Barrett was preceded by several speakers, including state Sen. Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie), Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and former Wisconsin Democratic senator Russ Feingold, who has been one of Barrett's most high-profile surrogates.

At Walker's event, the only other speaker was Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R), who also faces a recall. On stage with them were their families. (Barrett said his wife could not be with him at the UAW event because she had to work, since she is a teacher.)

Barrett's speech hit many of the lines from his stump speeches -- such as slamming Walker for being a "rock star" of the far right -- but he also brought it back around to the labor movement, reminding voters of what started the polarization in the state.

"I've never seen my wife shaken. Never, in our 21 years of marriage, until last year. She was shaken last year," Barrett said. "I have to tell why. ... She was visibly rattled because she felt that her vocation -- not her job -- her vocation, was being attacked by this governor and his allies. ... Her life's mission is to work with children to prepare for the future of this state. And she said to me, 'Why would I tell anybody to go into education, the way they're treating me?'"

Walker kept the focus on jobs in his speech, as he does at most of his campaign events, arguing that his controversial reforms were successful.

"You know what the biggest concern for employers is?" asked Walker. "The biggest thing that's holding people back from creating even more jobs? The recall! The recall! In survey after survey after survey, it's the recall. And I can understand why. I spent the last year and a half, nearly every day, visiting farms, factories and small businesses, all across Wisconsin. And I hear what I see in these surveys. Employers like the direction we're headed. They like the opportunity to add more jobs in a state that's willing to work with them, but they're scared to death about going backwards and not forward."

At the end of the Walker event, a couple dozen protesters showed up, banging a buckets and shouting, "Tax, tax, tax the rich!" and "Recall Walker!" Rally attendees quickly tried to drown them out, with shouts of "Walker!" and "We are the 1 percent!" Several people hurled insults at the protesters, telling them to take a bath or get a job. A Walker supporter attempted to silence his fellow conservatives, telling them that they were making Walker backers look bad in front of the media.

The protest broke up without incident, and group members said they planned to meet in Pere Marquette Park in Milwaukee on Wednesday to continue pushing the "agenda of the 99 percent." Hannah Engber, one of the participants, said several of the protesters were part of Occupy Milwaukee and others were pulled from various progressive groups.

Both Barrett and Walker will vote at 7 a.m. Central time on Tuesday. Barrett will be in Milwaukee at the Milwaukee French Immersion polling place and Walker will be at the Jefferson School in Wauwatosa. Barrett then has canvassing events in Racine and Milwaukee, before his election night party in downtown Milwaukee. Walker is touring businesses in Green Bay and Wausau. His election night party will be in Waukesha.

Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board, which oversees state elections, predicts that turnout could be from 60 percent to 65 percent. That means nearly 3 million people could cast absentee or regular ballots -- more than in the 2010 elections, but not quite as high as in the 2008 presidential race.

More than 206,000 Wisconsinites had requested absentee ballots by noon on Monday.

In addition to the marquee gubernatorial recall, there are five other elections on Tuesday. The GOP lieutenant governor is fighting to hold onto her seat, as are three GOP state senators. One other state senate seat is open, after Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) decided to resign when it became clear she was going to face a recall. If Democrats win any one of the state senate seats, they will gain the majority in the chamber.

The U.S. Department of Justice is sending a team of federal observers to the city of Milwaukee to ensure compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in the electoral process. Wisconsin's Department of Justice is also sending a team of officials to 12 cities in an effort to look out for voter fraud.

Zsa Gabor's house has been saved from foreclosure by Facebook.

Zsa Zsa Gabor's house has been saved from foreclosure by Facebook.

The 95-year-old actress - who has suffered a string of health problems over the last two years - and her spouse Prince Frederic von Anhalt recently put their Bel Air mansion on the market for $14.9 million as the sprawling property was too large for them to manage.

However, the couple defaulted on its $700,000 mortgage and the home faced foreclosure unless the payments were brought up to date.

According to TMZ.com, Prince Frederic took to Facebook to speak about his dire financial situation and ask his fans for help.

One fan stepped up and helped him secure a $1.5 million personal loan, which he used to pay off the mortgage.

However, he only has a year to pay off the loan and the loan is secured by the house.

The property - which nine-times wed Zsa Zsa bought in 1970 - includes seven bedrooms and a swimming pool on more than an acre of land.

It was previously put up for sale last summer at $15 million, with the price reduced to $12.9 million in September before it was pulled from sale and the listing agent thinks it was initially priced too low.

Among the rooms in the house - where Zsa Zsa has hosted Britain's Queen Elizabeth and US Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush among others - is an office filled with the actress' awards and movie posters.

Zsa Zsa has claimed that Elvis Presley and Howard Hughes both previously lived at the property, but they occupancy could not be verified.

MLB Draft 2012: Carlos Correa Taken By Houston Astros With No. 1 Pick

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Carlos Correa was all smiles when he heard his name announced, knowing he had made hometown history at the baseball draft.

The Houston Astros selected the 17-year-old slugging shortstop with the No. 1 pick Monday night, making him the first player from Puerto Rico to lead off the draft.

"This means a lot," Correa said from the draft site at MLB Network studios. "We've got a lot of good players there."

Correa, however, is the only one to be drafted first from an island that has produced its share of baseball royalty: Roberto Clemente, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Juan Gonzalez, Bernie Williams. Some of those players signed as free agents – catcher Ramon Castro had been the highest-drafted player out of Puerto Rico, going No. 17 to Houston in 1994.

"I feel so excited to be the No. 1 pick," said Correa, who was congratulated by Delgado on Twitter. "I've worked so hard to be here."

It was the first time Houston had the top pick in the draft since 1992, when the Astros selected Phil Nevin – passing on a young shortstop named Derek Jeter, who went five spots later to the Yankees.

"I have read about that," Correa said, calling Jeter his idol as much for the New York captain's character off the field as on. "I want to be like him. He's awesome."

First-year Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa "has a chance to be a star" who could hit 20-30 home runs in the pros, whether it's as a shortstop or "ultimately maybe third base."

Correa said he'd like to stay at shortstop, and he plans to use his signing bonus to help his family financially.

As he walked to the podium and shook hands with Commissioner Bud Selig before a brief hug, Correa pulled out a small Puerto Rican flag and held it up to big cheers from the crowd of major league representatives and fans gathered in the stadium-themed studio.

Correa was one of five players in attendance at the draft, but his introduction was far from the most entertaining. Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins did a backflip – after being prodded by a television reporter when a video was shown of him landing one – a few moments after going No. 13 to the Chicago White Sox.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hawkins, wearing a White Sox cap and jersey, spoke to general manager Kenny Williams right after he stuck his landing.

"They said, `Go do it,' so I went and did it," a smiling Hawkins said. "But Mr. Williams said: `No more.'"

While the NFL has a few dozen players show up for its draft, baseball has slowly made its event a place to be with the televised first round and major league representatives on hand – just a few years after it once was held entirely by conference call. The five players in attendance this year were the most since the draft moved to MLB Network studios in 2009.

Joining Correa and Hawkins were Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Heaney (No. 9, Marlins), Louisiana high school shortstop Gavin Cecchini (No. 12, Mets) and Washington high school catcher Clint Coulter, who went 27th to the Brewers.

Heaney, a draft-eligible sophomore, had tears in his eyes after Miami selected him. Sitting with the other prospects in a makeshift dugout, Heaney headed over to shake Selig's hand and soon was wearing a Marlins cap and jersey.

"That's about all that went through my mind is, don't trip," a beaming Heaney said.

While recent drafts lacked first-pick intrigue, Luhnow said the Astros didn't settle on Correa until about an hour before they went on the clock. Several mock draft lists predicted the Astros would select Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, but instead Houston made a somewhat surprising selection – although Correa was considered one of the top five players available.

Appel slid a few spots lower than projected, going to Pittsburgh at No. 8.

Correa has an incredibly strong arm and terrific instincts on defense, and the Astros hope they've found a big-time bat for the middle of their lineup. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound star from Santa Isabel starred at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and is committed to the University of Miami, but is likely headed to Houston's farm system instead.

"Right now, he stays at shortstop and if he was to happen to grow out of it, it's the power that's the attraction here and it's the middle of the order potential impact bat," Astros scouting director and assistant general manager Bobby Heck said. "So if he has to move, his profile is still very, very strong."

With the second pick, Minnesota took speedy Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton, considered a five-tool player with a bat considered the best among all draft prospects. The Appling County High School star has blazing speed, an outstanding arm and plenty of range in the outfield.

"It's an exciting feeling," Buxton told MLB Network. "I'm just ready to go out and play ball."

University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino, who has drawn comparisons to Jason Varitek for his leadership and ability to handle a pitching staff, was taken No. 3 overall by Seattle.

Baltimore went with LSU right-hander Kevin Gausman with the fourth pick, adding a potential ace to its system. The draft-eligible sophomore has had a terrific season for the Tigers, going 11-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 115 2-3 innings.

Kansas City went with University of San Francisco right-hander Kyle Zimmer, a converted third baseman, with the No. 5 overall pick.

"I was surprised because I was always sort of a hitter growing up. I guess the move paid off," Zimmer, already wearing a Royals cap, told MLB Network.

The Dons' ace went just 5-3, but had a 2.85 ERA with 104 Ks and only 17 walks in 88 1-3 innings. He threw consecutive shutouts during one stretch.

"He was the No. 1 pitcher on our board," said Lonnie Goldberg, the Royals' director of scouting. "I think everyone should know that. He's the guy we wanted."

The draft opened with uncertainty about the talent – many teams considered this crop of players weaker than recent groups – and several significant rule changes in place. Under baseball's new collective bargaining agreement, teams will have a pool of bonus money from which to sign players. The Astros, for example, have about $11.2 million to use on bonuses for their 11 picks through the 10th round. The Twins, who have 13 picks in the top 10 rounds, have about $12.4 million.

Teams face a punitive tax and the possibility of losing draft picks if they go over the prescribed bonus total. If a player doesn't sign, the team loses the amount for that slot. Clubs now have until mid-July to sign draft picks, instead of the previous mid-August deadline.

Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora was selected sixth by the Chicago Cubs.

Max Fried, a high school left-hander from California, was picked seventh by San Diego. Right-hander Lucas Giolito, Fried's teammate at Harvard-Westlake High School, was selected nine picks later by Washington despite not pitching since March because of a sprained elbow ligament.

Pittsburgh, which selected UCLA righty Gerrit Cole with the top pick last year, went after pitching again in Appel. The ace of Stanford's staff has a mid-90s (mph) fastball and is 10-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 119 innings for the Cardinal. In his last start before the draft, he avenged his only loss of the season by beating Fresno State in the NCAA tournament, fanning 11 in a dominant four-hitter.

Colorado rounded out the first 10 picks by taking speedy Alabama high school outfielder David Dahl.

Florida high school right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., the son of the former major league reliever, was drafted by Houston with the 10th pick of the compensation round, 41st overall.

The first round and the initial compensation round were completed Monday night, with rounds 2 through 40 conducted over the next two days via conference call.