Nation briefs 6/15/07

Slaughterhouse to stay open a few more days

CHICAGO -- A federal judge on Thursday extended an order allowing the nation's last operating horse slaughterhouse to remain in business while it challenges a state law that would force it to close. Cavel International Inc.'s site in DeKalb slaughters horses for human consumption by overseas diners, except for a portion sold to U.S. zoos. In late May, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a law banning the import, export, possession and slaughter of horses for human consumption. Soon after, U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Kapala granted a temporary restraining order preventing state and DeKalb County officials from enforcing the ban while he considered a Cavel lawsuit claiming the Illinois law is unconstitutional. That order was due to expire at midnight Thursday. But after a hearing, Kapala extended the order allowing the plant to stay open for 10 more business days.

Wife of Billy Graham dies after long illness

MONTREAT, N.C. -- Ruth Graham, who surrendered dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world's most renowned evangelist, died Thursday. She was 87. Graham died at 5:05 p.m. at her home at Little Piney Cove, surrounded by her husband and all five of their children, said a statement released by Larry Ross, Billy Graham's spokesman. "Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team," Billy Graham said in a statement. "No one else could have borne the load that she carried." Ruth Graham had been bedridden for months with degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck.

-- From wire reports