DELHI, India
George Harrison's ashes to be scattered in Ganges
Associated Press
George Harrison's intimate relationship with Indian mysticism, music and Hinduism sent his wife and son on a pilgrimage to the holy Ganges River, where authorities said the former Beatles' ashes were scattered before dawn today.
Harrison's widow, Olivia, and his 23-year-old son, Dhani, were accompanied by two Hare Krishna devotees who performed Hindu rites on Harrison's ashes with the family in London, said Maha Mantra Das, a New Delhi spokesman for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness.
The society said its representatives in London had been in contact with Harrison's family. The family would not discuss any details or confirm any aspect of the reports, spokesman Gavin de Becker said in Los Angeles.
Harrison, 58, died of cancer in Los Angeles on Thursday.
He was cremated hours after his death at Hollywood Forever Memorial Park, a cemetery worker said. In a tradition dating back more than 3,500 years, Hindus are cremated on riversides and their ashes immersed in holy waters. Hindus believe this ritual releases the soul from the body for its heavenward journey and frees it from the cycle of reincarnation.
"It is a great loss to us," said Vrijendra Nandan, a spokesman for the New Delhi chapter of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. "When he was leaving his body, our devotees were chanting songs of Krishna by his bedside. We give him all the credit for spreading our thoughts in Europe and the USA."
He said an urn would be kept at the Krishna temple for the public to offer their last respects before the ashes were immersed in the Ganges River at the Dashaswamedh ritual bathing area.
Hare Krishna officials said the ashes would also be sprinkled off Allahabad, where the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers converge - and according to Hindu tradition are joined by a third holy river, the mythical Saraswati.
Olivia Harrison has asked fans for a minute of meditation as a tribute to the musician.
MIAMI
Boat carrying dozens of Haitians runs aground off Florida coast
Associated Press
An overloaded sailboat carrying 186 Haitians ran aground in shallow water 10 miles off the Florida coast yesterday after being at sea for 10 days.
The Haitians were to be taken to the Coast Guard station in Miami. The U.S. government almost always sends illegal Haitian immigrants back to their homeland; as of September, 1,453 have been sent back this year.
The Haitians were given water and lifejackets as they waited to be taken off the 31-foot wooden boat, which was stuck in 3 feet of water.
About 20 Haitians fled the boat and made it to nearby uninhabited islands, but they were found, Coast Guard Petty Officer Gene Smith said.
The Coast Guard was searching for two others.
Some on the boat said they left Cap Haitien, Haiti, 10 days ago, Smith said. Cap Haitien is more than 625 miles from Miami.
"It is a miracle these people did not perish at sea," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Ron LaBrec.
The discovery comes after more than 200 Haitian migrants were missing and presumed drowned after an attempt to reach Florida in two ramshackle sailboats last month.
About 150 migrants left Haiti on Nov. 1 aboard one boat. The next day, another boat left with 63 people aboard. The boats have not been seen since.
TUCSON
Three Republicans on Tucson council at same time a rarity
Associated Press
For the first time since the late 1970s three Republicans will serve on this staunchly Democratic community's City Council at the same time. Council members Fred Ronstadt and Kathleen Dunbar, who were sworn in yesterday, won their seats on Nov. 6 in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-to-2.
Republican Mayor Bob Walkup was elected in 1999.
As recently as five years ago, all six council members and the mayor were Democrats.
The turnaround this year has left some Democratic organizers embittered and blaming the party for relying too much on its advantage in registered voters and for a series of organizational lapses.
"The big problem is that the folks who are running the party right now don't seem to be terribly concerned with winning elections," said Tom Prezelski, a Democratic district vice chairman.
David Bradley, chairman of the county Democratic Party, credited the Republicans with doing a better job of getting loyalists to vote. But, he added, in light of the 27.5 percent turnout, neither party did a particularly good job of sparking voter interest.
"Obviously, you need candidates that excite the general electorate, and maybe that was the problem," Bradley said. "You want to take a look at process and message and messengers, and the party needs to do that."
