CHICAGO (AP) - The heavy work of jury selection begins today at the Chicago trial of a man accused of murdering the mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew of singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. A judge will question potential jurors to select 12 able to set aside sympathy for the star in deciding the guilt or innocence of William Balfour. Testimony begins April 23.

     TOKYO (AP) - Struggles with weak TV sales and swelling losses will reportedly cost 10,000 Sony workers their jobs. The Nikkei business daily and other media report that's 6 percent of Sony's workforce. Sony has announced restructuring plans by selling its chemical unit. Sony is also merging its LCD panel operation with Toshiba and Hitachi.

     DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The U.S. Navy is bolstering its strength in the Persian Gulf. A second aircraft carrier is being deployed along the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.

     SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - An intelligence report from South Korea says a new underground tunnel being dug in North Korea may indicate preparations for a third nuclear test. The report says the excavation is in its final stages. The report's release comes as North Korea prepares to fire a long-range rocket this month.

     WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the warm winter far exceeds old records. Temperatures in the lower 48 states were 8.6 degrees above normal for March and 6 degrees higher than average for the first three months of the year. Some climate scientists say that's a cause for concern.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) - Officials say a man drowned while trying to help children who were in distress off a pet beach at Honeymoon Island State Park on Florida's Gulf coast. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman says the man spotted the children on Easter Sunday and became distressed as he was swimming toward them. His name has not been released.

     SPRING HILL, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Highway Patrol says a man who was hurt in a crash involving a driver's rampage almost two months ago has died. Seventy-two-year-old Charles Hesser died at Tampa Bay area hospital. Thirty-eight-year-old Richard Barrett Jr. of New Port Richey is charged in the crash.

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - If Trayvon Martin's family sues over his death, there is a chance they will go after the homeowners association of the neighborhood where the shooting happened. If George Zimmerman's claim of self-defense under Florida's stand your ground law is upheld, he would be protected from a lawsuit but experts say The Retreat at Twin Lakes homeowners association could still be sued.

     FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida woman accused by authorities of illegally injecting toxic substances into women's buttocks as an enhancement procedure has pleaded not guilty. Oneal Ron Morris faces unlicensed practice of medicine and related charges in Broward County.

     MIAMI (AP) - Crocodiles are making a comeback in South Florida. The population has multiplied nearly 10-fold since the 1970s. Today, there are more than 1,500 American crocodiles in South Florida. Experts say crocs are reoccupying territory they retreated from as their population dwindled.