Nation in brief

Monsanto shelves its engineered wheat plan

Monsanto said Monday that it had halted its effort to introduce the world's first genetically engineered wheat, bowing to the concerns of American farmers that the crop would endanger billions of dollars of exports.

The announcement indicates how difficult it is becoming to introduce genetic engineering into new crops beyond the four that have been genetically engineered for years: canola, corn, cotton and soybeans.

Monsanto has already largely dropped efforts to develop genetically modified potatoes and vegetables and, while it is not giving up on wheat, its efforts over the next few years will be even more focused on corn, cotton and soybeans. Genetic engineering of those crops is somewhat less controversial because they are used largely for animal feed, clothing or food oils, while wheat is more likely to be used directly in food.

"Consumer acceptance and the readiness of the commercial markets are as important as food and environmental safety for biotech crops these days," said Gregory Jaffe, director of biotechnology programs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer group. He added, "It will be difficult to market biotech crops designed primarily for human consumption in the near future."

The wheat was genetically engineered to be resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, which would allow farmers to spray their fields to kill weeds while leaving the crop intact.

WASHINGTON - The government will give managed care plans in Medicare an increase in payments of at least 6.6 percent in 2005, the second year of extra payments designed to make managed care more attractive to Medicare clients, the top Medicare official said Monday.

The increase, following a 10.3 percent jump this year, means that Medicare health maintenance organizations and other managed care plans will receive an additional $1.3-billion over two years, the Congressional Budget Office said.

The federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has said the government already pays Medicare managed care plans 7 percent more than it would cost to treat the same patients in the traditional Medicare program. Industry representatives have challenged the accuracy of the commission's projections.

However, Mark McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the extra money is needed because the payment formula shortchanged HMOs in past years.

The higher payments are designed to encourage insurers to maintain and expand their Medicare HMOs and other managed care plans, which are intended to have a much larger role under the Medicare law that President Bush signed in December.

BOSTON - Out-of-state couples will be able to receive marriage licenses in the seaside gay mecca of Provincetown after the city decided Monday to defy the governor's residency edict, likely setting the stage for another gay marriage legal battle.

Gov. Mitt Romney immediately issued a statement Monday, threatening legal action against clerks who defy his interpretation of the law.

Also Monday, conservative groups filed a motion in federal court seeking to block the legalization of gay marriage next week, arguing that the landmark November ruling violated the U.S. Constitution.

FERRY HITS REEF: A 235-foot ferry off the coast of Alaska with more than 100 people aboard struck a reef Monday and began taking on water, forcing the passengers and crew to abandon ship. All 86 passengers and 23 crew members were evacuated and put aboard life rafts and passing ships, said Alaska Marine Highway System spokeswoman Nona Wilson. Three people were taken to the hospital.

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