Nation briefs 1/22/04

Transcript reveals diverse jury in Stewart trial

NEW YORK -- Attorneys in the Martha Stewart trial are making their way through a diverse jury pool, from a man who said the style expert could not be trusted to a woman who told her: "I am a huge fan of yours. Good luck." A transcript released Wednesday of the first day of jury questioning offered a glimpse at the painstaking process by which lawyers for the government and Stewart are trying to detect whether jurors might favor one side or the other. No one involved in the case appears to believe it is possible to seat a jury of 12 people who have never heard of Stewart. Instead, the judge in the case is trying to make sure they can try the case fairly. Stewart, 62, is accused of lying to the government and her own shareholders about why she sold ImClone Systems stock in 2001, just before it plummeted on a negative government decision on an ImClone cancer drug.

Candidates struggle to buy ads in costly markets

WASHINGTON -- The Democratic presidential candidates are scrambling to buy political ads, facing expensive media markets and little time between now and the seven contests on Feb. 3 when the demands of a national campaign replace the retail politics of Iowa and New Hampshire. All but one of the five major candidates -- John Kerry -- has been on the air in some of the Feb. 3 states. The others -- Howard Dean, John Edwards, Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman -- are carefully choosing to run commercials only in states where they think they can compete.

Biotech insects could help fight disease

SAN FRANCISCO -- Some high-tech insect experiments soon may be flitting out of the laboratory: Mosquitos genetically modified to eliminate malaria. Silkworms engineered to produce bulletproof vests. Genetically engineered insects hold the promise of benefiting millions, eradicating diseases and plagues that cause famine in the developing world. But despite such good intentions, many scientists are alarmed that few safeguards exist to keep unintended consequences from harming humans or the environment.

Karaoke ban in California clubs angers singers

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- A temporary ban on private rooms in karaoke clubs is being criticized as insensitive to Asian Americans, but city officials say it's needed because people have been using the rooms for a lot more than singing. The private singing rooms, which seat up to 20 people and sometimes have locking doors and no windows or security cameras, are increasingly being used as fronts for prostitution, drug use, gambling and alcohol consumption among minors, police say. The San Mateo City Council voted Tuesday to impose a temporary ban on the private rooms in this Silicon Valley suburb, but karaoke fans contend the fears of crime are overblown.

-- From wire reports