Bush sonar exemption for Navy riles activists

Los Angeles

Conservationists on Wednesday blasted President Bush's decision to exempt the Navy from an environmental law so it can continue using high-power sonar in its training off Southern California, a practice they say harms whales and other marine mammals.

The president's action alone won't allow the anti-submarine-warfare training to go forward because an injunction is in place, but the Navy officials think it will strengthen the Navy's argument in court. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco had been expected to rule on the exercises Friday. However, late Wednesday, the appeals court sent the issue back to the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to consider first.

Attorneys for the Natural Resources Defense Council said the group would challenge the exemption to the Coastal Zone Management Act in court.

A federal judge in Los Angeles issued a preliminary injunction this month requiring the Navy to create a 12-nautical-mile, no-sonar zone on the Southern California coast and to post lookouts to watch for mammals before and during exercises.

Cincinnati

Man accused of killing family leaves hospital

A man accused of fatally stabbing his wife and killing their four children in a house fire was released from a hospital Wednesday and taken to court to face murder charges.

Michel Veillette, 34, was treated for stab wounds and other injuries after he was found outside the family's burning home in Mason, about 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, late Friday. Judge Andrew Batsche set a hearing for Jan. 22 for Veillette, 34, and he was taken to jail. The native of Canada is charged with aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson.

Jacksonville, N.C.

Search for Marine extends into Mexico

The search for a U.S. Marine wanted in the killings of his comrade and her unborn child has crossed into his native Mexico, possibly complicating efforts to hold him accountable.

Mexican authorities might be reluctant to send him back to face a charge that could carry a punishment of death, a Mexican diplomat and legal experts said Wednesday.

Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, 21, disappeared from his Jacksonville home hours before investigators found the charred remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20, buried in his backyard. Lauterbach had accused Laurean of raping her; she was eight months' pregnant when she vanished last month.

Also

Helicopter crash: At least one person was found alive late Wednesday after a Navy MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopter carrying four people on a training mission crashed in a field in rural South Texas.

Name change:The March of Dimes is changing the name of Walk America, its biggest fundraising event, to March for Babies to increase public awareness of its mission.

Seattle Times news services

The information in this article was published Jan. 17, 2008, and corrected on Jan. 19, 2008. A previous version of this item incorrectly reported that The March of Dimes was changing the name of Walk America, its biggest fundraising event, to Walk for Babies. The organization is changing the name of Walk America to March for Babies.