Nation briefs 1/15/04

High court won't let states renege promises

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court made it far more difficult Wednesday for state officials to renege on court-approved promises to improve such things as nursing home care, prison conditions or health services for the poor. Those pledges can cost many millions of dollars and obligate states to lengthy and detailed scrutiny from federal courts. A ruling the other way could have disrupted agreements in dozens of states involving all manner of services and institutions and affecting millions of people. In their unanimous decision, the justices said once state officials sign onto court agreements called consent decrees, federal judges have the power to see that states live up to the bargain.

Trade center memorial redesign displays artifacts

NEW YORK -- A revised design for the World Trade Center memorial was unveiled Wednesday and includes a subtle tribute to the rescue workers and an underground room where visitors can see twisted steel beams, a crushed fire truck and other artifacts from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The additions received a warm response -- a distinct change in the often contentious process of remembering victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Construction is expected to begin by the end of this year.

Government plans broader drug screening

NEW YORK -- The federal government is planning to overhaul its employee drug testing program to include scrutiny of workers' hair, saliva and sweat, a shift that could spur more businesses to revise screening for millions of their own workers. The planned changes reflect government efforts to be more precise in its drug screening and to outmaneuver a small but growing subset of workers who try to cheat on urine-based tests.

Boy killed by pit bull in neighbor's yard

BUNNLEVEL, N.C. -- A pit bull killed a 3-year-old boy who wandered into his neighbor's back yard where the dog was chained, authorities said Wednesday. A deputy had to shoot the dog to reach the body of Nathan Roy Hill after it was discovered at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. The boy was last seen around 4:30 p.m. by his mother. Nathan had at least two bite marks, and a medical examiner determined that the mixed-breed dog was responsible.

Judge refuses to dismiss charges in Peterson case

MODESTO, Calif. -- Judge Marie Silveira refused to dismiss murder charges Wednesday against Scott Peterson in the deaths of his pregnant wife and unborn son, rejecting defense arguments that prosecutors failed to show that a crime even took place. Peterson, 31, is charged with two counts of murder that could bring the death penalty. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant when she vanished from her Modesto home on Christmas Eve 2002.

-- From wire reports