Nation briefs 6/18/06

NASA: Next shuttle flight to be launched July 1

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA managers on Saturday picked July 1 to launch the first space shuttle in almost a year, despite recommendations against a liftoff attempt by the space agency's chief engineer and safety offices. The decision to launch Discovery on a trip to the international space station was made after two days of meetings by NASA's top managers and engineers at the Kennedy Space Center. During a poll of top managers, representatives from NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance and the Office of the Chief Engineer recommended against flying until further design changes are made to the external fuel tank. Despite their recommendations, the dissenting managers didn't object to making a launch, NASA officials said.

Teaching program hot with college grads

NEW YORK -- It's the strongest job market in years for new college graduates, with salaries and perks rising accordingly. But one of the country's hottest recruiters this spring promised low wages, exhausting labor and only a brief break before the work begins. Teach for America is surging in popularity. At sites around the country, the 17-year-old not-for-profit has begun training about 2,400 recent graduates for two-year teaching stints in disadvantaged schools, nearly triple the figure in 2000. Nearly 19,000 college seniors applied -- and more than four in five were turned down.

5 teens killed in shooting on New Orleans street

NEW ORLEANS -- Five people ranging in age from 16 to 19 were killed in a street shooting early Saturday, the most violent crime reported in this slowly repopulating city since Hurricane Katrina hit last August. All were believed to have been gunned down in a volley of bullets on a street in the Central City neighborhood just outside the central business district. Authorities said they were looking for one or more suspects but did not elaborate. Capt. John Bryson said police think the shootings were either drug-related or some type of retaliation attack.

Ranchers use ladders to protect border fences

FALFURRIAS, Texas -- Texas ranchers tired of repairing fences damaged by illegal immigrants are giving them an easier route over the U.S.-Mexican border: Ladders. Some immigrants walk for hours or days to skirt the checkpoints. Their feet have worn visible paths that lead from one ripped-down section of fencing to another. Texas ranches can be so large it could be days before owners notice the hole in the fence. Paul Johnson protects his 2,700-acre ranch with about 10 miles of high wire fence, and joined his neighbors in placing ladders along the way. Johnson plans to take the ladders down, worried about the message he's sending. "I think what it does is give a signal that we are wanting them to cross there, don't mind the crossing, and that kind of magnifies the problem," he said.

Western symbol to grace first U.S. pure gold coin

WASHINGTON -- The golden buffalo, the legendary symbol of the American West, will soon roam again -- this time as the nation's first pure gold coin. Officials believe they have found a winning combination that will appeal to nostalgia buffs and investors. The coin will be slightly larger and thicker than a Kennedy half dollar, will contain one ounce of gold and will be designated a $50 gold piece. The actual price will depend on the market price of an ounce of gold, plus markups.

-- From wire reports