Protesters force Egypt court delay

Egypt's top court is expected to release a statement Sunday, state media reports The statement will say why it did not rule on whether to dissolve the Constitutional Assembly The court also was expected to decide whether to disband Egypt's upper parliament Are you there? Share photos and video, but stay safe. Cairo (CNN) -- Egypt's high court postponed ruling Sunday on whether to dissolve the body drawing up the nation's constitution after supporters of President Mohamed Morsy surrounded the building in an attempt to prevent the judges from entering, state-run media reported. It is the latest salvo in a growing crisis that pits Morsy and his conservative Islamist allies against liberal, secular opponents, raising fears among observers that the political strife could translate to violence in the streets. At least one person died and 66 were injured Saturday in clashes at protests, both for and against Morsy, according to the MENA state news agency. The Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo was expected to release a statement "within hours" that will describe what happened, MENA said. It was not immediately clear when the court would rule on the legitimacy of the Constitutional Assembly or make a separate but related decision about whether to dissolve the Shura Council, Egypt's upper house of parliament. The scheduled court session was widely viewed as a challenge of Morsy, who ignited a political maelstrom on November 22 when he declared his past and future decisions were immune from judicial oversight. Morsy said the powers are a necessary and temporary until a new constitution is adopted. But that promise has done little to quiet the opposition who says Morsy's actions are reminiscent of those taken by now-ousted President Hosni Mubarak. It led to protesters to reoccupy Tahrir Square, the scene of the Arab Spring uprising that saw Mubarak ousted in 2011. Anger only grew when the Islamist-dominated Constitutional Assembly pushed through a draft despite the objections of a secular opposition, including some members who walked out in protest. But Morsy and his political allies may have reason to be worried given steps taken by the the military council that ruled Egypt after Mubarak's ouster. The council has previously dissolved parliament's lower house, which was populated with a number of Islamist lawmakers loyal to Morsy, because it said the elections were unconstitutional. When Morsy said he would call back the lower house, the high court upheld the dissolution. On Saturday, Morsy said a constitutional referendum will be held on December 15, an announcement that saw tens of thousands of protesters -- for and against Morsy -- take to the streets. The Supreme Constitutional Court has indicated it will review the proposed constitution, though it is not clear, if they rule it invalid, if that will prevent the referendum. Following Morsy's announcement, there was at least one sign that his move signaled progress: The Egyptian stock exchange rose by nearly $5 billion pounds ($8.2 million) -- or by 2.5% -- in 15 minutes following the news of a constitutional referendum. Essam El-Erian, a senior Morsy adviser, has insisted all viewpoints -- including the need to safeguard freedoms when it comes to things like gender and religion -- were taken into account in the drafting of the constitution. But critics are unconvinced. A quick glimpse at the constitution's articles show language dealing with individuals' civil rights, particularly how security forces and the justice system treats them. There is wording prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention and ensuring due process, a sensitive topic in Egypt. Mubarak and his supporters are blamed for jailing and harshly mistreating innocent people in the years before and especially during last year's uprising. While many of the articles sound democratic, the fine print indicates otherwise, some human rights advocates say. "Moving a flawed and contradictory draft to a vote is not the right way to guarantee fundamental rights or to promote respect for the rule of law," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. The preamble includes language pertaining to women, saying they are equal to men, but it also accentuates their role as mothers. The United Nations' high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has urged Morsy to reconsider the draft, saying a number of measures contained in it are incompatible with international human rights law. CNN's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report.

Water logged Northern California braces for storm

Storms keep hammering the West Coast and another storm headed for California could result in disaster. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports. By John S. Marshall and Terry Collins, The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO - Residents of Northern California braced for flooding as another powerful storm brings heavy rains to a region already soaked by two major weather systems in recent days.  The latest storm came ashore Saturday night and was expected to force several rivers over their banks as it saturates the region Sunday, National Weather Service forecasters said.  With rivers and streams already running high, the weather service issued flood warnings for both the Napa and Russian rivers, two rivers north of San Francisco with a history of flooding.  "Some roads will become inundated and some of the agricultural areas will take on some water," said Mark Strudley, a hydrologist with the weather service.  San Francisco area gets set for third storm system -- and flight delays, traffic mess The Napa River was expected to flood near St. Helena and Napa around noon on Sunday, while the Russian River was expected to flood near Guerneville early Monday morning, Strudley said.  The Napa River overwhelmed downtown Napa in 2005, flooding or destroying about 1,000 homes and forcing thousands of residents to leave the area.  With that in mind, residents worked to fill 700 bags with 10 tons of sand, city official Danny Lerma said.  "When you see it happen, you always remember, and you say, 'I'm going to be better prepared,'" Lerma told KGO-TV. "And that's what they're doing right now."  The Weather Channel's Chris Warren reports from California where residents are expecting a string of heavy storms. Farther north, forecasters said the Truckee River near Lake Tahoe was expected to crest above flood level by Sunday morning. The threat of flooding prompted officials in Truckee, a small town of about 16,000, to set up an evacuation center.  A flash flood watch was also in effect for a wide area of Northern California through Sunday evening.  Just across the border in Nevada, a state of emergency was declared in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County due to the expected flooding.  Holiday cancellations  The weather also prompted cancellations of Christmas parades and tree lightings in Sparks and Truckee.  Officials were also warning people to be careful along beaches.  Click here for more weather headlines A high surf advisory was issued by the weather service, with swells expected to be 14 to 16 feet along the Northern California coast. In Southern California, high surf was predicted in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.  In San Diego, the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier was closed because of big waves and high tides.  At the peak of Friday's storm, some flooding was reported and thousands of people in Northern California were without power.  The stormy weather may be behind a crash that involved several cars on Interstate 280 outside of San Francisco on Saturday morning, as well as the death of a Pacific Gas & Electric worker in West Sacramento who was killed after his truck crashed into a traffic signal pole during the stormy weather Friday.  More content from NBCNews.com: Passengers killed when tour bus hits Miami airport overpass Women warriors pass elite Army training course Teacher lured boys online to get nude pics, cops say Video: NFL player kills girlfriend, self, police say 66 species of coral proposed for protection by US Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Baltimore blogger airs police talks, surrenders

By The Associated Press BALTIMORE - A Baltimore blogger wanted on a court-issued warrant surrendered without incident to authorities late Saturday after broadcasting on Internet radio his negotiations with police who had surrounded his home.  Police said 47-year-old Frank James MacArthur emerged late Saturday evening. He had remained inside his home when law-enforcement officers sought at around 6 p.m. to serve a warrant issued in June for a probation violation stemming from a 2009 gun case. Authorities said MacArthur had missed a court hearing.  With a tactical unit outside, MacArthur broadcast his talks with a police negotiator on The Baltimore Spectator website.  MacArthur expressed frustration about his treatment by police, telling listeners, "I am surrounded by a bunch of men with guns."  Lt. Col. Garnell Green said the tactical unit was called in because MacArthur had made numerous threats on Twitter against officers, including those who might try to arrest him.  Green said MacArthur is being charged with a probation violation, and that police will discuss with prosecutors whether he will face other charges.  He said officers have been trying to apprehend MacArthur for several days.  The Baltimore Sun reports that MacArthur has been a gadfly on local issues, and had been posting on social media for several days about his "fugitive" status and alleging that police would try to harm him. He claimed he was never notified about the court date.  During talks with the Baltimore police negotiator, Lt. Jason Yerg, MacArthur continued to express concerns about his safety.  He criticized the heavy police presence at his Waverly home, saying of the negotiator, "He needs to be battling bad guys, not spending his time talking to The Baltimore Spectator."  MacArthur said he would come out at around 10:30 p.m., but then offered more commentary. At one point he thanked CNN commentator Roland Martin for expressing interest in his case via Twitter. Martin advised MacArthur, "You NEED to go outside," and also Tweeted that MacArthur's attorney should meet him at the police station.  MacArthur emerged around 11 p.m. and was taken into custody.  More content from NBCNews.com: Passengers killed when tour bus hits Miami airport overpass Women warriors pass elite Army training course Teacher lured boys online to get nude pics, cops say Video: NFL player kills girlfriend, self, police say 66 species of coral proposed for protection by US Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Deadly attack on U.S.-Afghan base

Three suicide car bombers and six gunmen attacked the base before sunrise, an official says The International Security Assistance Force says initial reports put the toll at one There were no immediate reports of any U.S. casualties The Taliban claims responsibility for the attack Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Three suicide car bombs were used to target a joint U.S.-Afghan base in eastern Afghanistan early Sunday in an attack that left at least three Afghan soldiers and two civilians dead, officials said. The attack, described as "complex," began shortly before sunrise when insurgents attacked three different points at Forward Operating Base Fenty, near the Jalalabad Airfield, according to the NATO-led International Assistance Security Forces' regional command in Nangarhar province. It's the latest in a series of attacks in recent years that has targeted the base, and it comes just months after NATO troops turned over security responsibilities for Nangarhar province to Afghan forces. There were conflicting reports over casualties. ISAF said the attack left at least one Afghan solider dead and several wounded. A provincial police spokesman put the toll at two civilians and three soldiers killed. At least 14 Afghan soldiers and four civilians were wounded in the blasts, said Havrat Hussain Mashriqwal, the police spokesman. There were no immediate reports of any U.S. casualties. The attack began shortly after 5 a.m. when insurgents detonated a car bomb near the front gate of the base, according to Mashriqwal. A second suicide car bomb attempting to breach the base exploded after U.S. and Afghan troops opened fire, Mashriqwal said. A third car bomb, according to the coalition, was detonated outside the base's perimeter. "Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Force soldiers repelled the attack and prevented any insurgent fighters from entering the perimeter, causing numerous insurgent casualties in the process," the statement said. The insurgents -- three suicide bombers and six gunmen -- were killed in the blasts and the firefight that ensued, Mashriqwal said. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to CNN. Mujahid said there were two suicide car bombs and a suicide bomber with an explosive belt used in the attack, which he claimed killed at least 20 people. The Taliban routinely makes telephone calls or sends out emails claiming responsibility for attacks against coalition and Afghan troops. The province borders Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, home to a number of insurgent groups, including members of the Haqqani Network. Insurgents have been active in Nangarhar, which is home to the Tora Bora region -- where al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden escaped after a 2001 battle with coalition forces. Sunday's attack at FOB Fenty is the latest in a series to target the base and neighboring Jalalabad Airfield. In February, nine people were killed and 12 wounded in a suicide bombing at the front gate of the base near the airfield. Two moths later, four suicide bombers wearing women's burqas tried to launch an attack there, airfield commander Jahangir Azimi said at the time. In June 2010, Taliban insurgents hit the front gate with a car bomb, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. CNN's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report.

Japan tunnel collapses; bodies found

NEW: Police find "several" burned bodies inside one vehicle Fire department: A section of the concrete collapses The cause of the collapse is not clear The tunnel is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Tokyo Tokyo (CNN) -- Japanese highway police found "several" burned bodies inside a vehicle after a tunnel collapsed about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Tokyo. At least two cars remained trapped Sunday after the tunnel collapse, according to the East Yamanashi Fire Department. Fire officials said the section of concrete that fell was about 50 to 60 meters long and about 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick. The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear, nor was the total number of people affected. The Sasago tunnel is on the Chuo Expressway. The cave-in occurred on the Tokyo-bound lanes, Otsuki police said. The road was temporarily closed, and authorities were working to rescue victims, police said. Japanese public broadcaster NHK aired images from the tunnel, showing smoke rising and a blue car with its side smashed in. Emergency vehicles were on scene. A journalist from NHK was driving through the tunnel at the time of the collapse. He told the broadcaster his car was damaged, but he was able to make it out unhurt.

College basketball coach Majerus dies

"Nobody loved basketball and teaching kids more that Rick," Saint Louis coach says Majerus had just one losing season in 25 years At Utah, he went 323-95 from 1989 to 2004 Majerus emphasized success in the classroom, not just on the court (CNN) -- Longtime men's college basketball coach Rick Majerus, who led Utah to the NCAA final in 1998, died Saturday from heart problems. He was 64. Majerus recently left Saint Louis University, where he had coached for the past five years, for health reasons. "Nobody loved basketball and teaching kids more that Rick," Billikens interim head coach Jim Crews said in a statement. "His passion for the game and the coaching profession was unparalleled. Rick was a true friend and was always there when needed. I, along with so many others, am going to miss him." Majerus had ongoing health problems for years, dating back to his days as Utah's coach. Saint Louis director of athletics Chris May said the Billikens team was informed Saturday afternoon that Majerus' condition was deteriorating. The school announced November 19 that Majerus would not return to coach because of his heart condition. In 25 years, Majerus coached at four schools, taking 12 teams to the NCAA tournament. He had just one losing season. His record was 517-216, which included two 30-win seasons and 15 20-win seasons. Majerus got his start at Marquette as an assistant to Al McGuire. He was at Marquette from 1983 to 1986 and then at Ball State from 1987 to 1989. The apex of Majerus' career came at Utah, where he went 323-95 from 1989 to 2004. In 1998, he led the Utes to the NCAA championship game, losing to Kentucky. Three of Majerus' players at Utah were NBA draft picks -- including Keith Van Horn as the No. 2 overall pick in 1997. "Rick left a lasting legacy at the University of Utah, not only for his incredible success and the national prominence he brought to our basketball program, but also for the tremendous impact he made on the young men who were fortunate enough to play on his teams," Utah Director of Athletics Chris Hill said in a statement. "His standard of excellence extended beyond the basketball court and into the academic and personal success of his players. He will be deeply missed and we grieve for his family and all of his friends." During Majerus' final stop, at Saint Louis, the Billikens went 95-69 under his tenure. Last season, Majerus led Saint Louis to the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. It was the program's first NCAA tournament win since 1998. "Coach Majerus put his heart and soul into the Billiken program, and for that we will be eternally grateful," May said in a statement. "What I will remember most about Rick's tenure at SLU was his enduring passion to see his players excel both on and off the court. Wins and losses meant a lot to him, but no more than to see our student-athletes succeed in the classroom. He truly embraced the term 'student-athlete,' and I think that will be his lasting legacy."

Explosions near airfield in Afghanistan

The blasts are "in the vicinity of Jalalabad Airfield," an ISAF spokesman says He hasn't seen reports of Taliban entering the base, and officials are investigating (CNN) -- Multiple explosions occurred "in the vicinity of Jalalabad Airfield" in eastern Afghanistan, an allied military spokesman said Sunday. Jamie Graybeal of the International Security Assistance Force said he has not seen any reports of Taliban getting on to the base, though he added officials were still "on the scene gathering facts." Jalalabad is in eastern Afghanistan, about midway between the Afghan capital of Kabul and the western Pakistani city of Peshawar. The city is the capital of Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Terrorists and militants have been active in Nangarhar, which includes Tora Bora -- where the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden escaped after a 2001 battle with coalition forces. And the Jalalabad airfield, which contains U.S. troops, has been targeted before. Last April, four suicide bombers wearing women's burqas tried to launch an attack there, airfield commander Jahangir Azimi said at the time. CNN's Jessica King contributed to this report.