McDonald's will pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the fast-food giant of failing to inform consumers of delays in a plan to reduce fat in the cooking oil used for its French fries and other foods.

BanTransFats.com, a nonprofit advocacy group, sued McDonald's in California state court in 2003, alleging the company did not effectively disclose to the public that it had not switched to a healthier cooking oil.

In September 2002, McDonald's announced it would lower trans fat in its cooking oils and said the switch would be completed in five months. McDonald's announced a delay in February 2003. The lawsuit accused the company of failing to adequately inform consumers of that delay.

The agreement requires McDonald's to pay $7 million to the American Heart Association to use the proceeds to educate the public about trans fats in foods. Heart-clogging trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil — a process called hydrogenation.

The settlement also requires McDonald's to spend $1.5 million publicizing that it has not followed through on its 2002 pledge.

Window Rock, Ariz.

Navajo council votes for meth ban

The Navajo Nation's governing council voted yesterday to outlaw methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant that has become a scourge for tribal police and health officials on the sprawling reservation.

The tribe's drug laws ban most other substances that are illegal in the rest of the United States, but until yesterday made no specific mention of methamphetamine.

"This legislation is a matter of urgency," said Hope MacDonald-LoneTree, who sponsored the bill and heads a public-safety committee updating the Navajo's criminal code, which, she said, had not been updated "for a couple of decades."

The measure passed in a 64-0 voice vote. It now goes to Navajo President Joe Shirley for consideration; he has said he would support codes to stop drug and alcohol use on the Navajo Nation, home to roughly 200,000 people.

Fort Mitchell, Ky.

Pregnant woman kills her attacker

A nine-months' pregnant woman fought off and killed a knife-wielding woman who may have been trying to steal the baby, police said yesterday.

Police said Sarah Brady, 26, acted in self-defense in killing Katherine Smith on Thursday. No charges were filed.

Smith, 22, had been falsely telling neighbors for weeks that she was pregnant, and a search of her apartment after her death revealed a full baby nursery, investigators said.

Los Angeles

Winds, rain trigger accidents, 3 die

Heavy rain and winds gusting to nearly 70 mph battered Southern California yesterday, triggering hundreds of wrecks. At least three people died.

The eastern edge of the storm also pounded southern Utah. Flash-flood warnings were issued in the same area of Utah where a river jumped its banks and washed away dozens of homes a month ago.

The storm system that moved into Southern California late Thursday dumped from an inch of rain on the coast to more than 3 inches in some mountain areas; rain was expected to continue through early today.

ALSO

Schiavo case: A Florida judge dealt another legal blow to the parents of Terri Schiavo yesterday by refusing to set aside a previous ruling that calls for the removal of the feeding tube that has sustained their daughter for 15 years.

Fake Zig-Zags: A Michigan man admitted scheming to sell cigarette papers that were not only fakes of the popular Zig-Zag brand but also lacked the usual 100 leaves — a five-year scheme that cost the real distributor $1.8 million, prosecutors said. Wajdi Abdulaziz Beydoun, 39, faces up to 15 years in prison and a $2.25 million fine.

Too late: A Louisiana judge yesterday dismissed bribery and theft charges against Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, saying prosecutors had taken too long to bring him to trial.