Senator’s trial to be in D.C.

Senator’s trial to be in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Stevens cannot move his corruption trial from Washington to his home state of Alaska, a federal judge ruled Wednesday in a decision that could hamstring the powerful Republican’s re-election bid.

The patriarch of Alaska politics, Stevens could normally expect to coast to his seventh full term in the Senate. But Democrats want to capitalize on the lengthy FBI investigation and trial to capture the once-safe Republican seat.

Stevens, 84, had hoped to stand trial by day and campaign on nights and weekends. In a state where he is known as “Uncle Ted,” he could have faced a more sympathetic jury.

Aid for Georgian defense

TBILISI, Georgia — A prominent U.S. senator advocated strengthening Georgia’s capability to defend itself against possible future Russian attack as he visited the country Wednesday in a signal of solidarity.

Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, representing the Senate Armed Services Committee, met displaced Georgians, government officials including President Mikhail Saakashvili, and U.S. Brig. Gen. Jon Miller, who is in Georgia with a team assessing humanitarian needs.

Lieberman said he and Graham “would like to see the United States provide assistance to the Georgian military — self-defense equipment that will help them defend and deter against Russian aggression in the future” — specifically, anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems.

Confederate flag ban OK’d

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday in favor of a Tennessee school system that banned the Confederate battle flag because of concerns the symbol could inflame racial tensions at a high school.

Students Derek Barr, Chris White, Roger Craig White and their parents said in a lawsuit their free-speech rights were violated by the 2005 flag ban at William Blount High School in Maryville, about 15 miles south of Knoxville.

School officials said the ban came after previous race-related incidents that included a racial slur, a fight, a civil rights complaint, a lockdown and graffiti depicting a Confederate flag and a noose.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pointed to those incidents in ruling that school officials had a right to ban the flag because they could “reasonably forecast” that it would cause disruption.

Church sex-abuse deal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Roman Catholic diocese has tentatively agreed to pay $10 million to settle nearly 50 sexual abuse claims against the diocese and 12 of its priests.

Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese Bishop Robert W. Finn on Wednesday apologized for the abuse that occurred at the hands of current and former clergy members and promised that steps are being taken to make sure such abuse never happens again.

The deal would settle all current sexual abuse lawsuits pending in Jackson County against the diocese and 12 current or former priests for incidents alleged to have occurred between 1951 and 1992.

France bans TV for babies

PARIS — France’s broadcast authority has banned French channels from marketing TV shows to children under 3 years old, to shield them from developmental risks it says television viewing poses at that age.

The ruling also ordered warning messages for parents on foreign baby channels that are broadcast in France — such as Baby TV, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., and BabyFirstTV, which has ties to News Corp.’s Fox Entertainment.

The High Audiovisual Council, in a ruling published Wednesday, said it wanted to “protect children under 3 from the effects of television.”

Bail posted for mother

ORLANDO, Fla. — A bondsman posted bail Wednesday for the Florida mother of a missing toddler and said he hoped her release would help lead investigators to the girl, officials said.

Casey Anthony has been jailed on $500,200 bail since mid-July. Police say Anthony lied to them and didn’t report her 3-year-old daughter, Caylee, was missing for more than a month. She faces charges of child neglect, making false statements and obstructing an investigation.

The earliest Casey Anthony could be released from the Orange County Jail is this morning, jail spokesman Allen Moore said in an e-mail.

“They’re extremely pleased, this is what we anticipated,” said Larry Garrison, a spokesman for the Anthony family. “We want what’s the best for Caylee. We want Caylee found.”

Associated Press