Nation briefs 10/8/06

Rove aide resigns over Abramoff lobbying ties

WASHINGTON -- The latest casualty in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal was a key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove who once worked for the disgraced influence-peddler. Susan Ralston stepped down Friday from her post as a special assistant to President Bush. A congressional report showed she had extensive contacts with Abramoff and had accepted tickets to sporting events and concerts from him. Ralston's resignation followed accusations that her contacts with Abramoff showed he was closer to Rove and Bush than the White House has been willing to acknowledge.

Amaranth fund cutting much of its work force

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The hedge fund Amaranth Advisors, which is preparing to shut down after losing more than $6 billion because of bad energy trades, expects to cut about 60 percent of its work force within a week. As many as 250 of Amaranth's 420 workers will be dismissed, said Charlie Winkler, the company's chief operating officer. The company is contacting more than 50 other financial firms in hopes of finding new jobs for the employees. The firm said it is seeking an orderly process to sell about $3 billion of remaining assets and return proceeds to investors.

Court: Paper's reporters can keep computers

LANCASTER, Pa. -- A newspaper does not have to turn over two reporters' computers to the Pennsylvania attorney general, the state Supreme Court has ruled. In a 20-page opinion issued Friday, the justices labeled as "unduly intrusive" the government's attempt to seize the computers belonging to Lancaster Newspapers Inc. The company publishes the Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era and Sunday News. The opinion by Justice Thomas Saylor also noted the "potential chilling effect" taking reporters' computers could have on sources providing confidential information.

-- From wire reports