LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Everybody is doing it or is planning to do it.”
Texas lobbyist Bill Miller
on a rule at the Texas Capitol that allows those with concealed gun permits to bypass long security lines Article, 1AWhite House to create Ocean Council
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Monday announced a new national policy for strengthening the way the United States manages its oceans and coasts and the Great Lakes.
The policy calls for the creation of a new National Ocean Council that will coordinate the work of the many federal agencies involved in conservation and marine planning. But it creates no new restrictions or regulations and is not expected to have any short-term effect on offshore oil drilling.
Nancy Sutley, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the new policy recognizes that use of the ocean is expanding at a rate that challenges the ability to manage competing demands.
Among the central tenets of the policy is a zoning process that confines certain recreational and commercial activities to designated areas, known as marine spatial planning. Proponents of the process say it will help balance and manage competing uses of the oceans.
The zoning would be overseen by new regional organizations, with final approval coming from the National Ocean Council.
Judge blocks Oklahoma abortion law
OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma judge granted an injunction Monday blocking enforcement of a state law that would require women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound and listen to a detailed description of the fetus.
Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich set a pretrial hearing for Jan. 21 and directed that the state not enforce the law, which was passed by legislators this year.
A temporary restraining order against the law had been in effect since May.
Gurich handed down the ruling after a brief hearing attended by more than 50 people.
The Center for Reproductive Rights in New York challenged the law on behalf of Nova Health Systems, operator of Reproductive Services of Tulsa, and Dr. Larry Burns, who the group said provides abortions in Norman.
Last spring, Oklahoma legislators passed eight laws to restrict abortions. Gov. Brad Henry signed four and vetoed four - but the Legislature overrode three. The remaining veto that stood would have restricted insurance companies from providing coverage for elective abortions.
Brother of Blagojevich testifies
CHICAGO - Rod Blagojevich’s brother testified Monday that he never tied political contributions to government business while he served as chairman of the ousted Illinois governor’s campaign fund.
“I was told never to tie the two and I never did,” Robert Blagojevich said while across the courtroom at the defense table the former governor nodded his head.
Robert Blagojevich, who was testifying as a co-defendant in his brother’s corruption trial, said he understood from the day he became head of the campaign fund in August 2008 that he was never to condition state actions on donations.
Rod Blagojevich, 53, has pleaded innocent to scheming to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat and to plotting to launch a racketeering operation in the governor’s office.
Robert Blagojevich, 54, has pleaded innocent to taking part in the scheme to sell the seat and to a wire fraud charge that he was involved in pressuring two businessmen illegally for campaign funds.
Senate passes ‘libel tourism’ bill
WASHINGTON - The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a bill to protect American authors, journalists and publishers from foreign libel judgments that undermine the United States’ guarantee of free speech.
The voice vote sent the bill to the House for final action.
U.S. federal courts would be prevented from recognizing or enforcing a foreign judgment for defamation that is inconsistent with the free-speech guarantee in the U.S.
Constitution.
Defendants in foreign cases could obtain a U.S. court order declaring that a foreign judgment would not be enforceable under American law.
Chief sponsor Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the bill would prevent U.S. courts from becoming a tool to undermine the Constitution.
Some countries with weak free-speech protections make it easy to sue foreigners for libel - a practice known as “libel tourism.”
Front Section, Pages 3 on 07/20/2010