Pentagon eases ‘don’t ask’ guidelines

Pentagon eases ‘don’t ask’ guidelines

WASHINGTON

The Pentagon made it harder to boot gays out of the military Thursday, acting on its own while Congress considers President Barack Obama’s goal of lifting the ban on gays serving openly .

Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved new rules to ease enforcement of the 1993 congressional ban, saying the changes reflect “common sense and common decency.”

The new guidelines, meant to keep the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law from being used to launch witch hunts or settle grudges, represent the first significant step by the administration to address what Obama calls an injustice.

Ohio bill requires DNA in felony cases

COLUMBUS

Ohio lawmakers have approved a crime-fighting measure requiring the collection of DNA genetic evidence from anyone arrested on a felony charge.

The measure approved Wednesday now goes to Gov. Ted Strickland for his consideration. The bill also opens DNA testing to parolees.

Ga. high school fires entire staff

ATLANTA

A failing Savannah high school is firing its entire staff in an effort to avoid further sanctions from the state and to make the school eligible for up to $6 million in federal money, officials said Thursday.

The 200 employees at Beach High School — including the principal — will work there through the end of the year but will not be rehired for that school, said Karla Redditte, spokeswoman for the Savannah-Chatham County school district.

The teachers can reapply for their jobs, but only half can be rehired under federal education law, she said.

Expert: Lifestyle key to breast-cancer rate

BARCELONA, Spain

Up to a third of breast-cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a conference said Thursday, renewing a sensitive debate about how lifestyle factors affect the disease.

Carlo La Vecchia, head of epidemiology at the University of Milan, cited figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which estimates that 25 percent to 30 percent of breast-cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more. The agency is part of the World Health Organization.

3 bikers killed, 6 injured by truck

PHOENIX

A group of eight motorcycles stopped at red light in north Phoenix were mowed down from behind by a dump truck early Thursday afternoon, killing three riders and injuring six others, at least one critically, authorities said.

The motorcyclists were stopped behind a pickup and a small SUV at the red light when the truck driver rammed them from behind, he said. The truck ran over the motorcyclists and continued into the small SUV in front of them, Holmes said.

There was no sign the truck driver was impaired.

Eurozone, IMF OK bailout for Greece

BRUSSELS

Greece won a major pledge of financial support from the other countries that use the euro and the International Monetary Fund in a deal that aims to halt a government debt crisis undermining confidence in Europe’s currency union.

The joint eurozone and IMF bailout program comes with strict conditions and makes no money available right now.

Associated Press