Nation briefs 11/19/04

Gunmakers not responsible for weapon use in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed two lawsuits that accused gun manufacturers of creating a "public nuisance" by knowingly letting their weapons fall into the hands of criminals. The lawsuits, filed in 1998 by the city of Chicago and victims of gun violence, accused the gunmakers of pouring weapons into the Chicago area that kill people and lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in law-enforcement and health-care costs. But the court ruled there was no legal basis for holding the manufacturers responsible.

It's execution vs. ethics for Kentucky governor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- When Gov. Ernie Fletcher signed a death warrant for a convicted killer this month, he may have done more than start the clock ticking on an execution. Some say Fletcher, a doctor, may have put his medical license at risk. American Medical Association guidelines bar doctors from taking part, directly or indirectly, in executions. And Kentucky requires doctors to follow AMA ethical guidelines.

Learning to run no small evolutionary step

SALT LAKE CITY -- New research suggests that developing the ability to run -- long thought to be a byproduct of walking for early man -- was actually an instrumental step in the evolution of people from ape-like creatures into what we know today as humans. University of Utah biology professor Dennis Bramble and Harvard anthropologist Daniel Lieberman conclude that natural selection favored early humans who had a narrowed waist, shorter forearms, larger buttocks and skull modifications allowing the body to cool itself.

Beef producers rattled over possible mad cow

WASHINGTON -- The government is checking a possible new case of mad cow disease, officials said Thursday, rattling the nation's cattle industry, food processors and beef-oriented restaurant chains. Additional checks are being conducted after initial testing proved inconclusive on the suspect brain tissue. Officials said the animal never entered the food or feed chain. The Agriculture Department gave no information on the location or origin of the slaughtered animal and said results from advanced tests were not expected for four to seven days.

-- From wire reports

Kerry campaign leftovers will go to Democrats

WASHINGTON -- Under friendly fire, Sen. John Kerry likely will donate a substantial portion of his excess presidential campaign cash to help elect Democratic candidates in 2005 and 2006, advisers said Thursday. Party leaders, including some of Kerry's top campaign aides, said this week they were surprised and angry to learn that he had more than $15 million in accounts from the Democratic primaries. They demanded to know why the money wasn't spent to help Kerry defeat President Bush or to aid congressional candidates.

Wealthy getting more visits from the taxman

WASHINGTON -- The IRS increased its audits of wealthy taxpayers this year, helping the agency haul in a record $43 billion in unpaid taxes. The tax collectors released the audit statistics with a prod at lawmakers to give the agency an extra $500 million the president requested for expanding efforts to track down tax evaders. "What you have here is a pure budget squeeze," said IRS Commissioner Mark Everson. "We're the only part of the government that can help address the deficit by bringing in revenues."

-- From wire reports