Yoko Ono wins round in battle over video

Yoko Ono won a battle yesterday in her feud with a Massachusetts company that says it owns the rights to 10 hours of documentary footage of John Lennon and Ono that was shot in 1970 at the couple's estate in England. US District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel dismissed a claim by World Wide Video of Lawrence that accused Ono of copyright infringement, according to Ono's lawyer, Jonathan M. Albano. However, the federal judge allowed Lennon's widow to proceed with her counterclaim against World Wide Video that says she is the rightful owner of the tapes. Zobel is also letting World Wide Video pursue its suit against a Florida man who the company says wrongfully sold the tapes to Ono. "Mrs. Lennon is very pleased with the court's swift ruling dismissing the lawsuit against her and, more importantly, that the tapes remain with their rightful owner," said a statement issued by Ono's lawyers. The tapes show Lennon smoking marijuana, discussing how he kicked a heroin habit, and saying he would like to spike Richard Nixon's tea with LSD, according to those who have seen it.

The Coast Guard yesterday denied a proposal to bring a liquefied natural gas terminal to Weaver's Cove in Fall River, saying the waterway is "navigationally unsuitable" for LNG shipments. The action effectively blocks the Weaver Cove plan for an LNG terminal in the area. Rhode Island's US senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with US Representative Patrick Kennedy, all Democrats, had opposed the plans from the start and applauded the Coast Guard's decision. Kennedy called the proposal extremely risky.

A Lowell man has been arrested in California and charged in connection with a 1994 homicide. Shawn Lessieur, 35, was captured in Alameda, Calif. He is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts to face charges that he shot and killed Mark Jones in March 1994. A second man, Nolyn Surprenaut, 30, of Methuen surrendered in 2006 and was indicted on first-degree murder charges, but authorities believe that Lessieur is the shooter and that Surprenaut drove him to and from the scene.

A jury has awarded $6 million to a Springfield woman who said her doctor had permanently injured her after he fell on her. Elizabeth Nelligan sued Dr. Mark Radzicki in 2005, contending that he broke her foot during a social visit to his house after he knocked her over while he was intoxicated. On Monday, a jury in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield awarded Nelligan $5 million, plus $1 million in interest. Radzicki was Nelligan's primary care physician when she and her mother went to his house for dinner in January 2005. In her negligence lawsuit, the 24-year-old Nelligan said her broken foot developed into a condition called reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a chronic, debilitating pain condition. The doctor denied he was intoxicated. (AP)

Police in Framingham say that two boys, ages 13 and 14, have admitted to stringing plastic zip ties across a road last month. Police warned at the time that the ties could kill or seriously injure a passing bicyclist or motorcyclist. Lieutenant Paul Shastany said the boys turned themselves in earlier this month, telling investigators that they had not intended to hurt anyone. The thick plastic ties lock at the end. They were found strung across Grove Street about 4 to 5 feet above the ground on April 21 and again the following day. The boys are expected to face juvenile charges of attempted assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace. (AP)

New Hampshire is poised to become the 10th state to participate in a regional effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The House voted yesterday to send Governor John Lynch legislation to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but to revisit it if Congress enacts a federal program. The House next considers changes made to the proposal, especially on how much money would go into a fund to promote energy efficiency. The bill adds New Hampshire to the other New England states, along with New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland in a market-based, cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the region's power plants. (AP)