Nation briefs 1/15/06

Alaska's Augustine Volcano erupts again

HOMER, Alaska -- Snowflakes laced with fine, gray ash fell on communities south of Anchorage as a series of volcanic eruptions continued early Saturday on an uninhabited island dozens of miles away. Plumes of ash from the volcano drifted across Cook Inlet and into Homer, 75 miles to the east, halting air travel and closing schools in some Kenai Peninsula communities Friday. The 4,134-foot Augustine Volcano began erupting Wednesday after a 20-year lull. By Saturday morning, it had erupted at least eight times.

Boehner's past colors bid for House leader's spot

WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Boehner, the Ohio Republican who wants to be House majority leader, helped expose abuses at the House bank under Democrats' control a decade ago and then embarrassed his own party with his dealings with lobbying interests. Boehner was forced to apologize in the mid-1990s for distributing checks from tobacco companies to his colleagues. More recently, he was scrutinized for accepting donations, parties and trips from Sallie Mae, the nation's largest provider of student loans. Boehner has a daunting challenge: convincing GOP colleagues that he is the best candidate to move the party from the ethics stain created by the money-laundering indictment of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and Abramoff's guilty plea.

Poll: Blacks skeptical of progress on King's dream

WASHINGTON -- Most Americans believe there has been significant progress in achieving Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of racial equality, though blacks are more skeptical, an AP-Ipsos poll found. Three-quarters of those surveyed say there has been significant progress on achieving King's dream. But only 66 percent of blacks felt that way. Racial integration has swept across much of American life and blacks have gained economic ground. The progress for blacks may have stalled, however, and some even fear a possible backlash.

CDC: Flu virus resistant to two common antivirals

ATLANTA -- The government, for the first time, is urging doctors not to prescribe two antiviral drugs commonly used to fight influenza because of concerns about drug resistance, officials announced Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the recommendation covers the drugs rimantadine and amantadine for the 2006 flu season. Results of recent lab tests on influenza samples showed that the predominant strain this season -- the H3N2 influenza -- was resistant to the drugs, the agency said.

-- From wire reports