300 Boy Scouts fall ill in heat
Bowling Green, Va.
More than 300 Boy Scouts were sickened by the temperatures in the upper 90s and high humidity Wednesday while waiting for President Bush to arrive at a memorial service for four Scout leaders killed while pitching a tent beneath a power line.
The president’s visit to the Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill was postponed because of the threat of severe thunderstorms and strong winds. Instead, Bush is scheduled to visit today. the gathering today.
Half of those were treated and released from the base hospital, about three miles from the event arena. Dozens more were sent to other hospitals, where they were in stable condition Wednesday night, said Gregg Shields, a Jamboree spokesman.
U.S., 5 others agree to energy partnership
Washington The United States and five Asian and Pacific nations, including China and India, agreed Wednesday on a partnership to use cleaner energy technologies in hopes of curtailing climate-changing pollution.
The agreement does not bind any country – Japan, Australia and South Korea are the others – to specific emission reductions. It also is not viewed as a replacement for the Kyoto climate pact, which several of the participants – though not the U.S. – have embraced.
White House officials see the partnership as an important step in setting up a system to help emerging industrial countries produce cleaner energy and slow the growth of climate-changing emissions, especially carbon from fossil fuels.
S.D. airport to use private screeners
Washington
A South Dakota airport intends to replace its federal screeners with private workers, the first change allowed since the government took over aviation security after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Mike Marnach, director of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, said it is time to try something other than the government model.
“We like it, it’s OK, but I’m not sure it’s the most efficient for the taxpayer,” Marnach said. The airport plans the switch in the fall.
Five airports that already use private screeners under a pilot program will continue to do so, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday in announcing it has approved the switch for Sioux Falls.
Like all airports, Sioux Falls will not be able to choose which company provides the screening service. The TSA will make that selection from a list of 34 approved companies.
Utah judge rules gay plates ‘ROK’
Salt Lake City
The state of Utah can’t block a woman from using her license plate to tell the world “GAYSROK,” a judge has ruled.
The state has no good reason to prevent Elizabeth Solomon from having that plate – which can be read “Gays are OK” or “Gays Rock” – or another one saying “GAYRYTS,” according to Jane Phan, an administrative law judge with the Utah State Tax Commission.
“The narrow issue before us is whether a reasonable person would believe the terms ‘gays are OK’ and ‘gay rights’ are, themselves, offensive to good taste and decency. It is the conclusion of the commission that a reasonable person would not,” Phan wrote.
The state can appeal the decision.