Nation briefs 10A

Confederate emblem off Georgia's new flag

ATLANTA -- Georgia lawmakers have voted to scrap the Dixie cross from the state's flag, potentially heading off an economic boycott by civil rights groups outraged by the Confederate emblem.

With some black lawmakers cheering and others weeping, the Legislature voted Friday to replace the current flag with a new design, inspired by a Confederate national flag but lacking the well-known cross of stars.

"This gives the people a flag based on history, but yet looking to the future," said Democratic Sen. George Hooks, a white Democrat who helped design the new flag.

GOP wants to heal party's internal rifts

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Republicans plan a four-week sprint they hope will produce a big tax-cutting bill and other victories for President Bush, but it is unclear whether the party's internal ideological and institutional rifts will let them do it.

Ending a two-week Easter recess, the Senate resumes work Monday, the House on Tuesday. The break began with House GOP leaders furiously accusing their Senate colleagues of hatching a secret deal with moderate senators to shrink Bush's proposed tax cut.

Further compounding their strife were comments by conservative Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., comparing homosexuality to polygamy, incest and adultery. His remarks drew rebukes from some GOP moderates.

"It would be incumbent on the White House to hold either a therapy session or truce meeting" between House and Senate GOP leaders, said Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., who specializes in Congress.

Vigil honors Peterson, other crime victims

MODESTO, Calif. -- About 300 people gathered Saturday for an annual vigil honoring crime victims, an event that took on added significance as friends and family mourned the loss of Laci Peterson and her unborn son.

Modesto has made headlines in other high-profile cases, most recently the disappearance two years ago in Washington, D.C. of resident Chandra Levy, 24, amid speculation about her relationship with congressman Gary Condit.

The crime victims' vigil has been held in Modesto every year since 1999.

60-year-old hiker rescued after four days

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- A 60-year-old hiker rescued from a boulder-strewn crevice four days after he was reported missing was in serious condition Saturday with a broken foot and head injury but was expected to recover.

Marvin Matsumoto, a San Jose postal worker, had no food or water with him when he disappeared Monday during a hike in Joshua Tree National Park with his 16-year-old son, Mark.

The teenager called authorities when Matsumoto failed to arrive at a prearranged meeting place.

About 150 trained rangers and volunteers searched the park for days before Matsumoto was finally spotted Friday afternoon in a remote area.

Despite his injuries, rescuers said Matsumoto was alert and able to wave to his rescuers when he saw them.

A helicopter was used to lift him out of the crevice, and he was listed in serious condition Saturday at a Palm Springs hospital.

U.S., Vietnam agree on limiting textile shipments

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration announced a deal Saturday to limit Vietnam's shipments of textiles and clothing to the United States, responding to complaints from American manufacturers about a flood of cheap imports.

The agreement, taking effect May 1, will place quotas on 38 categories of clothing and textiles. It is aimed at controlling a surge of shipments from Vietnam since the United States and its former enemy normalized trade relations in December 2001.

-- From wire reports