Domestic violence rules for military tightened

WASHINGTON -- The House, responding to a spate of violence at an Army base during the summer, moved to close a legal loophole Thursday that exempts military bases from enforcing restraining orders issued by civilian courts.

Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., said the measure, passed by voice vote, would help protect both civilians and military personnel at military installations.

Fort Bragg, in Hayes' district, had an outbreak of violence last summer in which two soldiers killed their wives and themselves and two others were charged with murdering their wives. Three of the four soldiers had recently returned from duty in Afghanistan, and some felt the stress of their military service had contributed to the domestic violence.

Ohio public schools to include evolution

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The state school board said Tuesday it will adopt a science curriculum that leaves it up to school districts whether to teach the concept of "intelligent design," which holds that the universe is guided by a higher intelligence.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the standards, which emphasize both evolution and critical analysis of the theory. It will adopt them formally in December.

The standards put into writing what many school districts already do -- teach evolution, but also explain that there is debate over the origin of life.

"In no way does this advocate for creation or intelligent design," said Michael Cochran, a board member who had pushed for the concept to be included in the standards. "I do look upon this as a compromise."

Two space crews enjoy last day together

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The crews of space shuttle Atlantis and the international space station enjoyed their last day together in orbit Tuesday.

A maintenance job squeezed in before Atlantis' departure was interrupted briefly when a space station smoke detector went off. But it turned out to be triggered by dust.

Atlantis and its six-member crew are scheduled to undock from the space station on Wednesday, one week after delivering a $390 million girder that was then installed on the orbiting outpost during three spacewalks.

The 14-ton addition, which features an elaborate air-conditioning system, boosted the mass of the space station to more than 180 tons.

Attorneys: Drugs, affair led toxicologist to kill

SAN DIEGO -- A former toxicologist's addiction to methamphetamine and her torrid love affair with her boss led her to murder her husband, prosecutors said Tuesday in the first day of trial.

Kristin Rossum, 25, is accused of murdering Greg de Villers, 26, with a drug 100 times more powerful than heroin and sprinkling his body with red rose petals in a scene reminiscent of her favorite film, "American Beauty."

Prosecutor Dan Goldstein said Rossum gave her husband the fatal dose of fentanyl on Nov. 6, 2000, after he threatened to reveal her drug use and her affair with her superior at the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

Judge delays Winona Ryder's shoplifting trial

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Winona Ryder's shoplifting trial was delayed Tuesday after her lead attorney was unable to appear in court.

Judge Elden J. Fox postponed the case until today after prosecutors and Ryder's lawyer met in his chambers.

But attorney Shepard Kopp said in a telephone interview that he expects the trial will be delayed until next week to allow lead attorney Mark Geragos to complete an attempted murder trial.

--From wire reports