SOUTHWEST

ABU GHRAIB ABUSER LAUGHED WHILE ALLEGEDLY TORTURING DETAINEE

FORT HOOD, Texas – A Syrian inmate at Abu Ghraib said Army Specialist Charles Graner Jr. was the Baghdad prison’s primary torturer and that he laughed while physically abusing him and threatened to kill him more than once.

Amin al-Sheikh, testifying via videotaped deposition shown in court yesterday, said Mr. Graner also made him eat pork and drink alcohol, in violation of his Muslim faith, and that he listened through his cell wall while Mr. Graner and other Americans forced a Yemeni prisoner to eat from a toilet.

Mr. Graner is the first soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib scandal to go on trial, and prosecutors allege he was the ringleader of the abuse. Three guards from the 372nd Military Police Company have pleaded guilty to abusing detainees. Asked if Mr. Graner appeared to enjoy hurting him, Mr. al-Sheikh said through an interpreter: “He was laughing. … He laughed. He was whistling. He was singing.”

Mr. Graner, a reservist, is charged with conspiracy to maltreat detainees, two counts of assault, dereliction of duty, and committing indecent acts. He faces up to 17 1/2 years in a military prison if the jury of four Army officers and six enlisted men convicts him on all counts. Testimony began Monday.

Mr. al-Sheikh said Mr. Graner, whom he described as the “primary torturer,” jumped on his injured leg and struck it with a collapsible stick.

The defense maintains that Mr. Graner and other soldiers were ordered by military and civilian intelligence officers to soften up detainees for questioning, and that they had no choice but to obey.

– Associated Press

WASHINGTON

DRUG COMPANIES LAUNCH DISCOUNT CARD FOR UNINSURED

Millions of uninsured Americans could save money on prescriptions under a discount program that 10 major drug makers unveiled yesterday.

The Together Rx Access Card program allows those who meet income and age requirements to save 25% to 40% – and sometimes more – on more than 275 brand-name prescription drugs and a host of generic drugs.

The program is the latest in a trend by drug manufacturers to offer their own discount cards to those without health care coverage who struggle to pay skyrocketing drug prices.

“It’s free to get, it’s free to use, and the savings are real,” said Roba Whitely, executive director of Together Rx Access.

Consumer groups have called similar discount cards a way for drug companies, rather than the government, to control who saves money and how much is saved. The cards, which will be in use by mid-February, offer some savings from already high prices while attracting new customers for the companies’ products.

Health and Human Services Secretary Thomas Thompson praised the program as “a commonsense, pragmatic way to give the uninsured access to prescription medicines” and said it may stem the tide of those looking to Canada for affordable prescriptions.

To qualify for the card, applicants must be under 65, not eligible for Medicare, and have no other private or public drug coverage. They also must have incomes no higher than $30,000 for a single person, $40,000 for couples, and $60,000 for a family of four. Ms. Whitely said the benefits could cover 80% of the 45 million Americans who are uninsured and don’t carry prescription drug coverage. That number has grown from 40 million just four years ago.

Those who qualify for the new program can enroll by visiting the Web site, www.TogetherRxAccess.com, or by calling 1-800-444-4106.

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

ILLINOIS HOUSE PASSES GAY-RIGHTS BILL SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois House yesterday passed a bill that bans discrimination against gays and sent it to Governor Blagojevich, who has said he supports the measure.

If the Democratic governor signs it, Illinois will join 14 other states that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation. The measure would add “sexual orientation” to the state law that protects people from bias based on race, religion, and similar traits. It applies to discrimination in such areas as jobs and housing.

Opponents argued it would lead to approval of gay marriage and allow cross dressers to use rest rooms of the opposite sex.

Proponents couched the measure in terms of human rights, saying discrimination against gays and lesbians over housing and employment is just as wrong as discriminating against people because of race or religion.

The House’s 65-51 vote came on the last possible day; the bill would have died had it not been approved before the new Legislature is sworn in today. The Senate approved it Monday by a vote of 30-27.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

THREE DEAD IN SHOOTING AT GOVERNMENT GARAGE

JACKSON, Tenn. – A man opened fire yesterday at a state Transportation Department maintenance garage, killing his wife and two others and wounding two, authorities said.

David Jordan, 40, was arrested a short time later, not far from the maintenance garage, police said. Two officers captured him and found a semiautomatic rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, and two pistols in his truck. Police gave no motive for the shooting. Police said Mr. Jordan first went to the garage’s office, where he shot and killed his 31-year-old wife, Donna, a department employee. Then he walked back outside and killed a deliveryman and a Forestry Department employee who was having some work done on his state vehicle, police said. The garage is used for maintenance on state vehicles. Two other men – both Transportation Department employees – were shot and wounded and taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

– Associated Press