Nation roundup for Feb. 16

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Gingrich hopes for resurrection

TULARE, Calif. (AP) — Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign has a history of near-death experiences and he insists another resurrection is on its way.

“I’m very happy to continue this campaign based on real solutions that … are going to attract a lot of Americans,” Gingrich said Monday during a fundraising swing in California. “We’ve done it twice and I suspect you’re about to see us do it again.”

The third time may not be the charm. Gingrich sustained a string of disappointing performances in several state contests last week and has watched rival Rick Santorum emerge as the leading conservative opponent to Mitt Romney.

While Romney and Santorum move toward a face-off in Michigan’s primary Feb. 28 and Romney campaigns to win Arizona the same day, Gingrich has all but stepped off the trail to focus on raising money.

Ahead lie the 10-state Super Tuesday contests of March 6, including a handful of Southern states where he hopes he can revive his sputtering candidacy.


Teachers’ cussing targeted by bill

PHOENIX (AP) — A teacher’s role may be to expand a student’s vocabulary, but one Arizona lawmaker wants to make sure that doesn’t include four-letter words.

A state legislator has introduced a bill that would punish public school teachers if they use words that violate the obscenity and profanity guidelines set forth by the Federal Communications Commission.

If the bill introduced by State Sen. Lori Klein becomes law, a teacher whose speech or conduct violates FCC regulations would receive a warning, and after three incidents, the teacher would face a week of suspension without pay. A teacher would be fired after the fifth offense.


Moruga Scorpion is hottest chile

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — There are super-hot chile varieties. And then there’s the sweat-inducing, tear-generating, mouth-on-fire Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.

With a name like that, it’s not surprising that months of research by the experts at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute have identified the variety as the new hottest pepper on the planet.

The golf ball-sized pepper scored the highest among a handful of chile breeds reputed to be among the hottest in the world. Its mean heat topped more than 1.2 million units on the Scoville heat scale.

Gingrich hopes for resurrection

TULARE, Calif. (AP) — Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign has a history of near-death experiences and he insists another resurrection is on its way.

“I’m very happy to continue this campaign based on real solutions that … are going to attract a lot of Americans,” Gingrich said Monday during a fundraising swing in California. “We’ve done it twice and I suspect you’re about to see us do it again.”

The third time may not be the charm. Gingrich sustained a string of disappointing performances in several state contests last week and has watched rival Rick Santorum emerge as the leading conservative opponent to Mitt Romney.

While Romney and Santorum move toward a face-off in Michigan’s primary Feb. 28 and Romney campaigns to win Arizona the same day, Gingrich has all but stepped off the trail to focus on raising money.

Ahead lie the 10-state Super Tuesday contests of March 6, including a handful of Southern states where he hopes he can revive his sputtering candidacy.


Teachers’ cussing targeted by bill

PHOENIX (AP) — A teacher’s role may be to expand a student’s vocabulary, but one Arizona lawmaker wants to make sure that doesn’t include four-letter words.

A state legislator has introduced a bill that would punish public school teachers if they use words that violate the obscenity and profanity guidelines set forth by the Federal Communications Commission.

If the bill introduced by State Sen. Lori Klein becomes law, a teacher whose speech or conduct violates FCC regulations would receive a warning, and after three incidents, the teacher would face a week of suspension without pay. A teacher would be fired after the fifth offense.


Moruga Scorpion is hottest chile

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — There are super-hot chile varieties. And then there’s the sweat-inducing, tear-generating, mouth-on-fire Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.

With a name like that, it’s not surprising that months of research by the experts at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute have identified the variety as the new hottest pepper on the planet.

The golf ball-sized pepper scored the highest among a handful of chile breeds reputed to be among the hottest in the world. Its mean heat topped more than 1.2 million units on the Scoville heat scale.