Nation in brief

Peterson bid for new jury rejected

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - The judge in the Scott Peterson trial Monday rejected a defense request to move the case to another community and pick a whole new jury to decide whether Peterson should get the death penalty for killing his pregnant wife.

Judge Alfred A. Delucci also delayed the start of the penalty phase, which had been set for Monday, until Nov. 30 to allow the two sides time to exchange evidence.

Peterson was found guilty Nov. 12 of murdering his wife, Laci, and the fetus she was carrying. He could get the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

BOSTON - The company overseeing construction of the beleaguered Big Dig said Monday that repairs to fix widespread leaks would take months, not years, and denounced public officials for rushing to judgment on the $14.6-billion project.

"The Big Dig is safe and sound," Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff, project manager for the underground highway, said in a statement issued in response to reports of mismanagement and shoddy engineering.

The rebuttal states that it will takes months to stem the flow, and not decades as has been reported. Bechtel/Parsons said most of the water flow will end when construction is complete later next year and the tunnel openings are sealed.

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney has called for the resignation of Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman Matthew Amorello, who is in charge of the Big Dig. Both Romney and Attorney General Thomas Reilly, a Democrat, have denounced management of what is already the most expensive road project in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON - American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 257,616 Accord sedans because the driver's air bag may not deploy properly, federal regulators said Monday.

Accords from the 2004 and 2005 model years are involved in the recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. At least one person has reported an injury due to the defect, according to NHTSA's records.

The air bag can tear while it's deploying and may not offer adequate protection. Owners will be able to get free repairs beginning Dec. 6.

NHTSA also said General Motors Corp. is recalling 178,798 Saturn Ion sedans because the daytime running lamps and front turn signals may stop working. No injuries have been reported due to the defect.

The recall involved Ions from the 2003 and 2004 model years and will begin Dec. 17.

WASHINGTON - A Pennsylvania company recalled about 226,000 gas furnaces for mobile homes last week after reports that they could have been linked to a series of fires.

The Unitary Products Group of York International Corp. of York, Pa., said the furnaces can overheat, causing the heat exchanger to crack or burn through, and in extreme cases, can cause the furnace wrapper to burn. The overheating can in turn burn drywall and other combustibles near the furnace, posing a fire and smoke hazard.

The furnaces were manufactured in Wichita, Kan., and sold nationwide from 1995 to 2000 under the brand names Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T as original and replacement furnaces in manufactured homes. The furnaces, used only in manufactured housing, are a silver color with white access panels.

Model numbers included in the recall are listed on the company's Web site at http://www.dgatprogram.com Consumers can also call UPG toll-free at 1-888-665-4640 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday, and for a referral to a service center where they can schedule a free inspection and repair.

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