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Nation in brief
Compiled from Times wires Legion official protests Bush act on vetsWASHINGTON -- The top official of the American Legion, which represents nearly 3-million wartime veterans, said Wednesday that President Bush let down all men and women who served in the armed forces when he canceled funds for their medical care. Bush announced Wednesday that he would not release a $5.1-billion bundle in emergency spending because Congress, attaching an all-or-nothing condition, lumped in millions of dollars in programs that Bush did not request and that were unrelated to the bill's homeland security mission. Included in the package that Bush rejected was $275-million for the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce backlogs at the nation's VA medical centers. Gas leak injures 50, forces evacuations in MissouriCRYSTAL CITY, Mo. -- A chlorine gas leak created a toxic cloud that sickened more than 50 chemical plant workers and neighbors and closed two highways Wednesday. The leak began about 9:30 a.m. as DPC Enterprises workers unloaded chlorine from a freight car tank. About 80,000 pounds of chlorine were in the tank when a hose ruptured, officials said. The leak was stopped about noon. Two mobile home parks near the plant were evacuated. Officials said 300 to 500 people lived in one of the parks. Light wind and a steady rain helped keep fumes from spreading far. Also . . .GUILTY PLEAS IN RACE RIOT: Four white men pleaded guilty to conspiracy Wednesday in the shooting death of a black woman during 1969 race riots in York, Pa., saying police had encouraged them to take part in the violent chaos. Clarence Lutzinger, Rick Lynn Knouse, Thomas Smith and William Ritter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the July 21, 1969, death of Lillie Belle Allen. NO DNA ON LEVY'S CLOTHES: An FBI analysis of the clothing found with Chandra Levy's remains has detected no traces of DNA, law enforcement sources said, all but eliminating the possibility that forensic evidence from the site in Rock Creek Park will help solve the case. NO VERDICT IN KIDNAP-MURDER: The San Diego jury in the David Westerfield trial Wednesday spent its fifth day of deliberations without reaching a decision, as the judge ordered a closed-door session for today to hear a request by Westerfield's attorney. Westerfield could face the death penalty if convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
