Bush is shrinking nuclear program

Washington

The Bush administration Tuesday announced its intention to modernize and sharply reduce the size of the nation's aging nuclear-weapons program by closing or abandoning 600 buildings across the country and gradually reducing the associated work force by at least 7,200.

The plan, which requires congressional approval, would leave key parts of the U.S. nuclear-weapons program intact, and nearly 30,000 people would continue to be employed in nuclear-arms-related work.

"Today's nuclear-weapons complex needs to move from the outdated, Cold War complex into one that is smaller, safer and less expensive," said Thomas D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

He also said President Bush approved a new reduction of 15 percent in active U.S. nuclear weapons that is scheduled to be completed by 2012. Several independent experts said that roughly 4,600 warheads will remain in the U.S. arsenal, down from some 16,000 at the end of the Cold War and 10,500 when Bush came into office.

Los Angeles

Kimmel show to return Jan. 2

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel will join NBC's late-night hosts in returning with new shows Jan. 2 amid the Hollywood writers strike, ABC said Tuesday.

Kimmel, along with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and other hosts, had honored the strike that began Nov. 5. He said it was a difficult decision to resume work without writers, but he wants to save the jobs of other show employees.

Meanwhile, the writers guild is talking about making a deal with David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, so his CBS show can return with its writers.

Rob Burnett, the company's chief executive and the show's executive producer, expressed optimism Tuesday. The focus is on returning Jan. 2 with a writing staff, he said.

Last month, NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly" became the first late-night talk show to resume production.

Orlando, Fla.

Disney investigates roller-coaster death

A 44-year-old man died Tuesday after riding a roller coaster at Walt Disney World that simulates a runaway train ride through the Himalayas, authorities said.

Jeffery Reed, of Navarre, was pulled unresponsive from the Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest ride, given CPR and pronounced dead at a hospital. He had no visible signs of injury, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities are investigating whether Reed had a previous medical condition, said Jim Solomons, sheriff's spokesman. An autopsy is planned.

Washington

New flight limits expected at JFK

Federal regulators are expected to announce measures today restricting flights at a major New York airport in a move they hope will alleviate chronic flight delays across the country.

The controversial proposal would limit the hourly number of departures and arrivals at John F. Kennedy International Airport while setting the stage for similar flight ceilings at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport, federal sources said. Flights at another busy New York airport, LaGuardia, are already capped.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is also expected to announce the government's intention to establish a system that would auction takeoff and landing rights, known as slots, at JFK.

Chicago

Infections traced to tainted syringes

Federal health officials said Tuesday they are investigating dozens of blood infections in at least two states that have been linked to medical syringes contaminated with bacteria.

About 40 people have been sickened in Illinois and Texas, including 20 outpatients from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. No deaths were reported.

The infections were caused by bacteria called Serratia marcescens (Sur-AY'-she-uh mar-SUH'-sens), found in a single batch of heparin-filled syringes made by Sierra Pre-Filled.

Syringes from that batch also were sent to Colorado, Florida and Pennsylvania but infections so far have turned up only in Illinois and Texas.

Also

Voting rights: A federal judge ordered Florida election authorities to stop enforcing a 2-year-old voter-registration law, ruling Tuesday there is proof the change put in place by the GOP-controlled Legislature has resulted in "actual harm to real individuals."

Flight returns: ATA Airlines Flight 4755, which had taken off for a flight to Hawaii, returned to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday after a faulty oven sent smoke into the cockpit, officials said. No one on the Boeing 757 was injured.

Seattle Times news services