Nation digest 04/02/05

FBI: Explosives found where Terry Nichols lived

WASHINGTON -- Pursuing a tip that they missed evidence a decade ago, FBI agents searched the former home of convicted Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols and found blasting caps and other explosive materials apparently related to the 1995 attack, officials said Friday. FBI officials said the material was found buried in a crawl space of the house in Herington, Kan., which wasn't checked by agents during the numerous searches of the property during the original investigation of Nichols and Timothy McVeigh. Nichols is serving multiple life prison sentences on federal and state charges.

Data delay threatens May launch daye for shuttle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA is late in supplying vital information to the task force overseeing the agency's effort to resume shuttle flights for the first time since the Columbia disaster -- a delay that could force the postponement of Discovery's launch in May. Michael Kostelnik, deputy associate administrator for the shuttle and station programs, said Friday that it is taking the space agency longer than expected to put together all of the necessary paperwork and documentation, and to complete all the final reviews on the design changes and other improvements made to the shuttle.

Ex-Connecticut governor reports to federal prison

LORETTO, Pa. -- Former Connecticut governor John G. Rowland arrived at a federal prison Friday morning to serve a yearlong sentence for corruption. Rowland, 47, was sentenced to one year and one day at the camp but will be eligible for release after 10 months. Under a plea deal with prosecutors in December, he admitted to trading access to his office for more than $100,000 in vacations, charter airline trips to Las Vegas and home repairs.

British firm sues for $2.6 million for flu shots

CHICAGO -- A British wholesaler that Gov. Rod Blagojevich hired to provide thousands of flu vaccine doses for Illinois has filed a complaint demanding nearly $2.6 million that the state's chief financial officer has refused to pay. Blagojevich ordered the vaccine from Europe last fall amid fears of a national flu shot shortage. While the state had a contract to buy the doses, it couldn't import them because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration never approved the European vaccine.

Tribal chairman says he won't resign, defends son

RED LAKE, Minn. -- The Red Lake tribal chairman said Friday he would not resign unless the public urges him to leave and again proclaimed his son innocent of any involvement in a deadly shooting spree on the Indian reservation. "The only thing my son is guilty of is being friends with Jeff Weise," said Floyd Jourdain Jr., chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, referring to the 16-year-old who authorities say killed nine people March 21 before shooting himself at the community's high school. Several media outlets have reported his 16-year-old son, Louis, was charged with conspiracy. Authorities have not confirmed the reports, citing his juvenile status.