Nation Digest
Bush signs into law terror-defense bill

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In a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, Bush said the legislation, the Project Bioshield Act of 2004, "will help America purchase, develop and deploy cutting-edge defenses against catastrophic attack."

He said the new law "is part of a broader strategy to defend America against the threat of weapons of mass destruction."

The legislation, which took 18 months to reach his desk despite broad bipartisan support in Congress, enables the government to purchase and stockpile vaccines, expedite research on medicines to combat bioterrorism and, in a crisis, distribute new drugs that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

New York

States sue to reduce harmful emissions

Eight states and New York City sued some of the nation's largest power companies yesterday to force them to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.

The plaintiffs want a federal judge to force five power producers — American Electric Power, Southern, Xcel Energy, Cinergy and the federal Tennessee Valley Authority — to reduce emissions 3 percent annually for 10 years.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard 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.

Los Angeles

Wildfire scorches thousands of acres
 
A third major wildfire burning north of Los Angeles swelled to 10,000 acres yesterday, threatening hundreds of homes on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

More than 2,300 firefighters battled the blaze in dry brush and timber about 50 miles north of Los Angeles, county fire Capt. Anthony Penn said.

Elsewhere, a 6,000-acre fire near Santa Clarita and a 17,418-acre blaze near Lake Hughes were 95 percent contained.

Crews in Alaska were battling a 484,000-acre fire on the outskirts of Fairbanks. Conditions were not expected to improve this week. The blaze was considered 20 percent contained.

Boise, Idaho

Student deported to Saudi Arabia

Nearly five weeks after a jury acquitted him of charges of aiding terrorists, a University of Idaho student has been deported to Saudi Arabia, his attorney said yesterday.

Sami Al-Hussayen, 35, was charged in March 2003 with three counts of aiding terrorist groups. Defense lawyers said his work on a network of Islamic Web sites was volunteer help for charity and constitutionally protected free speech.

Also

Pilgrim's Pride, a poultry-processing plant in Charleston, W.Va., fired 11 workers yesterday, one day after an animal-rights group released a secretly shot video of workers kicking, stomping and smashing chickens against walls.

Several hundred prisoners rioted at a privately run prison in Olney Springs, Colo., setting fires, attacking cellmates and leaving more than a dozen people injured before it was quelled early yesterday.