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AUSPICIOUS – adj.

ARDUOUS– adj.

Officials with New Brunswick's Department of Natural Resources and area contractors begin the arduous task of removing a whale carcass from the beach . . .

Judge: Triple-killing suspect was at least 16By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune Last update: September 14, 2010 - 7:22 AM

Judge Peter Cahill issued an 11-page ruling based on findings from a three-day hearing last month. The ruling denied a request from defense lawyer Frederick Goetz to quash the murder indictment against Mahdi Ali.

At age 16, teenagers can automatically be tried as adults for first-degree murder and, if convicted, given life in prison without the possibility of release. Goetz wants the case tried in juvenile court, where penalties are less severe.Goetz claimed that sloppy record-keeping in Ali's native country meant his birthday was not Jan. 1, 1993, the date on his Minnesota driver's license and other documents. That date would have made him 17 at the time of the shootings.The hearing included dueling testimony from dental experts about the development of third molars, often called wisdom teeth. Ali's mother testified that she gave birth to him in Kenya on Aug. 25, 1994.

The judge said Ali's mother, Sainab Osman, was "hostile and nonresponsive" and not credible in her testimony. He noted that she said it is permissible to lie when in the best interest of her family. "While she could have been the best witness to provide an accurate date of birth for defendant," her claim on his date of birth isn't credible, Cahill wrote.

CREDIBLE – adj.

Potomac at its Cleanest in 60 Years, But Far From PristineBy Nathalie Lawyer | Sep 10 2010 |

Once deemed a national disgrace by President Lyndon Johnson, the Potomac River is showing signs of improvement after decades of trying to decontaminate the murky waters.A study released by the U.S. Geological Survey revealed that despite the Potomac’s still unsightly appearance, the water quality has improved enough for native submerged aquatic vegetation to increase tenfold between 1990, when the USGS started taking measurements, and 2007. The USGS also found that the abundance of exotic species has declined since restoration efforts began and more native species have been able to repopulate. Native SAV species now cover 3,081 acres of the bottom of the Potomac in the 50-mile stretch of the river that was included in the study.Nancy Rybicki, a scientist and a co-author of the study released by the USGS, said that the conditions now are better than they have been for decades.

PRISTINE—adj.

'Dancing with the Stars' Interviews: Who's the Team to Beat? Monday, September 13, 2010 Meghan Carlson

The new cast of Dancing with the Stars, who will put on their dancing shoes and kick off the season Monday, September 20, took time out of their busy rehearsal schedule to talk strategy . . .

Pre-season fan favorite Jennifer Grey sounded a little reticent as she said her plan with partner Derek Hough is to "take one minute at a time," while Brady Bunch star Florence Henderson said she plans on listening closely to partner Corky Ballas, and hopes "America responds to that." That's So Raven alum Kyle Massey has already decide that he and Lacey Schwimmer are "the couple to beat."

RETICENT –adj.

PRODIGIOUS—adj.

If you win the lottery, you could win a prodigious amount of money.