The nation in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Sometimes in the past we’ve overlooked character issues because of competence and commitment.”

Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army’s top officer, on recent efforts to improve character by forcing U.S. service members out of the military because of crimes or misconduct Article, 3A

Woodrow Wilson home reopens in S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - After nearly a decade of renovations, the South Carolina home where President Woodrow Wilson lived as a teenager reopened to the public as a museum not only about the politician but also the Reconstruction Era.

On Saturday, to kick off Washington’s Birthday weekend, visitors were once again able to see the home where the 28th president of the United States moved at age 13 and spent his teenage years.

Wilson’s father taught at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Columbia and was minister at First Presbyterian Church, where Wilson’s father, mother and sister are all buried.

The villa-style home built in 1871 is one of four historic sites for Wilson and is South Carolina’s only presidential site.

Saved from demolition in 1928 after residents protested, the historic home in downtown Columbia closed its doors and grounds to the public in 2005 when plaster fell from the ceiling in some of the downstairs rooms and water damage to the home’s foundation became evident.

Leaky pipe no threat to river, utility says

EDEN, N.C. - Duke Energy said a second pipe under a coal ash dump in North Carolina is not in immediate danger of collapse, despite concerns from state regulators that the pipe could fail and trigger another toxic spill into the Dan River.

The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Friday that video taken inside the pipe shows potentially contaminated water leaking in through gaps and then out into the river.

Duke spokesman Paige Sheehan said the company’s assessment is that “no immediate action” is necessary. The state has given Duke 10 days to come up with a plan to fix the leaks.

The third-largest coal ash spill in U.S. history was triggered Feb. 2 when a similar pipe at Duke’s dump collapsed.

Same-sex ceremony offer riles Texas GOP

AUSTIN, Texas - An offer by two Texas judges to officiate same-sex “commitment” ceremonies at an Austin courthouse on Valentine’s Day has sparked the anger of GOP politicians who noted the Lone Star State doesn’t recognize gay marriage.

The offer by County Court-at-Law Judge John Lipscombe and his wife, visiting Judge Jan Breland, was part of a 25-year tradition to hold free courthouse weddings on Valentine’s Day, the Austin American-Statesman reported Saturday. The pair issued a statement Thursday saying the event would include “free commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples.”

No couples apparently took the judges up on the offer, but it still angered several Republican politicians who said the state has a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, who sponsored the constitutional amendment passed in 2005, said “It’s wrong for a sitting judge to hold a ceremony mocking our state constitution.”

One same-sex couple showed up to accept the judges’ offer but quickly left, saying they didn’t like the media spotlight.

LA builders target concrete-pour record

LOS ANGELES - Crews began pouring concrete Saturday to lay the foundation for the tallest building to be constructed west of the Mississippi - and they’re hoping it’s one for the history books.

The marathon concrete pour was expected to last 20 hours without interruption. The attempt will be verified by an official from Guinness World Records.

About 2,000 truckloads of concrete will be driven throughout the weekend to the construction site in downtown Los Angeles where a skyscraper called the New Wilshire Grand will be built.

Once finished, the skyscraper will be 1,100 feet, making it the tallest structure west of the Mississippi. It will boast a 900-room hotel, convention space and offices. There also will be an outdoor terrace and a swimming pool on the 73rd floor.

The project is estimated to cost more than $1 billion.

For the past several months, crews have prepared the site by digging an 18-foot-deep pit and lining it with 7 million pounds of reinforcing steel. They will then add 84 million pounds of concrete.

The concrete must be poured within 90 minutes of being mixed. It’ll take about two weeks for the concrete to fully harden. Because concrete heats as it cures, crews will pump water to keep it cool. Backup equipment is on-site.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 02/16/2014

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