Nation digest 04/23/03

ACLU seeks government data on secret 'no-fly' list

SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union sued the FBI and other government agencies Tuesday on behalf of two peace activists detained at an airport because their names popped up on a secret "no-fly" list.

The women were among 339 travelers briefly detained and questioned at San Francisco International Airport during the past two years after their names were found in the database, the ACLU said, citing government documents. Those travelers ultimately were allowed to continue on their journeys.

The database was created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as a way to prevent potential terrorists from boarding planes.

The ACLU is asking a federal judge to demand that the Transportation Security Administration, FBI or the Justice Department disclose who is on the list, how they got on it and how they can get off it.

Georgia Senate votes to change state flag

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Senate voted Tuesday to give the state its third flag in just over two years, but not before fixing typos in the bill that could lead to the legislation's defeat.

The Senate approved a temporary flag that could become permanent depending on a referendum next year. But the Senate also fixed typos that would have made the flag a foot longer than other state flags.

The changes mean the flag bill must return to the House, where black lawmakers -- with just one legislative day remaining -- pledge to filibuster the measure, likely killing it for this session. Black lawmakers want to derail the bill because it allows a possible referendum on the Confederate battle cross.

Judge: 4-year-old can't take peyote at ritual

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. -- A family court judge ruled Tuesday that a 4-year-old boy cannot take peyote at American Indian spiritual ceremonies.

In his decision, Judge Graydon W. Dimkoff wrote that "peyote is dangerous, and in general should be avoided." He went on to state, however, that the boy could ingest peyote when he is fully aware of the implications, is physically and emotionally ready, and has the permission of both parents.

The boy's father, Jonathan Fowler, 36, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, had asked Dimkoff to reverse an earlier decision and allow his son to ingest peyote with him at the Native American Church of the Morning Star.

Kristin Hanslovsky, Fowler's ex-wife, had fought the request.

Sharpton decides on run, will file FEC report

WASHINGTON -- Al Sharpton is officially a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and will file a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission next week, his campaign manager said Tuesday.

Question arose last week over Sharpton's candidacy after he was the only one of the nine Democrats pursuing the party's nomination not to file a report on what his campaign had raised from January to March, the first quarter.

Sharpton had argued that he wasn't obligated to file disclosure forms because he was still exploring a possible run for the presidency. Under FEC rules, presidential hopefuls must file campaign reports once they spend $5,000 or more on campaign activity, but they do not have to report as long as they are "testing the waters."

Seven rescued whales swimming on their own

BIG PINE KEY, Fla. -- Seven pilot whales rescued from shallow water in the Florida Keys were swimming on their own Tuesday as their conditions slowly improved, rescue officials said.

The whales were upgraded from "extremely guarded condition" to "guarded condition," said Denise Jackson of the Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team.

The whales were among 28 that became stranded Friday near Big Pine Key. Seven others died and five were euthanized, Jackson said.

-- From wire reports