Nation Briefly

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, August 19, 2006

Seeking to broaden the party’s nominating process, Democratic leaders voted Saturday to add Nevada and South Carolina to the opening rounds of the 2008 presidential contest. The move could prove significant by introducing new voices and issues into the race for the White House – but only if Democratic candidates choose to compete seriously in the two added states. Iowa and New Hampshire – host of the first caucus and primary, respectively – have long dominated the early balloting and many of the Democrats’ 2008 prospects have opposed changing the political calendar.

Utah: Mustard gas destroyed

The Army has begun draining and incinerating thousands of containers of mustard gas held in storage at a facility in the Utah desert. The project at the Deseret Chemical Depot, begun Friday, will last six to 10 years. It involves burning about 6,200 tons of liquid blister agent and is complicated by the presence of an estimated 800 pounds of toxic mercury. At one time, the depot housed more chemical weapons than any other U.S. storage site. Workers will install filters to scrub mercury from the exhaust, a spokeswoman said.

Texas: Wildfire threatens homes

Drought-parched grass and gusting winds fueled wildfires in West Texas on Saturday that destroyed at least one home, threatened several others and burned a swath of land more than five miles long. Authorities said no injuries have been reported from the fires, which began Friday and have engulfed more than 4,300 acres in Palo Pinto and Stephens counties, about 85 miles west of Fort Worth. A hunter’s cabin was destroyed, but firefighters saved six homes, a Texas Forest Service spokeswoman said. No evacuations were ordered.

From Herald news services