Law aims to safeguard children on Internet

WASHINGTON -- Aiming to increase safety for children, President Bush signed legislation Wednesday toughening seat belt requirements and trying to create an Internet haven for children.

Surrounded at his Oval Office desk by family members of a Washington state 4-year-old who was killed in a car crash in 1996, Bush signed a measure requiring automakers to install shoulder belts in addition to lap straps in the middle rear seats of new vehicles starting in 2005.

Dubbed "Anton's Law" in memory of Anton Skeen, the bill became law as the boy's sister, Geneva, and mother, Autumn, stood by with a large framed photograph of him.

Supreme Court delves into abortion protest

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is considering a case combining the contentious issues of abortion, free speech and violent protest, hearing arguments Wednesday on whether federal laws intended to combat organized crime and corruption can be used to punish anti-abortion demonstrators.

Activists like actor Martin Sheen, animal rights groups and even some organizations that support abortion rights are siding with anti-abortion forces because of concerns they too could face harsher penalties for demonstrating.

The court must decide if abortion clinic protesters can be punished for interfering with businesses with large penalties under federal racketeering and extortion laws.

Those laws are intended to combat corruption, not punish demonstrators, the court was told by Roy Englert Jr., the attorney for Operation Rescue and anti-abortion leaders. He said if the high court doesn't intervene, there could be severe punishment for leaders of any movements "whose followers get out of hand."

Sen. Thurmond praised for reaching 100 years

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Wednesday praised retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond for his "patriotism, courage and lifetime dedication" -- and for turning 100.

"Celebrating his 100th birthday as a sitting U.S. senator is unique in our history as was his 1954 election to the Senate as a write-in candidate," Bush said in a statement issued by the White House.

Thurmond's birthday is today. Bush invited the South Carolina Republican to a White House celebration Friday.

"His patriotism, courage and lifetime dedication to South Carolina and his nation will always be remembered," Bush said. "I am proud to join the people of South Carolina in praising him, his values and his good works."

Born in the first term of Theodore Roosevelt, Thurmond is a highly decorated World War II veteran who ran for president in 1948 as a Dixiecrat. He also holds the record for the longest filibuster in Senate history, talking against a civil rights bill on the Senate floor for more than 24 hours.

Homeland security duties crowd other safety work

WASHINGTON -- Many city officials complain that providing homeland security is hurting their ability to perform more traditional public safety duties, according to a new survey of cities.

A fourth of cities report having problems, while half of big cities reported that homeland security duties have made it tougher to perform their expected public safety role.

Workers in the police and fire departments have been doing their regular duties and taking on additional responsibilities, said Mayor Michael Guido of Dearborn, Mich., who is co-chair of a task force on homeland security for the National League of Cities.

Guido, a Republican serving in a nonpartisan role as mayor, said local elected officials are getting frustrated.

"For 13 months, they have been doing these additional duties without any reimbursement or assistance from federal and state officials," Guido said. The first deal on homeland security included $3.5 billion for first responders.

"It sends a very bad message to local government," the mayor said. "They come home and praise them for doing a great job but when it comes time to fund those activities, Congress does not follow through."

--From wire reports