Life sentence still possible for Padilla

MIAMI - A federal judge refused yesterday to rule out possible life sentences for Jose Padilla and two codefendants convicted of terrorism conspiracy and material support charges. US District Judge Marcia Cooke rejected defense arguments that there was little evidence linking Padilla, Adham Amin Hassoun, and Kifah Wael Jayyousi to actual terrorist attacks or groups. Instead, Cooke found that enhanced terrorism penalties could be applied. Without the federal terrorism enhancement, each man could have been eligible for a maximum sentence of about 10 years. (AP)

TIMBERLINE LODGE - A pair of climbers who misjudged the weather on Mount Hood and got caught in whiteout conditions were brought to safety yesterday after spending a night in a snow cave. They said they didn't make it to the summit of the 11,239-foot mountain as they planned Monday because the weather closed in when they were at about 10,000 feet. (AP)

RALEIGH - The disgraced former prosecutor who led the debunked Duke lacrosse rape case filed for bankruptcy yesterday, citing more than $180 million in liabilities - the majority from the threat of two pending lawsuits. Mike Nifong reported $243,898 in assets of real and personal property to US Bankruptcy Court. Nifong accused the players of raping a woman hired to perform as a stripper at a lacrosse team party in March 2006. (AP)