The Commercial Appeal (2007-Current)

Battling Over Beale -- District's Manager Ordered to Supply Financial Records

John Elkington chased the rats and mice off Beale Street, converting the once-blighted lane into a bustling tourist mecca. Now, Elkington says he is the one on the run.

In Sports / Grizzlies Turn to Hollins

Top of the Web

MOST READ Evans' strong second half gets Tigers past Vols

In Today's Newspaper

Streep, Penn take top acting prizes Ledger also wins: Meryl Streep of the Roman Catholic drama "Doubt" and Sean Penn of the Harvey Milk film biography "Milk" win lead-acting honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Heath Ledger wins best supporting actor for his role as the sociopathic Joker in the Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" and Kate Winslet wins for her supporting role in "The Reader." A6

Karzai: U.S. Raid Killed 16 Civilians -- Afghan Villagers Stage Mass Protest

KABUL, Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai condemned a U.S. operation he said killed 16 Afghan civilians, while hundreds of villagers denounced the American military during an angry demonstration Sunday. Karzai said the killing of innocent Afghans during U.S. military operations "is strengthening the terrorists."

Briefly

Oregon Exchange students shot

Cornyn Challenges Democrats -- Texas Senator Leads Fight for Republicans

WASHINGTON - John Cornyn, the conservative Republican senator from Texas, has been playing the spoilsport amid all the celebrations for President Barack Obama and the Democrats. Hours before Obama was sworn in on Tuesday, Cornyn gummed up plans for a speedy Senate vote confirming Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, saying he still had concerns about foreign donations made to a foundation headed by Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton.

U.S. Watching Al-Jazeera -- Exclusive Coverage of Gaza War Found On Web

DOHA, Qatar - American viewership of Al-Jazeera English rose dramatically during the Israel-Hamas war, partly because the channel had what CNN and other international networks didn't have: reporters inside Gaza. But the viewers weren't watching it on television, where the Arab network's English-language station has almost no U.S. presence.

Messenger of Peace

Briefly

Dems: No quick fix for economy WASHINGTON - The White House warned Sunday that the country could face a long and painful financial recovery, even with major government intervention to stimulate the economy and save financial institutions.

Musician Gets Poetic Justice in Wis. Court -- Legal Brief Filed with Rap Lyrics

MADISON, Wis. - Justice might be blind, but apparently it likes good rhythm. A Wisconsin appellate court ruled in favor of a trombone player who filed his legal brief partially written in the form of a rap to argue he shouldn't have to pay $3,750 in fees.

Screen Actors Guild Awards / Streep, Penn Earn Top Honors -- Ledger's 'Joker' Performance Wins

LOS ANGELES - Meryl Streep of the drama "Doubt" and Sean Penn of the Harvey Milk biography "Milk" won lead-acting honors Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The prize for overall cast went to the rags-to-riches saga "Slumdog Millionaire," while Heath Ledger of the Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" and Kate Winslet of the Holocaust-themed drama "The Reader" took supporting honors.

On the Front

Al-Maliki blasts sectarianism BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister on Sunday blamed sectarianism for destroying the country, as he tried to tap into a backlash against religious parties before next weekend's nationwide provincial elections.

Study Supports Vaccine Safety -- No Evidence Shots Linked to Autism

CHICAGO - A new study from Italy adds to a mountain of evidence that a mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines doesn't hurt children, offering more reassurance to parents. In the early 1990s, thousands of healthy Italian babies in a study of whooping cough vaccines got two different amounts of the preservative thimerosal (pronounced thih-MEHR'-uh-sawl) from all their routine shots.