Husband to publish book on Schiavo case
PUNTA GORDA -- Michael Schiavo is co-writing a book with author Michael Hirsh to tell his side of the end-of-life case that divided much of the country. Schiavo's wife, Terri, suffered a brain injury in 1990 that left her in what some doctors called a ''persistent vegetative state." She died March 31 after a bitter court battle between her husband and her parents. Hirsh expects the 280-page book, ''Terri: the Truth," to be available just before the first anniversary of Terri's death. (AP)
Tourists in Keys told to leave as storm nears
KEY LARGO -- Thousands of tourists jammed a highway yesterday after they were told to evacuate the lower Florida Keys because Tropical Storm Rita developed over the Bahamas and moved toward the vulnerable low-lying island chain. A hurricane watch was posted for the entire Florida Keys, which means hurricane conditions with winds of at least 74 miles per hour are possible by late today. Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida. (AP)
California
2 charged in alleged hurricane relief scam
LOS ANGELES -- Two people accused of posing as American Red Cross volunteers and taking in as much as $2,000 have been charged in the first federal case involving an alleged Hurricane Katrina relief scam, prosecutors said. Federal law bars anyone from impersonating a Red Cross worker. A conviction can lead to five years in prison. Tino Lee, 44, of Burbank and Gina Liz Nicholas, 19, of Glendale were charged Friday, the US attorney's office said in a statement. (AP)
Illinois
Former governor's corruption trial set
CHICAGO -- Former Illinois governor George Ryan won accolades for clearing the state's death row, but a scandal that destroyed his popularity and made him unelectable in 2002 has now brought him to a critical confrontation. Accused of doling out big-money state contracts and leases to political insiders, the 71-year-old veteran politician is scheduled to go to trial today. (AP)
Pennsylvania
Bank video shows robber before blast
ERIE -- Recently released surveillance images of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank, and was then killed by a bomb fastened around his neck, suggest he was unaware of any threat to his life, according to the FBI. Two years after the death of Brian Wells, authorities have made no arrests and are unable to say whether he was a willing participant or a victim. State police, who stopped Wells moments after the robbery, said he told them that someone had locked the bomb onto him. (AP)
New York
Independence Party moves against official
ALBANY -- Lenora Fulani, accused of making anti-Semitic remarks, and a group of her supporters were removed yesterday from the executive committee of New York's small, but politically influential Independence Party. Fulani's comments had drawn criticism not only from fellow Independence Party members, but also from powerful Democrats and Republicans. Fulani is a leader of the party's Manhattan wing and remains in that post despite yesterday's action. (AP) 