ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sen. Pete Domenici on Thursday withdrew his support of President Bush’s Iraq war policy and embraced a proposal to bring home most troops by March. The longtime New Mexico senator is the latest of several Republican stalwarts who have abandoned Bush on Iraq in the past 10 days. They have urged a change sooner rather than later and further isolated the GOP president in his attempt to defend the unpopular war. Last week, Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said the U.S. should significantly reduce its military presence in Iraq while bolstering diplomatic efforts.
Virginia: County law targets aliens
Prince William County is moving to enact what legal specialists say are some of the toughest measures in the nation targeting illegal immigrants, including a provision that would direct police to check the residency status of anyone detained for breaking the law. The measures would also compel county schools and agencies – including libraries, medical clinics, swimming pools and summer camps – to verify the immigration status of anyone who wants to use services in Virginia’s second-largest county.
California: Villaraigosa girlfriend
Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo placed newscaster Mirthala Salinas on leave Thursday while it conducts an internal investigation into whether she breached journalistic ethics by having a relationship with someone she covered: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Telemundo executives have come under intense pressure to discipline Salinas after she and Villaraigosa acknowledged this week they had been involved in a relationship dating back more than a year. The mayor separated from Corina Villaraigosa, his wife of 20 years, early last month.
Florida: $19 million for a toilet
NASA has agreed to pay $19 million for a Russian-built toilet system for the international space station. The figure may sound astronomical, but NASA officials said it was cheaper than building their own. Astronauts are familiar with how it works since it’s similar to one already in use at the space station. The new system will be able to transfer urine to a device that can produce drinking water. Crew members have individual urine funnels which are attached to hoses, and the urine is deposited into a wastewater tank.
Mississippi: Choctaw chief out
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians appeared Thursday to have elected a new chief for the first time in three decades. Eight-term incumbent Chief Phillip Martin, 81, trailed former Tribal Council member Beasley Denson by 211 votes according to complete but unofficial returns from Tuesday’s runoff. The results of the close race are expected to be certified today. Martin, 81, has been criticized for the tribe’s ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and for the hiring of non-Choctaws in casino management.
New York: New film piracy law
A moviegoer caught secretly recording the sci-fi blockbuster “Transformers” has been charged with unauthorized use of a video camera in a theater in the first arrest under a new New York City law that stiffened penalties for pirating films. In May, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation that upgraded film piracy from a violation with a $250 fine to a misdemeanor that carries up to six months in jail and penalties of up to $5,000. Pirated movies reportedly cost major U.S. film studios more than $6 billion in 2005.
Michigan: Fireworks linked to blast
An explosion that could be felt blocks away injured two brothers who authorities believe were trying to make fireworks in a maintenance building at an apartment complex. The men, in their 30s, were in critical condition following the Fourth of July blast in Oakland County’s Independence Township, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit, authorities said. “Obviously something went wrong, we’re not sure if it was static electricity or they did something else stupid,” an Oakland County Sheriff’s sergeant said.
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