Panel breaks deadlock

Panel breaks deadlock
WASHINGTON -- In a burst of activity that ended 16 months of inaction, the House ethics committee on Wednesday opened investigations of a Republican and a Democrat who are subjects of federal bribery inquiries. One lawmaker is connected to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who had strong ties to Abramoff and accepted favors from him, will be investigated along with Rep. William Jefferson, D-La. A former aide to Ney pleaded guilty last week, admitting he tried to corrupt the congressman. Two businessmen have pleaded guilty to bribing Jefferson. The committee also will conduct a preliminary inquiry into whether other lawmakers were involved in a bribery scandal that led to the conviction of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. He is now serving an eight-year sentence in federal prison. In a separate announcement, the committee said it would have investigated overseas travel by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but will not do so because the Texas Republican soon is leaving Congress.
Tobacco appeal rejected
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A landmark jury award of $100 million in damages against Philip Morris was thrown out Wednesday by an appeals court, which ordered a new trial to reconsider damages against the tobacco manufacturer. The narrow 5-4 ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the jury's verdict on fraud and negligence against Philip Morris, and left open only the question of how much money the company should pay to the estate of a former smoker. The jury had awarded $150 million to the family of Michelle Schwarz of Salem, but a judge later reduced that amount to $100 million. Schwarz died of lung cancer in 1999 at age 53. Chuck Tauman, a lawyer for the Schwarz family said the case would be appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, while a spokesman for the tobacco company said an appeal would be considered. The court decision Wednesday did not alter Philip Morris' liability.
Officials monitor rivers
AMESBURY, Mass. -- Authorities warily monitored swift, high rivers and strained dams on Wednesday as New England began to clean up from days of record-breaking rain that dumped up to 17 inches in some places. Residents and businesses were evacuated in downtown Amesbury, near the New Hampshire border, where the swollen Powow River threatened to push down a stone retaining wall adjacent to a dam and unleash a torrent of water. "If this blows through, the water's going to go right through downtown," said Mayor Thatcher Kezer. Crews used heavy machinery to pluck debris from the water and cut down trees that could fall into the river. In New Hampshire, officials worked to resolve problems at a series of dams along the Newfound River in Bristol. Loose bolts at one dam had prompted the evacuation of up to 400 families and businesses.
Chavez, Gadhafi talk oil
TRIPOLI, Libya -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who is reconnecting his nation to the U.S. and to global energy companies, met for talks about oil Wednesday with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is moving his country in a different direction. Chavez said before going into a meeting with the Libyan leader that the two men planned to discuss maintaining current oil prices. The two Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members were to talk about "strengthening our commitment inside OPEC to maintain oil prices and avoid that they hit the floor again," Chavez said in comments broadcast on Venezuelan state television. "Today we have a fair price for oil." The Bush administration announced Monday that Libya is being taken off a U.S. list of terrorism sponsors and diplomatic ties are being restored, a striking success for Gadhafi's push to do business with foreign oil companies -- especially American ones.
Death toll reaches 156
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The body count grew in South America's largest city Wednesday as police -- who lost 41 comrades in gang attacks -- killed 22 more suspected criminals. Authorities said little about the latest deaths, generating criticism from rights groups. Police did not identify any of those they killed, say where they were killed or in what circumstances, Sao Paulo's leading newspapers reported Wednesday. Human rights activists said they feared innocent people may have been hurt in the strikes by police enraged by a notorious gang's attacks on officers on the streets, at their stations, in their homes and at afterwork hangouts. Saulo de Castro de Abreu, Sao Paulo state public safety secretary, told reporters the identities of the criminals killed were not revealed "so as not to jeopardize investigations." The latest deaths boosted the overall death toll to 156 since a wave of violence enveloped Sao Paulo last Friday, and came after officers shot 33 presumed gang members dead only a day earlier.
Associated Press
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