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Bush urges prescription drug link for Medicare

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Saturday that Congress must deliver on prescription drugs for Medicare, a promise made by Bush and congressional candidates across the country.

"Medicare is an essential program, but it has not kept pace with the advances in medicine," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "We need to do more to fulfill Medicare's promise."

It was the second day running that Bush pressed for changes in Medicare, the health insurance program serving 40 million elderly and disabled Americans.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working to shape a prescription drug plan. There are significant disagreements over how much to spend, how generous the benefit should be and how to structure the coverage.

Report: Cardinal gave money to accused priest

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- As bishop of Bridgeport, Cardinal Edward M. Egan gave a priest accused of abuse thousands of dollars to settle bank debts and pay for a defense lawyer, court documents show.

The documents obtained by The Hartford Courant show the diocese resisted compensation for Gavin O'Connor's alleged victim, but paid the priest as much as $17,000 in 1989.

At the time, O'Connor had been accused of molesting boys for years.

The payment was condemned by the plaintiff's attorney in court as a payoff intended to buy O'Connor's silence in the case pending against him and the diocese, the paper reported. The diocese denied that claim.

Two Michigan football players shot at party

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Two University of Michigan football players were shot early Saturday after a fight at an off-campus party.

Sophomore defensive back Markus Curry was hit in the back, and junior linebacker Carl Diggs was shot in the leg, police Sgt. Michael Logghe said. The shooter escaped.

Diggs, 21, of Warren, Ohio, was treated at University of Michigan Hospital and released. Curry, also 21, of Detroit, was scheduled for surgery. Family members said he was doing well.

Police responded to reports of a fight at the party late Friday. The fight was over when officers arrived, but they broke up the party of about 100 people.

Study: Post-traumatic stress high in New York

ST. PETERSBURG BEACH, Fla. -- New Yorkers took an emotional battering after the terrorist attacks, says a study that suggests more than 400,000 city residents have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.

Researchers had previously released results taken in October and November, covering Manhattan below 110th Street. On Saturday, they announced the findings from the second wave of surveys, which included residents throughout the city during January and February.

The number of residents who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder since Sept. 11 related to the attacks was put at 7 percent, or 425,000.

The estimate of people experiencing the disorder related to the attacks over the last month was 140,000.

--From wire reports