WASHINGTON (AP) — Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who
commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon
landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday
in a hospital near his Space Coast Florida home.

Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in
four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini
flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in
orbit.

Stafford was one of 24 NASA astronauts who flew to the moon,
but he did not land on it. Only seven of them are still alive.

ASTRONAUT THOMAS P. STAFFORD DURING GEMINI 9 MISSION.

NEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Eliason, an international journalist
whose insightful reporting, sparkling prose and skillful editing
graced Associated Press news wires for almost a half-century,
has died. He was 75.

He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, developed
pneumonia earlier this week at a nursing home, and died on
Friday in a New York hospital.