State Supreme Court Publicly Reprimands Ohio Governor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state Supreme Court yesterday publicly reprimanded Ohio Governor Taft for his ethics violations in office, a black mark that will stay on his permanent record as an attorney. Mr. Taft, 64, a Republican and great-grandson of President Taft, pleaded no contest in 2005 to failing to report golf outings and other gifts worth nearly $6,000 during his four-year term. He was fined $4,000. Mr. Taft could not seek re-election because of term limits and leaves office in less than two weeks.

— Associated Press

Searchers in China Find Body of One of Two Missing U.S. Climbers

BEIJING — Searchers found a body that is thought to be one of two American climbers lost for more than a month on a remote mountain in southwestern China, while the second was still missing and presumed also to be dead, a search coordinator said yesterday. The team had not identified the body, which was partly buried by snow, said a friend of the missing climbers, Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler of Norwood, Colo. Boskoff, a top female climber, and Fowler, a well-known climbing guide and photographer, were reported missing after they failed to return to America on December 4.

— Associated Press

Federal Scientists: Cloned Animals Safe For Human Food Supply

Federal scientists have concluded there is no difference between food from cloned animals and food from conventional livestock, setting the stage for the government to declare today that cloned animals are safe for the human food supply. The Food and Drug Administration planned to brief industry groups in advance of an announcement. The agency indicated it would approve cloned livestock in a scientific journal article published online earlier this month.

— Associated Press

White House Responds Sharply to Biden’s Iraq Comments

CRAWFORD, Texas — The White House responded sharply yesterday to a senior Democratic senator’s criticism of possible increases in the American military deployment in Iraq as the president prepared to discuss the war today with top advisers. The deputy White House press secretary, Scott Stanzel, took issue with Senator Biden of Delaware. “I hope that Senator Biden would wait to hear what the president has to say before announcing what he’s opposed to,” Mr. Stanzel said. President Bush plans to meet this morning with his senior national security advisers to consider new strategies for the war.

— Los Angeles Times

Nevada Governor Avoids Assault Charge

LAS VEGAS — Governor-elect Jim Gibbons will not be prosecuted on allegations that he assaulted a cocktail waitress in a parking garage three weeks before the election, authorities said yesterday. There was insufficient evidence to prove criminal charges against Mr. Gibbons beyond a reasonable doubt, the Clark County district attorney, David Roger, said. Chrissy Mazzeo, 32, had accused Mr. Gibbons of pushing her against a wall and propositioning her near a restaurant where the two had been drinking with friends October 13, less than a month before the Republican was elected.

— Associated Press