U.S & WORLD NEWS DIGEST | Monitors praise Haiti election

Monitors praise Haiti election

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

International monitors on Monday praised Haiti’s weekend presidential election, saying it was in sharp contrast to the Nov. 28 first round that was marred by disorganization and allegations of widespread fraud.

There were some incidents of attempted ballot-stuffing and clashes between rival political parties but not enough to disrupt the overall vote Sunday, said Colin Granderson, chief of the Organization of American States election observer mission in Haiti.

Turnout appeared to be higher than in November, but figures would not be available until the preliminary vote results are released March 31, Granderson told reporters.

Company to rid jewelry of cadmium

LOS ANGELES

In the first settlement of its kind, national jewelry seller Tween Brands Inc. has agreed to effectively eliminate the toxic metal cadmium from the bracelets, necklaces and other items it sells.

The agreement covers jewelry sold to kids, teens and adults in California, but given the size of the state’s market, it becomes company policy nationally. The fact that adult jewelry is included represents an expansion of protection; since concerns about high levels of cadmium in jewelry surfaced over the past year, the focus has been on preteen girls.

Colo. wildfires force evacuations

GOLDEN, Colo.

Evacuation orders were issued Monday for about 100 homes in the mountains west of Denver, and people in at least 200 more were told to be ready to leave as two separate wildfires kept firefighters battling flames driven by 40 mph winds.

One wildfire west of Golden had charred about a square mile, or 700 acres, of rugged, steep terrain, with crews periodically retreating when winds kicked up, Jefferson County sheriff’s officials said.

A grass fire of about 8 acres was threatening at least 25 homes near Evergreen, roughly 20 miles southwest of Golden, while a third, smaller fire in the mountains west of Denver destroyed a structure before it was contained.

Kate to ride to wedding in Rolls

LONDON

Kate Middleton will arrive at Westminster Abbey for her April 29 wedding in a Rolls-Royce that was damaged in December when Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, were attacked by student protesters, officials said today.

The distinctive claret and black 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI will have its damaged paint work and windows repaired by the royal couple’s wedding day, officials promised. The car was damaged Dec. 9 when a mob protesting student fee hikes hit the car with sticks and bottles.

Phila. diocese faces new sex-abuse case

PHILADELPHIA

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia was hit Monday with the fourth in a series of new lawsuits that blame church officials for failing to protect children from sexually abusive priests.

Monday’s suit, filed by a 32-year-old Arizona man, is the second that names the late Monsignor John E. Gillespie as the abuser. A 2005 grand jury report said Gillespie was alleged to have committed abuse, but frustrated prosecutors concluded the deadlines had pass to file criminal charges.

Small quake in SC

CHESTERFIELD, S.C.

A small earthquake rattled homes and prompted more than 100 people to call 911 after it hit in South Carolina near the state line with North Carolina.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 2.9-magnitude quake struck just after 6 p.m. Monday in an area between Chesterfield and Wadesboro, N.C.

Associated Press