UPI NewsTrack TopNews

Former Titans QB McNair shot dead

NASHVILLE, July 4 (UPI) -- The bodies of former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair and a woman he had been dating were found Saturday in a Nashville condominium, police said.

Investigators appeared to be treating the deaths as a murder-suicide, The Tennessean reported. McNair's body was on the couch with Sahel Kazemi, 20, next to him. McNair, 36, had been shot several times, police said, while Kazemi was shot only once in the head and a gun lay close to her body.

Investigators said the bodies were discovered by Wayne Neely, a McNair friend, in a condominium McNair rented.

Don Aron, a police spokesman, was noncommittal about the investigation, saying more would be known after the bodies are autopsied Sunday.

McNair played with the Titans from 1995 to 2005 and led Nashville to its only Super Bowl in 2000. He shared the NFL Most Valuable Player award with Peyton Manning in 2003.

After leaving the Titans, he played two seasons for the Baltimore Ravens, announcing his retirement in April 2008. McNair opened a Nashville restaurant, Gridiron3, June 19.

Bud Adams, owner of the Titans, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the news.

"He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans," Adams said in a statement. "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing."

Former Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said in a statement McNair was "a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what," said Reese, who currently serves as senior football adviser for the New England Patriots. "I don't think there was a player who played with him or against him that didn't look up to him and respect him."

Sanford's Argentina trip mixed biz, love

CHARLESTON, S.C., July 4 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford mixed business and pleasure during a three-day Argentina trip last year that included a visit to his mistress, records show.

Records obtained by The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper show Sanford left behind an official state trade delegation hunting birds in Cordoba, Argentina, to go to Buenos Aires, a trip he has acknowledged was to see his lover, Maria Belen Chapur.

Sanford has reimbursed taxpayers about $3,300 for the trip, the newspaper said.

Kara Borie, a South Carolina Commerce Department spokeswoman, said the department set up the 2008 Argentine meetings at the governor's request, even though the U.S. Department of Commerce had not conducted a trade mission in the country between 2002 and 2008.

Borie said Sanford did not steer the trip toward Buenos Aires.

"In this case, since the governor was already going to be in Argentina for the bird hunt, Commerce was asked to add trade-related meetings in Argentina to the agenda as well," Joel Sawyer, the governor's spokesman, told The State.

Democrats and Republicans in South Carolina have called on Sanford, a Republican, to resign. However, two allies Friday told The State Sanford should remain in office.

State Sen. Tom Beaufort, Sanford's former chief of staff, said he changed his mind after talking to Sanford and his wife, who convinced him they could try to repair their marriage while Sanford remains in office.

"I am not going to second-guess them on that personal matter," Beaufort said.

State Sen. Greg Ryberg said it is "time to move forward" now that an investigation shows no misuse of state funds.

Palin: 'It's about country'

WASILLA, Alaska, July 4 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin issued a July Fourth message Saturday criticizing media coverage of her announcement that she plans to leave office this month.

Palin began the message, posted on her Facebook page online, by acknowledging "all of those who have chosen to serve our great nation" and praised the "selflessness and the sacrifices of their families, too." She used the rest of the message to talk about her decision to resign as governor and about the reaction to her surprise announcement Friday.

After thanking supporters and reiterating that her decision was "in Alaska's best interest," Palin asserted that her administration has "accomplished more during this one term than most governors do in two."

Palin said people who know her know she made the right decision but she had harsh words for media coverage of her announcement, Politico reported.

"The response in the mainstream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the 'politics of personal destruction,'" she said. "How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country."

Palin said she is being subjected to a different standard than that applied to "countless" other public officials who have left office for "a higher calling" without coming in for the kind of criticism that has been directed at her.

"I've never thought I needed a title before one's name to forge progress in America," Palin said. "I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me."

Palin has not indicated what her plans are. Speculation has ranged from possible campaigns for higher office to book and speaking tours.

Archbishop: Honduran prez should stay away

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 4 (UPI) -- One of Honduras's most prominent religious leaders urged President Manuel Zelaya Saturday to stay out of the country and accept his ouster.

Oscar Andres Rodriguez, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Tegucigalpa, made a statement on local television, addressing viewers in front of a Honduran flag and a painting of Jesus Christ, The Miami Herald reported.

"On the day of your inauguration, you cited three commandments of the rules of God -- not to lie, not to steal, not to kill," Rodriguez said. "If you respect life, if you love life ... please meditate because if not, it could be too late."

The archbishop suggested Friday the Organization of American States reconsider its backing of Zelaya.

"To the Organization of American States, please pay attention to everything illegal that was happening before the 28th of June," Rodriguez said. "This is a community that will define our own destiny without any unilateral pressures. We renounce any blockades, which will only hurt the poor."

Zelaya was wakened from sleep last weekend and forced to leave the country in his pajamas. Leaders of the military coup and their supporters say he was conspiring to change the constitution to allow him to remain as president indefinitely.