Nation digest 02/08/03

Explosion at chemical plant injures 12 people

CRANSTON, R.I. -- A pipe exploded at a chemical plant Friday, starting a raging fire that sent acrid smoke billowing through the building. Twelve people were injured, one critically.

The fire at the Technic manufacturing facility burned so intensely that pipes in the ventilation system melted.

As many as 200 people were evacuated from the neighborhood for about four hours.

Authorities said the pipe exploded after a worker banged on it with a hammer in an attempt to clear it. The worker was severely injured and in critical condition. The other 11 were treated for chemical exposure at Rhode Island Hospital and released, hospital spokeswoman Nancy Cawley said.

FBI seeks hacker who stole info from eBay users

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A hacker used a University of North Carolina computer system to steal personal financial information from eBay users, and at least one person lost money, the FBI said Friday.

Chris Swecker, who heads the FBI in North Carolina, said the fraud was uncovered after users of the Internet auction site complained to the FBI that they had received fraudulent e-mails during the past week that appeared to come from eBay.

The e-mails told recipients their accounts were suspended until they verified some personal information -- including their credit card number and mother's maiden name.

Court reinstates suit by vote-swapping Web sites

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court has reinstated a free-speech lawsuit brought by Web site operators who tried to organize vote-swaps between supporters of Al Gore and Ralph Nader in the 2000 election.

Under the system, a Nader supporter would vote for Gore in states where the race with George W. Bush was tight, as long as someone in a state where Bush or Gore had a clear edge would back Nader.

The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned a federal judge's decision to throw out the suit, which accuses California of violating free speech rights by threatening to sue the sites if they didn't shut down.

Vote-swapping appealed to Democrats who feared Nader would siphon votes from Gore and to Nader backers who wanted to secure 5 percent of the nationwide vote so the Green Party could qualify for federal funds.

Three sites shut down voluntarily before the election after officials in California and Oregon threatened litigation.

Judge allows Atlanta bars to sell alcohol on Sunday

ATLANTA -- A law that bans free-standing taverns from selling alcohol on Sundays while allowing hotel and restaurant bars to remain open was struck down by a county judge.

Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington said the state law was discriminatory.

The ruling, issued Wednesday, applies only to Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, but would have statewide implications if Attorney General Thurbert Baker appeals to the Georgia Supreme Court.

The attorney general's office has not decided whether to appeal.

Arrington's order came just before tens of thousands of tourists poured into Atlanta for this weekend's NBA All-Star Game, the Southeastern Flower Show and Pro Bull Riders rodeo.

Kasparov, computer booed after match ends in draw

NEW YORK -- The deciding game Friday between chess legend Garry Kasparov and computer Deep Junior ended in a draw.

The result meant that the six-game series pitting man against machine ended in a 3-3 deadlock.

The result was a step up for Kasparov, who was edged by a machine called Deep Blue in a similar showdown in 1997.

Kasparov played himself into a superior position but offered a draw on the 23rd move, surprising chess experts. Deep Junior turned down the offer but offered its own draw five moves later, and Kasparov accepted.

The crowd booed at the New York Athletic Club, where the six games were played.

-- From wire reports