WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Congress is unlikely to approve a tax rebate before President Bush leaves office, and she signaled that prospects are dim for a post-election session to pass an economic aid package.
Pelosi played down the chances that Democrats could come to terms with Bush and congressional Republicans this fall on a plan to address Americans’ pocketbook woes.
Democrats have already called for a $61 billion package of jobless aid and spending, and are looking at adding to it as the financial meltdown exacerbates the economic crisis.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Airport security badges often gone
The government has not been able to keep track of all the airport security uniforms and badges it issues, which makes secure areas in airports vulnerable to terrorists posing as authorized officials, according to an internal review. The Homeland Security Department’s inspector general looked at five airports across the country from October 2006 through June 2007 and found major deficiencies in the Transportation Security Administration’s ability to keep track of uniforms, particularly after an employee leaves the job.
Georgia: Suspect dies in explosion
A bitter family dispute over property in north Georgia apparently erupted Friday when a 78-year-old man threw an explosive into a law firm that represented his son, causing a blast that killed the father and injured four in the office. The explosion blew out windows of the two-story house in Dalton where attorneys worked. Authorities identified the bomber as Lloyd Cantrell, who owned several parcels of land in the area and gave some of the property to his son. The son had grown fearful of his father, though, and filed a lawsuit seeking to keep his dad off the property the son had been given.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Limestone mine collapse kills man
A mine worker died Friday morning in a collapse about two miles deep in a limestone mine in Ellijay, authorities said. Emergency crews recovered the body of Tony Allen Cruse, 45, after the collapse Friday at the Ellijay Mine of Carmeuse Lime &Stone, said a Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department official. The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
Texas: Zoo loses beastly buddies
A 6-foot-tall camel named Moses and his pint-size pony sidekick are missing from a Texas zoo. Officials at Capital of Texas Zoo near Austin reported the theft of the kid-friendly creatures this week. Zoo founder Michael Hicks says the 3-year-old camel and the nearly quarter-century- old pony named Coco are “best friends” and follow each other.
Florida: Mom pleads not guilty
The mother of a missing 3-year-old Florida girl pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that she killed her daughter, whose body hasn’t been found despite four months of searching. Casey Anthony’s written plea comes three days after a grand jury indicted her on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators about the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee, who has not been seen since June.
N.Y.: Conviction in girl’s death
A woman was convicted of manslaughter Friday in the death of her tiny, malnourished 7-year-old daughter, who suffered abuse that shocked New Yorkers. Brooklyn jurors deliberated three days before convicting Nixzaliz Santiago in the January 2006 death of Nixzmary Brown, who was severely punished after she was caught stealing yogurt.
Pakistan: 60 militants killed
Troops backed by artillery and helicopter gunships pounded militant positions in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 60 fighters and injuring many others, the military said today. The assault happened Friday evening, shortly after troops found one of two Chinese engineers who had been held hostage by Taliban militants, an army statement said. It said the second Chinese engineer was still in the custody of militants and efforts were under way to rescue him.
France: Jewish group warns of Pius XII sainthood
France’s main Jewish organization warned Friday that efforts to make wartime Pope Pius XII a saint would deal “a severe blow” to relations between Catholics and Jews. The warning from an umbrella organization of French Jewish groups comes as the Vatican mounts a campaign to refute accusations Pius did not do enough to try to stop the extermination of 6 million Jews during World War II.
China: Restrictions eased on foreign journalists
China took a further step toward opening itself to the world, announcing Friday that an easing of restrictions on foreign journalists enacted for the Olympics would become permanent. Premier Wen Jiabao signed the decree. Under the new regulations, foreign reporters will not be required to get government permission to travel within the country or to interview Chinese citizens.
From Herald news services
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