Lutherans reject approving same-sex ceremonies

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A national meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted Friday to rebuff what many saw as an attempt to push the denomination toward approval of blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. On a day when the weeklong meeting focused on gays' role in the church, delegates stripped language from a same-sex blessings measure that many Lutherans thought would give local pastors leeway in deciding whether to conduct the ceremonies. Once the language was removed, the proposal then became an affirmation of current church practice, which bans such blessings and expresses "trust" in pastors ministering to gays and lesbians.

Doctor who fled Nazis to give NYU $105 million

NEW YORK -- A microbiology professor who fled the Nazis as a child, then made a fortune inventing a drug for rheumatoid arthritis plans to give the New York University School of Medicine a $105 million donation. Dr. Jan T. Vilcek, who has been on the faculty at NYU's medical school for 40 years, said he felt grateful to the institution for nurturing his research. The gift, which the medical school said is the largest it has ever received, will endow professorships and fellowships, support research and faculty recruiting efforts, improve facilities and enhance programs in basic sciences.

Homeland Security lowers mass transit threat alert

WASHINGTON -- The government lowered the terror threat level for subways, buses and trains after the rush hour Friday, but commuters are likely to continue seeing stepped-up security in many big cities. Thirty-six days after the deadly July 7 bombings in London prompted U.S. authorities to raise the alert, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff ordered the level for transit systems lowered at 8 p.m. local time across the country. His order returned the threat level from orange to yellow -- midpoint on the five-color scale -- signifying an "elevated" risk instead of "high." The Coast Guard will shift its alert for passenger ferries from Level 2 to Level 1, which corresponds with the change from code orange to yellow.

Calif. to allow governor's redistricting on ballot

SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court ruled Friday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to change the way the state's legislative districts are drawn should be placed back on November's special election ballot. The ruling overturned an appellate court decision earlier this week that the initiative should remain off the ballot because of a wording dispute. The governor's measure seeks to take away lawmakers' power to redraw congressional and legislative districts in California. It would instead shift that responsibility to a panel of retired judges.

-- From wire reports