Greenspan willing to lead Federal Reserve again

WASHINGTON -- Alan Greenspan, expressing appreciation for President Bush's confidence, said Wednesday he would accept a fifth term as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

In a brief statement, Greenspan, who is now in his 16th year as head of the nation's central bank, said he would accept a nomination for another four-year term.

Bush in a surprise announcement on Tuesday had said he planned to nominate Greenspan for a new term when his current one expires next year.

"If President Bush nominates me and the Senate confirms his choice, I would have every intention of serving," Greenspan said Wednesday.

Democratic candidate presses health plan

NEW YORK -- Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt, determined to break out of the pack of White House hopefuls, on Wednesday presented a stark choice for voters if nominated by his party: a continuation of President Bush's tax cuts or his plan to give nearly all Americans access to health care.

The Missouri congressman would repeal all of Bush's tax cuts and use the money to help businesses insure their employees. Gephardt said his plan would provide health care to most of the 41 million uninsured Americans.

The former House Minority Leader called his proposal "Matt's plan" in honor of his 32-year-old son, who survived childhood cancer.

Under the Gephardt plan, companies that currently offer insurance would get a refundable tax credit worth 60 percent of their share of the costs, while companies without health benefits would get a credit for 60 percent of the total premium.

More airwaves to open for emergency, safety

WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators doubled the airwaves available for emergency and public safety workers Wednesday, giving a boost to police seeking better crisis communications and firefighters wanting to send video from inside burning buildings.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to allow local and federal safety agencies to sign up for a chunk of airwaves set aside last year for emergency and homeland security efforts.

Unlike the various slivers of airwaves space devoted to public safety in the past, the new airwaves occupy a single large area well suited to broadband applications like live video.

Hundreds rush Chinatown bank following rumors

PHILADELPHIA -- Driven by rumors, hundreds of ethnic Chinese customers rushed a Chinatown bank Wednesday to withdraw their money following a similar rush on the same bank in New York.

The rushes came after notices were posted at a New York branch of the Abacus Federal Savings Bank announcing that its former manager was being investigated for involvement in "account irregularity."

Managers at Abacus' Philadelphia branch insisted that the bank is solvent and pleaded with customers to go home, but were met with either angry shouts or stony silence from patrons who refused to budge from a block-long line.

Few in the crowd waiting to withdraw their savings or empty their safe-deposit boxes spoke English.

Man charged for barking at police officer's dog

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A man accused of barking at a police canine is in the doghouse with authorities.

Richard "Tyson" Dillon, 25, faces a misdemeanor charge that he willfully and maliciously interfered with a Palo Alto police officer's duty by teasing and agitating the officer's dog.

According to Dillon's attorney, Donald Tasto, a police dog in a patrol car was already agitated and barking at other passers-by when Dillon returned a single "friendly bark."

--From wire reports