Friday, February 18, 2011
Britain scraps forest sell-off plans
LONDON
The British government has slashed funding for libraries, tripled university tuition fees and laid off thousands of workers. But for many people, chopping down trees was a cut too far.
In one of the biggest U-turns since Britain’s coalition government took power, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced Thursday that a plan to sell off 600,000 acres of England’s forests was being scrapped after an outcry from nature-lovers and environmentalists.
Memos: Firefighter refused to respond
TUCSON, Ariz.
A veteran firefighter refused to respond to last month’s deadly shooting spree that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded because he had different political views than his colleagues and “did not want to be part of it,” according to internal city memos.
Mark Ekstrum’s insubordination may have delayed his unit’s response because firefighters had to stop at another station to pick up a replacement for him, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Clarification sought on overhaul ruling
PENSACOLA, Fla.
The Justice Department asked a federal judge in Florida on Thursday to tell states that they must continue to enact the Obama administration’s health- care overhaul despite the judge’s ruling that the law is unconstitutional.
In a motion to clarify, administration attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson to make clear that states cannot ignore the new health-care laws while his ruling is being appealed.
At stake, according to the government’s motion, are provisions of the new law that would create chaos if ignored by the states.
Associated Press