USA

A daily summary of top stories in the USA.

Real estate investor Sam Zell bought the Chicago-based Tribune Co., a media giant that owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, TV stations, and the Chicago Cubs baseball team, for $8.2 billion Monday. The two-part deal, which was approved by the company's board, occurred at the end of a six-month bid-and-review period.

US Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) of New York exhibited her fundraising clout by taking in $26 million since launching her presidential campaign in January, reports said. That's probably a first-quarter record for a nonelection year, but final figures aren't due at the Federal Election Commission until April 15. Former New York Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani ($15 million) and former North Carolina Democratic Sen. John Edwards ($14 million) also disclosed their fundraising takes.

The White House urged the Senate Judiciary Committee Sunday to move up its scheduled April 17 testimony by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales so the controversial dismissal of eight federal judges doesn't drag on, the Los Angeles Times reported.

First Data Corp., a credit-card transaction processor, said Monday it is being acquired for about $29 billion by the private equity firm of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Under the terms of the deal, the buyers intend to solicit third-party proposals during a 50-day window.

So far more than 600 people have been charged with trying to bilk the federal government and charities of money in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the Associated Press said Monday.

Manufacturing in the US, which has experienced almost monthly fluctuations, registered modest but less-than-expected growth in March, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday. It was the second consecutive month of increased activity.

Police in Kansas City, Mo., arrested Shauntay Henderson, the lone woman on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List, Saturday when she answered the door at the home of an acquaintance. She's charged with a 2006 shooting death.

Morgan Pressel, 18, became the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history with a come-from-behind victory Sunday at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The Florida teen finished with a 3-under-par 285 total.