New York City: 24-hour air patrols resume

Black Hawk helicopters and infrared-equipped planes have begun flying over New York City under tightened security measures begun around the start of war in Iraq, officials said Tuesday.

The helicopters and Cessna Citation II jets, from the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, began round-the-clock patrols Monday, the bureau said.

The unarmed aircraft are linked with a base in California that uses ground-based radar and computer databases to analyze threats, officials said.

In the event of an intentional threat, pilots can call in Air National Guard and active-duty aircraft patrolling over New York City.

New York: Third terror suspect linked to al-Qaida pleads guilty

An American of Yemeni descent pleaded guilty Monday to training in an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan, becoming the third defendant to reach a deal with prosecutors in a case that sent shock waves through the Buffalo suburb where they live.

Yahya Goba, 26, is one of six men charged with providing support to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization by training at the camp in spring 2001.

Goba’s plea agreement, in which he detailed his trip to Afghanistan, said four unidentified men helped steer him and his five co-defendants to Afghanistan. His plea deal was the first to mention the four unidentified men.

Federal prosecutors declined any comment on the unidentified men.

Kansas City, Mo.: Mayor Kay Barnes re-elected

Incumbent Mayor Kay Barnes, the city’s first female mayor, won a second term Tuesday by easily beating challenger Stanford Glazer.

In unofficial results, Barnes won with 31,441 votes, or 60 percent, to Glazer’s 21,053, or 40 percent.

After serving in the Jackson County Legislature and on the City Council, Barnes was first elected mayor in 1999. Barnes, who previously ran a human resources development firm, said her victory was proof the community was pleased with the direction the city is heading.

“It certainly is an indication that the voters want to continue with the agenda we’ve set for the next four years — revitalizing downtown, dealing with basic services, our housing initiative,” Barnes said. “We really have a moment of opportunity now in Kansas City.”