The nation in brief

— QUOTE OF THE DAY

“This is just the proof of the love that’s in this country.”

Newtown, Conn., Postmaster Cathy Zieff, on donations of toys, food and money flowing in for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre Article, 1A

Obama, family start Hawaii yule stay

KAILUA, Hawaii - President Barack Obama and his family arrived in Honolulu on Saturday to spend Christmas in Hawaii, where the president was born and raised.

Air Force One touched down in Honolulu minutes after midnight Hawaii time. The first family departed the plane and traveled quickly to their vacation house in the beach town of Kailua.

White House officials say the president’s vacation itinerary doesn’t include any scheduled public events.

No return date has been given by the White House.

Obama himself said earlier Friday that, since a deal hasn’t been reached to avert a batch of automatic, year-end tax increases and spending cuts, he would be returning to Washington after Christmas.

Additionally, the president and first lady Michelle Obama wished Americans a Merry Christmas and happy holidays in the president’s weekly radio and Internet address.

Gay-conversion-therapy ban blocked

SAN FRANCISCO - Therapists who counsel patients under 18 years of age on changing their sexual orientation to avoid homosexuality won an emergency order from a federal appeals court in San Francisco temporarily blocking a California law that outlaws the practice.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco granted a request by therapist David Pickup and others who are suing to overturn the law signed Sept. 30 by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat.

The appeals court didn’t give a reason for its ruling Friday.

The opponents of the law appealed a Dec. 4 ruling by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller in Sacramento, who said citizens don’t have a right to choose a mental-health treatment the state has deemed harmful to minors. Parents seeking the therapy can still get it through churches or unlicensed providers, Mueller said.

Head of nuke-security agency exiting

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The man who has led the nation’s nuclear-security agency since 2007 is stepping down next month after presiding over a 20 percent increase in the agency’s budget but also some management missteps that have raised questions about the agency’s ability to carry out its mission.

Tom D’Agostino announced Friday he is leaving the National Nuclear Security Administration, which funds and oversees work at the Sandia and Los Alamos national labs in New Mexico. The research centers employ about 20,000 people in the state. He was appointed to the post by President George W. Bush.

D’Agostino issued a statement saying he wants to spend more time with family and says periodic leadership changes make organizations healthier, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

His announcement came the same day the agency ordered security stepped-up at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Lab spokesman Kevin Roark declined to say why security was increased or whether it had anything to do with a new but defectively inoperable $213 million security system around the lab’s most sensitive nuclear facilities.

Puerto Rico agrees to revamp police

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Puerto Rican government agreed Friday to sweeping changes to the commonwealth’s large and troubled Police Department intended to help overcome a history of discrimination, violence and corruption.

In a 102-page consent decree filed to settle a federal civil-rights lawsuit, Justice Department officials and the departing governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuno, agreed to far-reaching changes in the way the 17,000-member force recruits, trains, promotes and oversees its officers.

This includes strict new policies on the use of force, police interactions with gay and transgender Puerto Ricans, the department’s approach to domestic violence and its handling of civilian complaints. The agreement also reins in the department’s special tactical units, which have drawn much criticism over the years.

Both sides agreed to delay putting the changes in place for several months to give the administration of the incoming governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, an opportunity to review and adopt them - or propose adjustments. The changes are also subject to judicial approval.

Front Section, Pages 7 on 12/23/2012

Upcoming Events