Nation in brief

New York City, eight states sue companies over pollution

NEW YORK - Accusing the federal government of neglecting the threat of global warming, eight states and New York City sued some of the nation's largest power companies Wednesday to force them to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, does not ask for money. Instead, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said, the goal is to "save our planet from disastrous consequences that are building year by year and will be more costly to prevent and stop if we wait."

Blumenthal said he expects more states to join California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and New York City in the legal action.

An experimental vaccine for Alzheimer's disease slowed memory decline somewhat even though the research was stopped before the full treatment could be administered, a study suggests.

There's no indication that the effect made any noticeable difference in the patients' day-to-day functioning. The study wasn't set up to look for that.

But the memory result was surprising and encouraging for the general idea of using the immune system to attack Alzheimer's, said researcher Sid Gilman.

The vaccine was intended not to prevent Alzheimer's, but to treat it. The experiment was halted in early 2002 after 18 of 300 participants developed brain inflammation. The vaccine formulation has been abandoned, but the general immune-system strategy is still being pursued.

SALT LAKE CITY - The search for a pregnant woman who apparently vanished during a morning run was expanded ednesday from a park and canyon into nearby neighborhoods.

Volunteers took fliers door-to-door in downtown Salt Lake City neighborhoods in their search for Lori Kay Hacking, who hasn't been seen since going for a run Monday morning. Her tearful parents said they assume she has been abducted and pleaded on television for her safe return.

Hacking left her Salt Lake home around daybreak Monday for a run, Detective Dwayne Baird said. After she failed to show up at work later, her husband, Mark Hacking, called police, Baird said.

Her car was found parked near the front gates of the park.

NASHVILLE - Federal authorities said they suspect a homemade bomb killed a man sitting in a sport utility vehicle at the famed Opryland hotel.

The Range Rover exploded Tuesday just before midnight in a parking lot a half-mile from the entrance of Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

Jim Cavanaugh of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Wednesday the cause hadn't yet been determined but authorities were investigating whether it was a homemade bomb.

The victim was identified Wednesday as William Glenn Young, 42, of suburban Franklin.

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Election 2004

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