Easing of protections on wolves is rejected

GRANTS PASS -- A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Bush administration violated the Endangered Species Act when it relaxed protections on many of the nation's gray wolves. The decision by US District Judge Robert E. Jones rescinds a change that allows ranchers to shoot wolves if they are attacking livestock. In 2003, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified the Eastern and Western wolf populations as threatened. (AP)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

IRS gets more funds to fight tax scofflaws

President Bush will ask Congress to give the Internal Revenue Service an extra $500 million to pursue tax evaders and increase collections, the

Treasury Department said yesterday. The boost would mean a nearly 8 percent increase in the IRS budget for tax enforcement, according to a proposal in the president's fiscal 2006 budget. (AP)

COLORADO

Bryant case lawyers spar over records

DENVER -- An attorney for the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape said yesterday she is willing to hand his lawyers some medical and school records, but doesn't want them to access the documents on their own. Bryant's lawyers asked a federal judge on Monday to force her to turn over the records, saying she has refused to give them information needed to defend the NBA star against her civil suit. A hearing is set for today. (AP)

INDIANA

Elephant tramples circus animal trainer

FORT WAYNE -- An elephant being loaded onto a truck trampled a circus animal trainer to death at Memorial Coliseum, police said. Three handlers were loading the elephant Monday as crews packed up from this weekend's Shrine Circus. Two of the workers left the trailer and the man who stayed behind was trampled. (AP)

WEST VIRGINIA

Ohio River stretch reopens after jam

CHARLESTON -- Traffic resumed early yesterday along a 42-mile stretch of the Ohio River that was closed for nearly two weeks while salvage crews removed three runaway barges that had twisted themselves around a dam. The 175-foot coal barges broke loose on Jan. 6 during flooding and jammed the dam's gates. (AP)