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Politics

Bush doesn't plan to block pet projects

By Times Wires
Published January 22, 2008

Washington

President Bush is unlikely to defy Congress on spending billions of dollars earmarked for pet projects, but he will probably insist that lawmakers provide more justification for such earmarks in the future, administration officials said Monday. A band of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina has attacked earmarks, saying they waste money and corrupt the legislative process. But a larger number of lawmakers seek them and boast of securing money for constituents. Republicans received about 40 percent of the earmarks in the spending bills for 2008.

LANSING, Mich.

State will restrict driver's licenses

Michigan will no longer let illegal immigrants get drivers' licenses, a practice just seven other states continue to allow. Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who oversees the motor vehicle department, announced the new policy Monday and said it takes effect today. The change is aimed at complying with an opinion issued last month by Attorney General Mike Cox, who said granting licenses to illegal immigrants is inconsistent with federal law.

CORONA, Calif.

Answers sought on collision of planes

Authorities were trying Monday to learn why two small planes collided over a row of businesses, killing all four people on the planes and one person on the ground at an auto dealership in Corona, about 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Family members of one of the victims in Sunday's crash told a television station he was a student pilot flying one of the planes.

Elsewhere

New York: Study-abroad programs at 15 colleges and universities, including Harvard and Columbia, are being scrutinized by the New York Attorney General's Office to ensure that business deals are not cheating students, a top investigator said Monday. Investigators are focusing on the schools after an inquiry identified questionable practices by companies worldwide that arrange for students to study overseas.

Lawrence, Mass.: A huge blaze started in an empty downtown nightclub early Monday and spread through 16 buildings, destroying homes and businesses and forcing residents to flee into the frigid night. One person received minor injuries.

Morristown, Tenn.: A 94-year-old man was found fatally beaten early Monday in a thicket of bushes, his left hand cut off, and three people were arrested in what might have been a botched robbery, authorities said. Willie Lee Morgan was reported missing Saturday.

Chicago: A squabble over a single Newport cigarette ended when a Chicago man ran down his girlfriend's father with her car and then drove away, authorities and relatives of the victim said Monday. The suspect, Dante Richardson, 25, was arrested Sunday.

Times wires

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 06:10:18]