Nation in brief

Small crowd kicks off famed monument's tour

DAYTON, Tenn. - The Ten Commandments monument banished from Alabama's state judicial building began a national tour on the back of a flatbed truck on Saturday - starting outside the courthouse where the teaching of evolution was put on trial almost 80 years ago.

"The ACLU is still the enemy," said June Griffin of Dayton, an outspoken advocate for displays of the Ten Commandments in government buildings.

About 75 people gathered to see the 5,280-pound granite monument outside the site of the Scopes Monkey Trial - where high school teacher John Scopes was convicted in 1925 of giving lessons on evolution. Many stepped up a ladder to take photos and pose beside the marker.

Ousted Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who lost his job for defying a federal court order to remove his display from the judicial building, approved the national tour but is not participating.

THORP, Wash. - A wildfire that destroyed two homes and threatened dozens of others appears to be the work of an arsonist who has set 10 other fires in central Washington in the past two months, authorities said Saturday.

A state of emergency was declared in Kittitas County as a windswept blaze forced the evacuation of dozens of homes in the Cascade foothills. "We are investigating this fire as arson," Undersheriff Clayton Myers said Saturday. "We believe they are all linked."

Winds up to 25 mph fanned the flames, forcing the evacuation of about 200 mainly seasonal homes in the eastern Cascade foothills Saturday. Myers said the blaze destroyed two homes and a shop as it raced across 300 acres. None of the previous 10 arsons in Kittitas County damaged buildings.

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $105-billion state budget into law Saturday, noting that no new taxes were imposed while balancing spending with income.

The Republican governor failed to mention that $7-billion in loans and one-time savings are embedded in the spending plan.

After a nearly one-month deadlock, the California Legislature gave final approval on the budget this week. Although Democrats and Republicans found much to complain about in the spending plan, they largely agreed that it represented a good compromise.

"We started the recovery by reforming workers' compensation to get rid of the poison of our economy," Schwarzenegger said. "And we are continuing the recovery with this budget by controlling spending, holding the line on taxes and taking back the special interest giveaways."

However, early indications are that workers' compensation insurance rates have not dropped as the governor had predicted.

POLSON, Mont. - A balcony crowded with dozens of people at a popular bar and casino collapsed, injuring at least 70 people, officials said Saturday.

There were no immediate reports of deaths from the accident Friday night at the Diamond Horseshoe Casino.

Polson Fire Chief Tom Maloney said seven of the injuries were serious or critical, but the others did not appear to be life-threatening. It was not immediately clear what caused the 14-foot-high balcony to collapse.

"Most of the victims appear to be young folks enjoying a night out," Maloney said.

An official at Polson's St. Joseph Hospital said 54 people were treated there for injuries sustained in the collapse, but declined to release details.

NEW YORK - After escaping from the circus, a white tiger alarmed picnickers and motorists Saturday on what apparently was a calm, half-mile stroll through an unfamiliar urban jungle.

The animal, named Apollo, was safely recaptured in the Queens section of the city - but not before the sight of him on the Jackie Robinson Parkway caused a multicar accident. Four adults and one child suffered minor injuries.

When the tiger lay down on a nearby street, six police officers with guns drawn created a perimeter around it, Capt. John Durkin said. The tiger's trainer arrived and coaxed it back into his cage.

"They did some type of signal, and the tiger jumped into the cage," Durkin said. "The tiger was taken into custody without incident."

The 7-year-old, 450-pound tiger is part of the Cole Bros. Circus that was performing in Forest Park.

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