Nation in brief

'Spirit' uses tool kit to explore Mars soil

PASADENA, Calif. - The Spirit rover has used its entire "Swiss army knife" tool kit for the first time to analyze the composition of the martian soil, scientists said Tuesday.

NASA scientists said the examination revealed as many questions as answers.

"We have now a number of hypotheses about what's going on in the martian soil," said Steve Squyres, principal investigator from Cornell University, describing the soil analysis the rover conducted on Monday.

The six-wheeled robot turned its attention Tuesday to the large, sharply angled rock scientists have dubbed "Adirondack." Results were expected today.

MODESTO, Calif. - The judge in the murder case against Scott Peterson moved the trial about 90 miles away to the San Francisco Bay area Tuesday because of hostility toward Peterson in his dead wife's hometown.

Judge Al Girolami ruled this month the trial had to be moved out of Modesto to make sure Peterson got a fair trial in the slaying of his wife, Laci, and unborn son. Four counties had offered to host the trial, and the judge picked San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.

The trial is to start Monday but likely will be postponed.

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve's top officer said Tuesday he wants to change the mobilization system so members may be called to active duty for nine- to 12-month periods every four or five years.

There is no official regularity to reserve callups, and some who joined without expecting to be mobilized were shocked to find themselves in Iraq for full-year tours.

Lt. Gen. James Helmly said his proposal would give reservists a clearer idea of when they might be pulled from their civilian lives to serve on active duty.

The U.S. Supreme Court did the following Tuesday:

Agreed to consider whether a 1968 consumer protection law allows people to collect sizable damage awards if they win their case. Justices will hear an appeal from a car dealer accused of violating the Truth in Lending Act.

Said it would consider whether poor defendants have a right to free legal help in appealing guilty pleas, a case testing a Michigan law that restricts the appointing of attorneys in those cases.

Debated whether federal judges can block state tax breaks, like one that fund religious schools in Arizona. Taxpayers sued Arizona in federal court arguing the tax credits are an unconstitutional promotion of religion.

HARTFORD AIRPORT EVACUATED: The Hartford, Conn., airport was evacuated briefly Tuesday after a custodian discovered a boxcutter inside a garbage can in a concourse bathroom, officials said. Seven flights were delayed.

"There was absolutely no threat whatsoever," state police Sgt. J. Paul Vance said.

PRIEST DEFROCKED: A convicted pedophile priest who is a suspect in the murder of an altar boy has been defrocked decades after the allegations surfaced, the Springfield, Mass., Diocese said Tuesday. Richard Lavigne was defrocked by the pope on Nov. 20 and will be removed from the payroll on May 31, Springfield Bishop Thomas Dupre said.

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