Bloomberg opposes Bush pick for court

NEW YORK -- Campaigning for reelection, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has broken with fellow Republicans and opposed President Bush's pick for chief justice of the Supreme Court. Bloomberg said he could not support nominee John G. Roberts Jr. because the judge had not indicated clearly during his Senate confirmation hearings whether he accepts the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling as ''settled law." ''What I was waiting for, as were many Americans, was a clear affirmation that the life-altering decision as to whether or not to have a child must be a woman's decision," Bloomberg said in a statement distributed to reporters Friday. ''Unfortunately, Judge Roberts's response did not indicate a commitment to protect a woman's right to choose." (AP)

CALIFORNIA

Jackson plans song for storm victims

LOS ANGELES -- In his first talk with a reporter since the end of his criminal trial, pop superstar Michael Jackson said yesterday that he is ''moving full speed ahead" on plans to record a song for the benefit of Hurricane Katrina victims and feels that his creative juices are flowing again. In a telephone interview, Jackson said that the trial was ''the hardest thing I've ever done in my life" and that he and his children were still in Bahrain ''resting and recovering" from the ordeal. Jackson said he has been at work on the charity song, tentatively titled ''From the Bottom of My Heart." Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in June after a five-month trial in Santa Maria. He has since spent much of his time in Bahrain. (AP)