· DHS official tried: kept alien housekeeper
BOSTON, March 16 (UPI) -- A top official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is on trial for encouraging an illegal immigrant to stay in the country, court records showed.

· Britons hail success in Helmand
MUSA QALA, Afghanistan, March 16 (UPI) -- British forces in the city of Musa Qala in the north of Helmand say life is slowly returning to normal in the former Taliban stronghold.

· Refugees mixed on Iraqi elections
BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 16 (UPI) -- Iraqi refugees who voted outside the country in parliamentary elections gave mixed results on the hopes for their country, the U.N. refugee agency said.

· Minister: Bulgaria awash in fake licenses
SOFIA, Bulgaria, March 16 (UPI) -- Bulgaria's transport minister said the country's high accident rate is because of tens of thousands of people who obtain drivers licenses on the black market.

· Ponzi lawyer helped nab mafia man
MIAMI, March 16 (UPI) -- A Miami lawyer who orchestrated a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme helped federal agents nab a reputed Italian mafia figure living in Florida, authorities said.

· Iran to expand presence in Afghanistan
TEHRAN, March 16 (UPI) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry said it was moving to expand its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan by opening a consulate office in Nimruz province.

· Mysterious Michigan wolverine dies
CASS CITY, Mich., March 16 (UPI) -- A lone female wolverine that mysteriously appeared six years ago in Michigan was found dead, a state biologist said.

· Some ACORN chapters out, other reorganized
BALTIMORE, March 16 (UPI) -- The Maryland chapter of ACORN won't reorganize under another moniker after ceasing operations last year amid a scandal, a former official said.

· Images of whale trainer's death debated
ORLANDO, Fla., March 16 (UPI) -- The family of a SeaWorld Orlando trainer killed by a whale is seeking to keep videos and photos of the incident from public view, Florida officials said.

· Strike kills militants in North Waziristan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 16 (UPI) -- A suspected strike by a U.S. unmanned aircraft in the tribal region of North Waziristan, Pakistan, killed at least 11 militants Tuesday, officials said.

· Plan would close 45 Detroit schools
DETROIT, March 16 (UPI) -- Detroit should close 45 schools and seek $700 million in bonds for new and revamped facilities, the school system's emergency financial manager said.

· Montreal brutality march nets 100 arrests
MONTREAL, March 16 (UPI) -- An annual anti-police brutality march in Montreal led to more than 100 arrests after protesters threw fireworks and bottles at riot police, city media said.

· Man reimbursed for liver transplant
LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- A California man won a jury verdict his health insurance company should have paid for his out-of-state liver transplant, court records indicated.

· Inmate executed week after suicide attempt
LUCASVILLE, Ohio, March 16 (UPI) -- An Ohio inmate who tried to commit suicide a week ago was executed Tuesday at the state prison in Lucasville, Ohio, officials said.

· Czechs, Canadians discuss visa dispute
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, March 16 (UPI) -- Czech officials in Prague said they see progress in talks with Canadian diplomats over the requirement for Czechs to have visas.

· One dead in Pennsylvania train collision
NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa., March 16 (UPI) -- One person was killed Tuesday after two Union Railroad trains collided, with one derailing, in North Versailles, Pa., near a U.S. Steel plant, officials said.

· Who's in charge in Cairo?
CAIRO, March 16 (UPI) -- Speculation over the Egyptian leadership is mounting as rumors circulate over the health and intentions of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

· Avalanches disable S. Ossetia-Russia road
VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia, March 16 (UPI) -- The only direct road between Russia and South Ossetia has been cut off due to approximately 30 avalanches, officials said Tuesday.

· DNC getting cash minus big donors
WASHINGTON, March 16 (UPI) -- Only 15 of the top 150 U.S. fundraisers for the 2008 presidential campaign donated the maximum to the Democratic National Committee in 2009, an analysis said.

· Outside View: Dodd financial reforms won't fix banks By PETER MORICI
UPI Outside View Commentator
COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 16 (UPI) -- America's banks are as vulnerable today as before the credit crisis and reforms offered by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd won't fix things.