Nation briefs 9/22/05

Fastest-growing towns are in western states

WASHINGTON -- Twelve of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas are in the West, the Census Bureau says. The fastest growing: Greeley, Colo. Greeley and its surrounding communities grew by 16.8 percent, to 211,000 people, between 2000 and 2003, according to a report being released today. Greeley ranked just ahead of two other Western communities -- St. George, Utah, and Las Vegas. Greeley city manager Roy Otto said the area has grown because it's a reasonable commute to Denver and has relatively inexpensive homes.

Jackson rally supports voting rights provisions

WASHINGTON -- About 100 people demonstrated Wednesday outside the Justice Department in support of extending provisions in the federal Voting Rights Act. Under provisions set to expire in 2007, the federal government must approve any changes made to voting procedures in certain states and counties, primarily those with a history of racial discrimination. Jesse Jackson, whose Rainbow/PUSH Coalition organized the rally, said the Bush administration's "lack of enforcement" of voting fraud underscores the need to strengthen or extend voting rights. "The Department of Justice has virtually shut down," he said. Under the Bush administration's two attorney generals, he said, "the focus was on terrorism, not voting rights extension."

-- From wire reports

Charity, princes dismissed from 9/11 lawsuits

NEW YORK -- A Saudi Arabian charity and two Saudi princes were dismissed as defendants Wednesday in three lawsuits accusing them of supporting al-Qaida before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. Federal Judge Richard Casey made the rulings as he continued deciding who should remain as defendants.

in cases brought by representatives, survivors and insurance carriers of the victims of the attack. He made similar rulings in January, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, three princes and several financial institutions were dismissed as defendants.