Nation briefs 6/1/04

Senate progress continues for lawsuit legislation

WASHINGTON -- After trying to curb class-action suits for years, Republicans finally have enough support to ram legislation through the Senate to limit what they call an overabundance of frivolous cases against American businesses. But a decision by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to push forward immediately on that legislation instead of finishing work on a defense bill may have the effect of forcing the GOP to wait even longer before claiming a victory that big business has sought for years.

Across country, thieves are farmers' newest pest

VOLCANO, Hawaii -- Lance Yamashiro's exotic crops of wasabi and Japanese radishes used to attract the attention only of chefs and grocers. Lately his produce has caught the eye of a new breed of food enthusiasts -- thieves. Criminals are capitalizing on weaknesses in rural security and making off with everything from bananas to bees, pesticides to plows. Stolen farm and construction equipment amounts to an estimated loss of $1 billion annually across the country. Add to that tens of millions of dollars in thefts of actual produce from farms, and farmers say they have an epidemic on their hands.

Study: Driving longer means larger waistlines

ATLANTA -- The amount of time people spend in their cars affects their weight more than their income, education, gender and ethnicity, researchers have found. The more people drive, the more their waistlines expand and the more likely they are to contribute to the nation's obesity epidemic, according to a new study. The survey of 10,500 metro Atlanta residents found that for every extra 30 minutes commuters drove each day, they had a 3 percent greater chance of being obese than their peers who drove less.

Gay Catholics denied Communion at Mass

CHICAGO -- Parishioners who wore rainbow-colored sashes to Mass in support of gays and lesbians were denied Communion in Chicago, while laymen in Minnesota tried to prevent gay Roman Catholics from getting the sacrament. Priests at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago refused to give the Eucharist to about 10 people wearing the sashes at Sunday Mass. One priest shook each person's hand; another made the sign of the cross on their foreheads.

Stewart wants community service, shorter jail term

NEW YORK -- Martha Stewart will seek to lighten her jail term by spending up to 20 hours a week teaching poor women how to start their own businesses, according to Newsweek magazine. Stewart has offered to work up to 1,000 hours for Women's Venture Fund, a nonprofit organization based in New York, WVF president Maria Otero told the magazine for its June 7 edition. After meeting privately with Stewart, Otero wrote a three-page letter to U.S. Judge Miriam Cedarbaum about how the domestic doyenne's know-how could benefit underprivileged women, Newsweek said.

Peterson murder trial to start today in Calif.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- With Scott Peterson's trial set to begin in earnest this week, prosecutors have shown no murder weapon, no cause of death and no direct evidence that flatly proves Peterson killed his pregnant wife, Laci. Opening statements in the highly publicized case are scheduled for today. Jury selection lasted 12 weeks and the trial is expected to last an additional five months or more. If convicted, the former fertilizer salesman from Modesto could face the death penalty or life without parole.

-- From wire reports