SOUTH

MOUSSAOUI JUDGE TO ALLOW TESTIMONY ABOUT ‘ABLE DANGER’

A man accused of conspiring with the September 11, 2001 hijackers, Zacarias Moussaoui, will be able to present evidence about the Pentagon’s “Able Danger” despite objections from prosecutors, a federal judge ruled yesterday. “What knowledge the government possessed before September 11 regarding members of Al Qaeda, and specifically links between Al Qaeda and the eventual hijackers, is a key issue in dispute in this death penalty trial,” Judge Leonie Brinkema wrote. She said Moussaoui may call three witnesses about the Defense Department data mining program, which allegedly uncovered links between conspirators in the September 11, 2001 attacks months before those attacks took place. Judge Brinkema denied a defense request to subpoena a lawmaker who has publicized the “Able Danger” project, Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican of Pennsylvania. Moussaoui pleaded guilty in the case last year. A jury in Alexandria, Va., is scheduled to begin hearing evidence Monday on whether he should be sentenced to death.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

LAWSUIT STATES WEST VIRGINIA POLICE CHIEF DENIED GAY MAN CPR

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A small-town police chief was accused in a federal lawsuit yesterday of stopping a would-be rescuer from performing CPR on a gay heart attack victim because he assumed the ailing man had HIV and posed a health risk. Claude Green, 43, died June 21 after being stricken yards from City Hall in Welch, a community of about 2,400. The American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of his mother. Police Chief Bobby Bowman called the allegations “a boldface lie.” He said that he called an ambulance and that Green was taken to the hospital in “no more than nine minutes.” When asked if he knew if Green was gay, Mr. Bowman would not answer and referred questions to McDowell County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Danny Barie, who also represents the City of Welch. Mr. Barie said yesterday he had received a copy of the complaint but could not comment because he had not reviewed it or discussed it with Mr. Bowman.

– Associated Press

ROBERTSON LOSES BROADCASTERS’ BOARD SEAT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, criticized by some evangelicals for comments about Venezuela’s president and Israel’s prime minister, lost a bid for reelection to the National Religious Broadcasters’ board of directors.

Mr. Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network, was one of 38 candidates for 33 board seats during the NRB’s recent convention. The group represents mostly evangelical radio and TV broadcasters.

A Robertson spokeswoman said yesterday that he had been a board member for 30 years but attended only one board meeting “due to his extensive schedule.”

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

FUROR ERUPTS OVER PROPOSED BLACK PANTHER STREET SIGN

CHICAGO – A politician’s proposal to erect a street sign in tribute to a Black Panther killed in a 1969 police raid has angered members of the police force and injected controversy into the usually rubber-stamp practice of renaming Chicago’s streets. Chicago has nearly 1,300 honorary street signs, most of which were approved easily by city aldermen at the request of their colleagues. But anger recently erupted after Alderwoman Madeline Haithcock, who is black, proposed a sign honoring Fred Hampton, who was state chairman of the Black Panther Party. He was killed with another Black Panther when Chicago police raided Hampton’s apartment in search of guns. “It’s a disgrace that someone be honored who promoted violence against police officers,” the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Mark Donahue, said.

– Associated Press

EAST

JURY CONVICTS ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVISTS IN HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN

TRENTON, N.J. – An animal-rights group and six members were convicted yesterday of using their Web site to incite threats, harassment, and vandalism against a company that tests drugs and household products on animals.

The group, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, maintained its actions were protected under the First Amendment.

The government charged that SHAC waged a five-year campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences, posting on its Web site information about the lab’s employees and those who do business with Huntingdon, including their home phone numbers, addresses and where their children attended school.

– Associated Press