Report: Iran military denies claims that it demolished buildings at suspected nuclear site TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s military is denying claims by the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog that it demolished buildings at a base in a suspected attempt to cover up nuclear testing, the state media reported Monday. The report by YJC.ir news website quoted Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as saying allegations that Iran was trying to erase evidence at the Parchin military base are ‘‘irrelevant and unwise.’’ Iranian officials have issued similar denials over the past few weeks but this is the first by the defense minister, under whose authority the base falls. ‘‘The allegations are aimed at affecting nuclear talks in Moscow,’’ Gen. Vahidi was quoted as saying, referring to an upcoming round of negotiations between Iran and six world powers in the Russian capital over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The West suspects Iran is trying to develop weapons technology. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency showed to member nations of its board last month satellite images indicating a cleanup of the site, saying the photos depicted water streaming out of one building, the razing of several other buildings and removal of earth at the facility. ——— FACT CHECK: Republicans exaggerate size of ’Taxmageddon.’ It’s not the biggest tax hike ever WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are calling it ‘‘Taxmageddon,’’ the big tax increase awaiting nearly every American family at the end of the year, when a long list of tax cuts are scheduled to expire unless Congress acts. It would be, GOP leaders in Congress say again and again, ‘‘the largest tax increase in American history.’’ Except it wouldn’t be, not when you take into account population growth, rising wages, and most importantly, the size of the U.S. economy. When those factors are taken into account, the largest tax increases were those imposed to help pay for World War II — back when the U.S. raised additional revenue to pay for wars instead of simply borrowing. Nevertheless, it is an exaggeration that has proved too tempting for top Republican leaders in Congress: — ‘‘Any sudden tax hike would hurt our economy, so this fall — before the election — the House of Representatives will vote to stop the largest tax increase in American history,’’ House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a May 15 speech in Washington. ——— Lawyers in Sandusky case set to make opening statements, as other investigations grind on BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — A jury of seven women and five men will get their first glimpse of the case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky — and his defense — when opening statements begin inside a central Pennsylvania courthouse. Sandusky’s lawyers and state prosecutors have been under a gag order for months, so their outline of the case to jurors Monday should reveal new details about an investigation that has taken several years. Sandusky, 68, faces 52 criminal counts that he sexually abused 10 boys over 15 years, allegations he’s consistently denied. Sandusky’s lawyers were not able to get the judge to delay the trial, and on Friday Judge John Cleland rejected their request to have some or all of the counts dismissed. Many of the alleged victims are expected to take the stand for the prosecution, and their credibility in jurors’ eyes could prove to be the decisive factor in determining the verdict. But however the case ends, when it comes to getting to the bottom of what happened, the trial will definitely not be the final word. ——— Suspect sought in shooting near Auburn U. that killed 3, including 2 ex-football players AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — The search continued Monday for a gunman suspected of killing three people and wounding three more in a shooting at a pool party near Auburn University. Two of the slain victims were former players for the school’s powerhouse football program. Authorities were searching for Desmonte Leonard, 22, of Montgomery, who is accused of opening fire Saturday night at an apartment complex after getting into a fight with some of the victims over a woman. He faces three counts of capital murder. Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said Leonard fled the scene in a white Chevrolet that he abandoned on the way back to Montgomery, about 55 miles away. They believed he was in the Montgomery area. Of the three wounded victims, John Robertson remained in critical condition after being shot in the head. Xavier Moss was released from the hospital. The third wounded victim was Eric Mack, a current football player who is expected to recover. Slain were Edward Christian, who had to quit the team because of a lingering back injury, and Ladarious Phillips, who had previously quit playing football. The other person killed was 20-year-old Demario Pitts. ——— Iraqi president says premier’s opponents unable to muster votes needed to unseat him BAGHDAD (AP) — Opponents of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have failed to muster enough support to bring him down in a vote of no confidence, Iraq’s president said in a statement posted on his website Sunday. Al-Maliki, a Shiite, faces a growing challenge from Sunni and Kurdish parties as well as other Shiites within his unity government who accuse him of monopolizing power. But al-Maliki also has allies such as President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, whose office must affirm that a petition for a no-confidence vote has enough signatures. Talabani’s refusal to ratify the no-confidence campaign’s letter is a setback for al-Maliki’s opponents, although the constitution gives them other ways of trying for the vote. Coalition rebels said in a statement they would keep trying to unseat al-Maliki and to ‘‘put an end to the monopoly (on power) and domination’’ by the prime minister. Talabani has close ties to Iran, which has been using its leverage in Iraq to keep al-Maliki in place. Divisions among the prime minister’s opponents may also be undercutting the no confidence push. ——— Once upon a time, a sweet story called ’Once’ won an Oscar — and now, it’s a Tony winner, too NEW YORK (AP) — Once upon a time, a quirky film made on a shoestring turned into an unlikely Oscar-winner and, even more improbably, a Broadway show. Now, ‘‘Once’’ has completed its Cinderella story, winning the coveted best-musical Tony award Sunday for its bittersweet love story that has captured the hearts of theatergoers, just as it did with movie audiences in 2006. ‘‘Once’’ won eight awards in all, including for its lead actor, Steve Kazee, who brought movie-star looks and a soulful singing voice to the part of Guy, a street musician in Dublin who falls for a Czech immigrant flower-seller. Kazee gave one of the most poignant speeches of a night that had many of them, paying tearful tribute to his mother, who passed away on Easter Sunday. He also thanked his cast mates, especially co-star Cristin Milioti, for helping him cope: ‘‘They carried me around and made me feel alive.’’ ‘‘Once’’ triumphed over the more obviously commercial ‘‘Newsies’’ for the top prize, and that was a theme of the night — many of the top-honored shows were neither big-budget nor star-driven, and a number had started off-Broadway in small theaters. ——— Independent bookstores embrace digital publishing with ’espresso’ book machine WASHINGTON (AP) — Clare Dickens only wanted to share her story to help others. But in the process, she became a successful independent author — with the help of a local bookstore and its instant publishing machine. Dickens wrote ‘‘A Dangerous Gift’’ with her son Titus, a memoir of their life dealing with his bipolar disorder. She completed the novel after he took his own life at the age of 25 in 2006. Though Dickens found a publisher in Iceland to release the book in 2007, she still wanted a broader reach. The Espresso Book Machine at Politics and Prose in the District of Columbia enabled her to bring the memoir to local bookshelves and beyond earlier this year. Her book has since become the best-selling, self-published title at the local bookstore and its website. ‘‘I didn’t expect to sell any at all,’’ Dickens said. ‘‘I didn’t want to be a best-seller. It’s really about getting my son’s story out there and helping other people.’’ ——— Wildfires spread quickly in NM, Colo.; hundreds flee as flames destroy structures LAPORTE, Colo. (AP) — An eerie orange dusk shrouded part of northern Colorado, while heavy smoke choked a small community in southern New Mexico — as both regions battled wildfires spreading rapidly through mountainous forest land that have forced hundreds of evacuations and destroyed dozens of structures. The Colorado fire, burning in a mountainous area about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, grew to more than 31 square miles within about a day of being reported and has destroyed or damaged 18 structures. The fire on Sunday sent up heavy smoke, obscuring the sun in the middle of the day. The smell of smoke drifted into the Denver area and smoke spread as far away as central Nebraska, western Kansas and Texas. Strong winds, meanwhile, grounded aircraft fighting a 40-square-mile wildfire near the mountain community of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico. Crews were working to build a fire line around the blaze, which started Friday and has damaged or destroyed 36 structures. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the structures lost were homes. ‘‘We’re still trying to take a tally,’’ Kerry Gladden, public information officer for Ruidoso, said late Sunday afternoon. ——— Police: US Commerce Secretary Bryson investigated in 2 Calif. crashes SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (AP) — Police are investigating two traffic collisions allegedly caused by U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson in the Los Angeles area that left him injured and unconscious, authorities said Monday. One of the crashes was under investigation as a felony hit and run, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department and the San Gabriel Police Department said. Bryson, 68, was treated at a hospital for non life-threatening injuries following the crashes around 5 p.m. PDT Saturday, the agencies said in a joint statement. ‘‘As far as we know he is still admitted,’’ sheriff’s deputy Tony Moore said early Monday. He declined to provide any other information, including the name of the hospital. Commerce Department officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. ——— Lady Gaga struck by pole while performing in New Zealand; staggers but finishes concert AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Lady Gaga has been struck on the head by a pole while performing a concert in New Zealand. The singer was hit Sunday during the third of three shows in Auckland. Clips posted online show a backup performer accidentally striking Gaga with the set prop while removing it from the central stage. Gaga, holding a mock machine gun, staggers and rubs her head before briefly leaving the stage. She continued the show, part of a world tour. Gaga’s makeup artist Tara Savelo wrote Monday on Twitter: ‘‘Gaga has a concussion but she is going to be okay ... cant believe she finished the show.’’ Gaga’s New Zealand publicist Bridget de Launay said Monday she was seeking comment from tour organizers, adding the Auckland shows were sellouts and a ‘‘huge success.’’
