GOP leaders consider fate of hurricane relief bill

GOP leaders consider fateof hurricane relief bill
WASHINGTON -- Top congressional Republicans must decide the fate of a $14 billion package for victims of hurricanes and drought, with the approach of Election Day leaving both parties in particularly generous moods.
The House approved the measure by 412-0 Wednesday in a vote that underlined the bill's political impact. Its $11 billion in hurricane aid and $2.9 billion in farm assistance would go largely to Florida, a pivotal electoral state, and battleground farm states in the Midwest like Ohio.
"Let's get on with rebuilding a great state," said Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., a chief author of the bill who was eager to bring funds home to a state staggered by four hurricanes in six weeks this summer.
First, though, the Senate must decide whether to approve the House measure. While passage before the election seems likely, many senators want more generous disaster aid or oppose the $2.9 billion in cuts to a land conservation program that the House approved to finance the drought assistance.
Family of Lori Hackingplans private burial
SALT LAKE CITY -- Authorities have given Lori Hacking's remains to her family for a private burial later this week.
Family members received the body Tuesday, four days after searchers found the remains at a landfill, where crews combed through mounds of garbage after Hacking's husband, Mark, reportedly confessed shooting her and throwing her body in the trash.
Police confirmed Friday that the remains belonged to Hacking, 27, who had not been seen since July 18.
David Gehris, a spokesman for Lori Hacking's parents, said the family planned a private ceremony at Orem City Cemetery, where a headstone has already been erected.
Although the medical examiner has completed an autopsy, authorities have not delivered a written report to police and prosecutors.
U.S. Marines not welcome
MADRID, Spain -- In another dig at the United States, the Socialist government has dropped plans for U.S. Marines to march in a high-profile parade commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World.
U.S. Marines have taken part since 2001 in the procession marking the Dia de la Hispanidad, which is celebrated each year Oct. 12.
The Spanish invitation was first issued when fervently pro-U.S. conservatives ruled in Spain and was meant to show solidarity with the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But the new Socialist government, which withdrew Spain's troops from Iraq right after taking power in April and realigned the country's foreign policy away from its predecessor's focus on ties with Washington, has ended the tradition.
Defense Minister Jose Bono said Tuesday evening there was still friendship and respect between Madrid and Washington.
"What does not continue is subordination and getting down on our knees on orders from a foreign government, whichever it may be," Bono said.
Cambodian king abdicates
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated because of poor health and asked the country to begin a search for a successor, the head of the National Assembly said today.
The king, 81, made the announcement in a letter from Beijing, which was read to the National Assembly early today by his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is also head of the legislature.
"According to the statement that I have received and just read, his majesty has already abdicated," he told reporters, adding that the news "is very regrettable and shocking for all Cambodians who love him and regard him as sacred."
Mural misspellings
LIVERMORE, Calif. -- Spelling counts -- especially at a library
A $40,000 ceramic mural was unveiled outside the city's new library and everyone could see the misspelled names of Einstein, Shakespeare, Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo and seven other historical figures.
"Our library director is very frustrated that she has this lovely new library and it has all these misspellings in front," said city councilwoman Lorraine Dietrich, one of three council members who voted Monday to authorize paying another $6,000, plus expenses, to fly artist Maria Alquilar up from Florida to fix the errors.
Reached at her Miami studio Wednesday by The Associated Press, Alquilar said she was willing to fix the brightly colored 16-foot-wide circular work, but offered no apologizes for the 11 misspellings among the 175 names.
"The importance of this work is that it is supposed to unite people," Alquilar said.
Associated Press