A new take on Napa history
What differences have $1.7 million and a two-year shutdown meant for the Goodman Library, home of the Napa County Historical Society?
Many happy returns
Darlene Alaimo files her income tax forms at the Trancas Street post office on Tuesday, the filing deadline. Greg Hess/Register
Making kids safe on campus
Some Napa Valley educational institutions are taking steps to ensure greater campus safety in the wake of Monday’s shootings at Virginia Tech.
Oxbow to get Ritz-y new hotel
Rumors of a Ritz-Carlton hotel coming to downtown’s Oxbow District were confirmed Tuesday.
Two Buck Chuck going green?
Fred Franzia marked the fifth anniversary of his popular “super-value” Charles Shaw wines Tuesday by announcing that he is “exploring the possibility” of building a glass bottle factory near the Napa County Airport.
Children’s summer camp stats
The Register is collecting information about summer camps for children.
Copple case book signing canceled
Copperfield’s Books in Bel Aire Plaza has canceled the May 4 book signing for “48 Hours” producer Paul LaRosa, author of “Nightmare in Napa,” about the double-murder committed by Eric Copple.
For the Record
A front page story April 16 about Eric Copple and the murders of two Napa women in November 2004 had the incorrect date for release of a book about the murders. The book is not available until after April 21.
Computer troubles wiped out some Register blog posts
A system upgrade by the site host for napavalleyregister.com caused many reader-generated comments to temporarily disappear from the Web site this morning.
Trial postponed for Napan accused of murdering runaway
The trial of Napa resident Joben Lombardi, 26, accused of murdering of a 13-year-old Vallejo runaway has been postponed until Sept. 12 because Lombardi’s attorney, Merv Lernhart is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Helping the poor and boosting the U.S. image
NORTENO, Panama — Dressed in sweaty surgical scrubs and grappling with a screaming 6-year-old girl as he pulled her abscessed tooth, dentist Jason Vogt didn’t look the part of a diplomat.
EPA eyes emission limits for lawnmowers
WASHINGTON — Those polluting engine-powered mowers that are a staple of suburban lawn care would become much cleaner under emission limits proposed Tuesday.
Ethanol use may stall new refineries
WASHINGTON — A top Chevron Corp. executive said Tuesday the push to displace as much as a fifth of the country’s gasoline with ethanol will make it less likely the industry will build new domestic refineries.
Dad convicted in Bay Area robberies gets 38 years
OAKLAND — A father convicted of committing a string of Alameda County robberies with his son and daughter was sentenced to 38 years in prison Tuesday.
Psychology of a mass murderer
We always want there to be an answer, except there never is. Something like Virginia Tech happens, people want to know why.
Charges dropped against Haditha Marine
CAMP PENDLETON — The Marine Corps has dropped murder charges and granted immunity to a sergeant accused of taking part in actions that led to the deaths of two dozen civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha in 2005, a development that could bolster the government’s prosecution of other defendants.
Haditha prosecution said to be fraught with problems
CAMP PENDLETON — The U.S. government’s prosecution against eight Camp Pendleton Marines in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha in 2005 is fraught with problems, according to sources with intimate knowledge of the case.
New York raises $300 million for WTC memorial
NEW YORK — Private donations to build the Sept. 11 memorial have jumped to over $300 million, more than half of it raised in the six months since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took over fundraising.
More charges for kidnap suspect
POTOSI, Mo. — Seven more charges, including attempted murder, have been filed against a former pizzeria manager accused of kidnapping two boys and holding one of them for four years.
Around the globe: SUV was going 91 mph before crash, state police say
TRENTON, N.J. — The sport utility vehicle carrying Gov. Jon S. Corzine was traveling about 91 mph moments before it crashed, the superintendent of state police said Tuesday.
Japanese mayor dies after being shot by organized crime figure
TOKYO — The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki was shot to death in a brazen attack Tuesday by an organized crime chief apparently enraged that the city refused to compensate him after his car was damaged at a public works construction site, police said.
Miss Mexico modifies pageant dress depicting hangings after public outcry
MEXICO CITY — Miss Mexico is toning down her Miss Universe pageant dress — not because it’s too slinky or low-cut, but because its bullet-studded belt and images of hangings from a 1920s uprising have outraged Mexicans.
Historians offer fresh evidence Japan’s military forced women to work in wartime brothels
TOKYO — Evidence submitted to the post-World War II trials of Japanese war criminals shows Japan’s military forced Asian women into sexual slavery during the war, historians said Tuesday, citing newly unearthed documents.
Foreign service officer finds new domestic mission
PLENTYWOOD, Mont. — Dave Grimland spent nearly 30 years as a foreign service officer — “telling the U.S. side of the story,” he says — in Bangladesh, India, Cyprus, Turkey and other nations with large Muslim populations.