Washington – Wyoming Republicans have 15 days to choose possible replacements for the late Sen. Craig Thomas, a decision that could affect the balance of power in the Senate in 2009.
No Democrat has represented the state in the Senate since 1977.
But Thomas’ immediate successor will set in motion Democratic efforts to stage an upset next year. The vacancy gives Republicans one more seat to defend as they attempt to reclaim their Senate majority.
Thomas died Monday night after suffering for months from leukemia. A public service is scheduled Saturday in Casper, with burial set for Sunday in Cody.
Several of his Senate colleagues praised him Tuesday in emotional speeches from the Senate floor. Wyoming’s other senator, Republican Mike Enzi, said Thomas lived as he died, “with his spurs on.”
Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal officially notified the GOP of Thomas’ death Tuesday, and state Republicans now have just over two weeks to convene and choose three nominees. Once Freudenthal receives those names, he has five days to choose one.
The new senator will serve until the next general election, in 2008, when a special election will be held to determine who completes Thom as’ term, which runs through 2012.
KABUL, Afghanistan
Helicopters sink boat, killing Taliban group
The Afghan Defense Ministry said Tuesday that a boat full of fleeing Taliban fighters had been fired upon by NATO helicopters and it sank in the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan. All on board, between 20 and 30 guerrillas, drowned, said Gen. Zaher Azimi, a ministry spokesman.
It was the second sinking on the river reported in recent days. Another boat, carrying about 60 people, sank Saturday in the same area, although there were conflicting reports as to whether those aboard had been civilians or Taliban fighters.
Azimi said that in Tuesday’s episode, NATO helicopters fired on the boat after receiving fire from gunmen on the vessel.
WASHINGTON
Group claims wars hurt diplomatic corps
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have overstretched the U.S. Foreign Service, damaging its morale and threatening its performance around the world, a coalition of advocates for diplomats alleged Tuesday.
The Foreign Affairs Council, a group of 11 nonprofit organizations, said in a report that the State Department needs to hire 1,100 foreign service officers simply to restore the capabilities it had when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice took her post at the beginning of 2005.
The council said Rice has required diplomats to carry out a more aggressive mission of “transformational diplomacy” to prod other countries to adhere to democratic principles. But at the same time, they have had to cope with wartime strains, inadequate language and skills training and more overtime work.
At the same time, Congress has rejected the administration’s requests for additional personnel in the past two budgets.
TUCSON
Biosphere 2 site sold to host homes, resort
The landmark glass terrarium known as Biosphere 2, which was built as a self-sustaining environment for humans 20 years ago, and the 1,650 acres surrounding the research site were sold to a home developer for $50 million.
Texas billionaire Ed Bass spent more than $200 million building Biosphere 2 near Oracle. The site attracted global attention in 1991 when eight people were sealed inside to conduct a two-year experiment in self-sufficiency.
The buyer, CDO Ranching & Development LP, said the 3.1-acre building will remain open to researchers and tours for now. Pinal County officials have approved plans to build 1,500 homes and a resort hotel on the land.
ROME
Vatican buildings to use solar energy
Some Holy See buildings will start using solar energy, reflecting Pope Benedict XVI’s concern about conserving the Earth’s resources, a Vatican engineer said Tuesday. The roof of the Paul VI auditorium will be redone next year, with its concrete panels replaced with photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity, engineer Pier Carlo Cuscianna said.
The 6,300-seat auditorium is used for the pontiff’s general audiences on Wednesdays in winter and in bad weather during the rest of the year. Concerts are also staged in the hall.
The cells will produce enough electricity to illuminate, heat or cool the building, Cuscianna said.
“Since the auditorium isn’t used every day, the (excess) energy will feed into the network providing (the Vatican) with power, so other Vatican offices can use the energy,” he said.
BEIJING
Anti-pollution effort near “turning point”
China should see a “turning point” this year in its fight against pollution and will likely meet its clean air and water goals in coming years, an environmental official said Tuesday in an unusually optimistic assessment.
Zhang Lijun, vice minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, said that while the amount of ammonia and nitrates in waterways increased in 2006 and overall air quality declined, pollution control facilities and stepped-up enforcement will have an impact.
LONDON
Full moon brings out extra police officers
A British town is deploying extra police during full moons, convinced of a link between the lunar cycle and violence.
Brighton is adopting the new approach after police inspector Andy Parr conducted an analysis of crime statistics that suggested more violent incidents happen during full moons, Sussex police said Tuesday.
