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Nation Briefs: Biologists Lobby to Keep Species Law

Posted on: Sunday, 12 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Wire Reports

WASHINGTON -- As a Senate committee prepares to take up revisions to the Endangered Species Act, nearly 6,000 biologists from around the country signed a letter Wednesday urging senators to preserve scientific protections in the landmark law.

The House passed an Endangered Species Act rewrite last year that many scientists and environmentalists viewed as extreme. Interest groups are lobbying to ensure that legislation expected soon from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be an improvement.

"Unfortunately, recent legislative proposals would critically weaken" the law's scientific foundation, said the letter organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists. The 5,738 signers included six National Medal of Science recipients.

The House bill, written by Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif., would require the government to compensate property owners if steps needed to protect species thwart development plans. It also would stop the government from designating "critical habitat" where development is limited.

U.S. bishops leader accused of sex abuse

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A woman has filed a claim that she was sexually abused more than 40 years ago by Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops and leader of the Spokane Diocese.

Skylstad issued a statement Wednesday categorically denying the accusation, saying he has not violated the vow of celibacy he took 47 years ago.

The claim was filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane on Dec. 27 by a woman who said she was under the age of 18 when Skylstad sexually abused her at St. Patrick's Parish and at Gonzaga University from December 1961 to December 1964.

Skylstad, 70, was a student at Gonzaga University from 1962-1966 and taught mathematics to students at Mater Cleri Seminary at Colbert, north of Spokane.

The diocese is one of three in the nation that filed for bankruptcy protection to deal with claims of sexual abuse by clergy. Skylstad last month offered to settle with 75 victims for $45.7 million.

New Hampshire school-fund law rejected

CONCORD, N.H. -- A judge declared New Hampshire's school funding law unconstitutional Wednesday -- the latest in more than a decade of court decisions that said the state shortchanges students in poorer communities.

Superior Court Judge William Groff in Nashua said the 2005 law, which was intended to address prior rulings, unfairly allows property-rich communities to keep and spend far more money on their schools than poorer communities.

Groff also said that legislators have done nothing to determine the true cost of an adequate education.

State officials said they disagree and will appeal. The judge did not cut off money for schools, and they are expected receive their April 1 aid checks on schedule.

The Londonderry and Merrimack school districts and about 25 communities sued soon after the law was passed in June.

Government watches for flu in wild birds

NEW YORK -- The federal government is boosting its effort to look for bird flu in migratory birds, planning to test five to six times as many birds this year alone as it has screened since 1998.

Much of the effort will focus on Alaska, where scientists worry that birds arriving from Asia -- beginning next month -- will bring in the H5N1 virus and pass it along to other birds, which will fly south this fall.

Scientists had already been watching for the deadly flu strain in wild birds in Alaska and North American migratory flyways. But the effort is being dramatically stepped up this year, said John Clifford, chief veterinarian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is working with other agencies on the program.

Scientists will study live birds, others that are found dead or killed by hunters, and environmental samples that might carry the worrisome form of bird flu. While most concern about birds flying south through the United States focuses on their Pacific route in the western states, other migratory paths will be included, Clifford said.

Deputy pleads not guilty to shooting

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- A sheriff's deputy pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted voluntary manslaughter in the videotaped shooting of an unarmed airman who had just returned from duty in Iraq.

Deputy Ivory J. Webb, 45, shot Senior Airman Elio Carrion three times after a car chase Jan. 29. He could get up to 18 1/2 years in prison.

A videotape shot by a bystander shows Carrion, 21, lying on the ground beside the car as the deputy points a gun at him. After what sounds like an order to "get up," Carrion begins to rise and is shot in the chest, shoulder and thigh.

Carrion was hospitalized for several days.

Webb left the court without comment. He has until Friday to post $100,000 bail.

Source: Tulsa World

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