Congress drops expansion of hate-crime laws
WASHINGTON — Congress has dropped legislation that would have expanded laws against hate crimes to include attacks on gays after it became clear the measure wouldn’t pass the House, aides said Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was widely supported by Democrats and some moderate Senate Republicans. But because it was attached to a major defense policy bill that would have authorized more money for the Iraq war, many anti-war Democrats said they would oppose it.
“We don’t have the votes,” said one House Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anon ymity because conference negotiations on the defense bill were ongoing. “We’re about 40 votes short, not four or six.”
The development is a blow to civil rights groups, which say that broadening federal laws are necessary to address a rise in crimes motivated by hate and based upon a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
California braces for floods, slides
LOS ANGELES — Southern California residents stacked sandbags Thursday and authorities urged people to evacuate ahead of possible flash flooding and mudslides in areas burned by wildfires.
Orange County sheriff’s patrol cars broadcast warnings urging about 2,000 people to get out of three canyons because some of the heaviest rainfall in more than a year was expected to hit the area.
Ship’s pilot charged in oil spill
SAN JOSE, Calif. — State officials Thursday issued formal misconduct charges against the pilot involved in the Nov. 7 San Francisco Bay oil spill that sent 58,000 gallons of fuel into the water and fouled 40 miles of California shoreline from Oakland to Bolinas.
The accusation charges that Capt. John Cota was negligent that foggy morning when he advised the captain of the cargo ship Cosco Busan to proceed under the Bay Bridge, resulting in the 900-foot vessel sideswiping a bridge tower.
The oil spill ended up killing more than 2,200 birds and other wildlife.
The charges issued by the board could lead to the revocation of Cota’s pilot license.
Four ministries late on spending-probe deadline
Only two of six Christian ministries under scrutiny for allegations of opulent spending turned over documents to a Senate panel by a Thursday deadline, with others either fighting the request or asking for more time.
A month ago, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote to the ministries asking about salaries, perks and private jets in a quest to determine whether rules governing tax-exempt groups had been broken.
Grassley’s office said it received material Thursday from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s ministry in Texas. Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., provided documents earlier this week.
