WASHINGTON

DELAY PRESSES ON DESPITE INDICTMENT

A defiant Tom DeLay, removed as House majority leader because of a criminal indictment, said yesterday he can do his job even without the title and pledged to continue his close partnership with House Speaker Dennis Hastert in pushing the GOP’s agenda. The Texas Republican said he is only guilty of working to defeat Democrats. “But that’s not illegal,” he said.

Yet some House Republicans said the fund-raising conspiracy case in Texas has plunged Mr. DeLay back into the GOP pack. “He’s lost his office. He’s lost his staff. And he’s now basically a rank-and-file member who has a lot of friends and will still have influence,” Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays said. Mr. Shays acknowledged he has not been comfortable with Mr. DeLay as the no. 2 House GOP leader, citing “continual acts that border and go sometimes beyond the ethical edge. They may not be illegal, but he’s always pushing that ethical edge to the limit.”

– Associated Press

COMMANDERS SAY TROOPS COULD RETURN HOME NEXT YEAR

Senior military commanders said yesterday that Iraqi security forces are improving significantly as American officials stood by earlier assessments that some American forces could return home early next year. More important to the mission of training Iraqis is the growing number of Iraqi security forces at all levels, including those able to lead operations with American backing, said General George W. Casey, the commander of multinational forces in Iraq.

“The development of the Iraqi security forces is very much on track,” General Casey told ABC’s “This Week.”

He said the goal is to develop Iraqi forces that can operate without American assistance. “You don’t build an army to that level overnight … it’s going to be some time for them to get there,” General Casey said.

– Associated Press

BBB PULLS REPORT ON CLINTON FOUNDATION FROM WEB

The Better Business Bureau’s charity branch has withdrawn a report critical of President Clinton’s foundation after the fund provided a copy of a recent financial audit.

“In fairness, we need to take the report down until we’ve reviewed the new information,” the head of the business group’s Wise Giving Alliance, Bennett Weiner, said.

The New York Sun reported last week that a report released in June found that the foundation that raises money for Mr. Clinton’s library and charitable work did not comply with at least six of the alliance’s standards for nonprofit groups.

Asked what prompted the new contact from the foundation, Mr. Weiner said, “They saw your story.”

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

WEST

COURT MOVES TO IMPROVE CONSISTENCY

In a bid to stave off a possible breakup of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the court’s judges moved last week to ensure that its most significant decisions are more reflective of the court’s full bench. Under the new procedure, 15 judges will hear so-called en banc cases accepted for a second look by the 9th Circuit, which is often described as the most liberal of the country’s appeals courts. Presently, 11 judges hear such cases. The move is a response to critics who claim the court, which has 24 active judges and hears cases from nine Western states, has grown too large and unwieldy.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

FIREFIGHTERS GAIN GROUND AGAINST WILDFIRES

LOS ANGELES – Firefighters gained ground yesterday against three wildfires burning across Southern California but worried about a forecast for hot winds. A 1,045-acre fire in Burbank was 67% contained after firefighters were aided by cooler, overnight breezes, Captain Ron Bell of the Burbank Fire Department said.

Residents returned to about 70 evacuated homes in Sunset Canyon. But firefighters were concerned about a forecast for warmer winds that could bring 50 mph gusts and reignite what appeared to be a “cold mountain,” Captain Bell said.

Elsewhere, more than 1,000 emergency personnel battled a blaze in steep, rugged terrain in and around San Bernardino National Forest, about 70 miles east of Los Angeles.

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

HEAVY RAINS TRIGGER FLASH FLOODING IN KANSAS

GRANTVILLE, Kan. – A storm dumped up to a foot of rain over parts of northeast Kansas yesterday, sparking flash flooding that left people stranded in homes and cars, emergency officials said. No serious injuries were reported, but emergency crews used airboats to navigate fast-moving floodwaters that damaged many homes.

About a foot of rain fell overnight in Jefferson County, and up to 10 inches was reported in Jackson County Governor Kathleen Sebelius declared an emergency in four counties.

Emergency officials did not have an estimate of how many people had been rescued, but reports from several officials indicated there were at least two dozen. A voluntary evacuation order was issued for Rossville, a town of 1,070 people in Shawnee county. Shelters were being opened.

. – Associated Press