Nation briefs
Nation
Brown pelican taken off endangered species list
Washington -- Much like its death-defying dives for fish, the brown pelican has resurfaced after plummeting to the brink of extinction. Interior Department officials on Wednesday announced that they were taking the bird off the endangered species list, after a nearly four-decade struggle to keep the brown pelican population afloat. The bird, now prevalent across Florida, the Gulf and Pacific coasts and the Caribbean, was declared an endangered species in 1970, after it was decimated by the use of the pesticide DDT.
U.S. estimates 4,000 swine flu deaths
Atlanta -- Federal health officials now say that 4,000 or more Americans likely have died from swine flu -- about four times the estimate they've been using. It includes deaths caused by complications related to swine flu, including pneumonia and bacterial infections. Until now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had put the U.S. death count at more than 1,000.
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Report says Pfizer fudged drug studies
Analysis of a dozen studies testing possible new uses for a Pfizer Inc. epilepsy drug found the published results were often fudged, indicating the medicine worked better than internal company documents showed. Pfizer disputes the report's conclusions, saying the company never "attempted to mislead the medical community about the effectiveness" of the drug for certain uses. The report appears in today's New England Journal of Medicine.
Chimp attack victim visits 'Oprah'
Chicago-- A Connecticut woman who was attacked Feb. 16 by a 200-pound chimpanzee revealed her heavily disfigured face on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, saying she is blind and has to eat through a straw, but isn't angry.
World
S. Korea threatened over naval clash
Seoul, South Korea-- North Korea warned South Korea on Thursday that it could face consequences over a naval clash that occurred between the rival countries off their west coast earlier this week.
Gunmen kill Pakistani PR director
Peshawar, Pakistan-- A police official says gunmen today killed a Pakistani working as the director of public relations at the Iranian consulate in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
From Detroit News wire services
John Niyo: Receiver Mike Furrey left Detroit with some choice words for Lions management, put on IR either at his wish or their command, depending on whom you believe. And suffice … 
Lori Feret: Did you know that Chase Bank is running a contest to award money to your favorite charities?
The contest is only open to those on Facebook, and you have to sign up … 
Kate Lawson: Chef Christina Papazian of Highland opened the Sweet & Savory Bakery on the southwest corner of Liberty and Main St. in downtown Milford in late October.
She uses … 
