Nation digest 10/19/04

Texas must reconsider political map boundaries

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a lower court to reconsider a Texas congressional map that could give Republicans six more seats in Congress in upcoming elections and help the GOP protect its majority. The announcement is a victory for Democrats but will not affect next month's elections. Justices threw out a victory for Texas Republican legislators, who had been accused of going too far to draw new congressional boundaries after two walkouts by Democrats. States must redraw boundaries every 10 years to reflect population shifts found during the census.

Cadillac Escalade EXT most likely to be stolen

WASHINGTON -- The Cadillac Escalade EXT, a $53,000 chrome-trimmed luxury pickup with leather bucket seats, a seven-speaker stereo system with satellite radio and a global tracking system, is the vehicle most targeted by thieves, a study by the insurance industry found. It's the second year in a row that an Escalade has been at the top of the list, which was released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Escalade sport utility vehicle topped last year's list; this year, that SUV is third. The Nissan Maxima, a midsize sedan, is the second most likely to be stolen among newer vehicles.

Attorneys begin defense in Scott Peterson case

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Scott Peterson's attorneys began their much-anticipated defense in his murder trial on Monday, striking out at a key prosecution theory. Defense attorneys claim Laci Peterson was abducted as she walked the couple's dog and was killed by someone who then framed her husband. During five months of trial, prosecution witnesses have testified that the eight-months pregnant schoolteacher had stopped walking the dog at her doctor's request weeks before she vanished. Prosecutors allege Peterson killed his wife on or around Dec. 24, 2002, and dumped her body into San Francisco Bay.

Florida opens early voting; few problems reported

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Voters began casting ballots Monday in the state synonymous with the election fiasco of 2000, but only a few glitches were reported on a day that marked the start of early voting in several states. Thirty-two states allow residents to vote at the polls before Election Day, and Texas, Colorado and Arkansas also began the process Monday along with Florida. The problems in Florida included a brief computer system crash in one county and voter complaints of incomplete paper ballots. But there were no early reports of problems with the ATM-like touch-screen voting machines introduced since the troubled 2000 election. Critics say the extended voting period increases opportunities for fraud.

U.S. rejects plea for list of OK'd Muslim charities

NEWARK, N.J. -- The U.S. government rejected a request Monday from Muslim groups to draw up a list of Islamic charities to which they could donate without being suspected of terrorist ties. Muslim groups said they fear giving to a charity that might make them look suspicious to the FBI. The holy month of Ramadan begins this week, and Muslims are required to give to the poor during that period. The request was rejected by the Justice Department, which called it impossible to fulfill.

Dozens hurt in bus crash in Southern Illinois

MARION, Ill. -- A tour bus taking people home from a Chicago charity event ran off a highway and rolled onto its side, causing mostly minor injuries to dozens of passengers, authorities said Monday. The bus was on Interstate 57 en route from Chicago to Holly Springs, Miss., with at least 43 people on board when it struck a guardrail and then slid about 68 feet down an embankment and landed on the passenger side, said the Illinois State Police. Police said investigators had yet to determine why the charter bus struck the guardrail at 11:54 p.m. Sunday just outside Marion.

-- From wire reports