Nation briefs

Powell discusses Iraq resolution with Annan

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin Powell continued efforts Saturday to save a proposed U.S. resolution on Iraq that has been greeted skeptically at the United Nations.

Powell spoke by telephone with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States hopes to encourage other nations to contribute troops and aid to Iraq with the resolution, but has run into concerns from Annan and other members of the U.N. Security Council.

Annan, along with France, Germany and Russia, want a quick transfer of power to a provisional Iraqi government.

But the United States and Britain say the country must first have a constitution in place and hold elections before they relinquish sovereignty.

Powell said Friday that American officials "have some ideas" for accommodating concerns raised by Security Council members over the latest U.S. draft.

Former Ky. governor critical after collapse

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Former Kentucky Gov. Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt was in critical condition at a hospital Saturday after he collapsed during a speech at the University of Kentucky.

Breathitt, 78, was admitted to the intensive care unit of UK Medical Center.

According to a statement from his cardiologist John Gurley, there was no evidence that Breathitt suffered a heart attack, head injury or a stroke. Breathitt was unconscious and on a ventilator, he said.

Breathitt, a Democrat, is credited with supporting civil rights, strip-mining regulations and campaign finance legislation and boosting the state's education budget.

Breathitt was a few minutes into his speech Friday evening at a community college appreciation dinner when he collapsed, said university spokeswoman Mary Margaret Colliver.

Redistricting dispute rages on in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- With a big Texas football weekend under way, House Democrats took advantage of low legislative attendance and again broke a quorum in their battle to block congressional redistricting.

The lawmakers' disappearance Friday night meant the House -- which already had approved a Republican redistricting bill -- could not vote on a government reorganization bill some senators coveted. Senate Republicans had refused to vote on the redistricting measure until the House passed the unrelated bill.

When word of the Senate plan began to spread, most House Democrats bolted before a vote on the other bill was called -- banking on enough Republicans leaving town for the Texas-Oklahoma football game to break quorum.

After attempts to round up the fleeing lawmakers failed, the House ultimately adjourned until Sunday afternoon.

Bush:new funding for chronic homelessness

WASHINGTON -- For those without a home, the first cold, dark nights of winter are approaching, and the nation's shelters are bracing for another wave of people seeking refuge.

Homelessness is a 365-day-a-year problem, however, especially for those who have experienced it over the long term, advocates for the homeless say.

The Bush administration hopes to help some of the chronically homeless with nearly $35 million in grants to communities and organizations that deal with the problem every day. The grants are part of a $75 million initiative to fight homelessness.

"These folks are expensive," said Phil Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. By solving the problem of the chronically homeless, more money can be directed to helping the estimated 2 million to 3.5 million other Americans who become homeless each year, he said.

Mangano estimates that the chronically homeless make up about 10 percent of all homeless people, but consume about 50 percent of available resources.

Resources are already strained in cities across the country, and "demand is on the rise," said Eugene Lowe, assistant director of community development and housing for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

-- From wire reports