Texas officials seek voter rights changes

Three federal judges reacted with skepticism yesterday to a call by some local officials from Texas to overturn a section of the Voting Rights Act. The law requires officials in 16 states where there has been a history of racial discrimination at the polls to get Justice Department approval for any proposed changes in the way elections are conducted. A city utility board in Austin, Texas, challenged the requirement in August, eight days after President Bush extended the law for another 25 years. The pre-clearance review provision serves as a stigma, "a scarlet letter these jurisdictions wear" even though there's no evidence of discrimination, Gregory Coleman, an attorney for the utility board, argued to the federal appeals court. (AP)

WASHINGTON - Mementos of Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull are being returned to his descendants, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History announced yesterday. The return of the lock of hair and leggings belonging to Sitting Bull was requested by Ernie LaPointe, great-grandson of the Hunkpapa Lakota chief who became famous for defeating Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the battle of Little Bighorn. Sitting Bull was killed while being arrested by tribal police in 1890 and the lock of hair and leggings were obtained by an Army doctor, who later donated them to the museum. (AP)

CAMDEN - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine underwent surgery yesterday to remove excess bone growth in the leg he broke in a near-fatal car crash last spring. Corzine transferred gubernatorial power to Senate President Richard J. Codey at 10:22 a.m., five minutes before he was sedated for surgery at Cooper University Hospital, Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton said. The governor first underwent a low-dose radiation treatment on the leg to prevent future bone growth. The surgery itself, involving doctors cutting excess bone growth away from his left femur with a bone chisel, took a little over an hour. Corzine was in stable condition afterward and probably will not need more surgery, said Dr. Robert Ostrum. (AP)

SEATTLE - The former leader of the Spokane chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was sentenced yesterday to 7 1/2 years in prison for racketeering. Richard "Smilin' Rick" Fabel, 50, was also ordered by US District Judge Robert Lasnik to pay nearly $55,000 in restitution. Fabel, who maintains he is innocent, thanked his supporters, including Hells Angels from around the West who packed the courtroom. He was convicted by a jury of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering - specifically, mail fraud, extortion, and trafficking in stolen motorcycles. The sentence handed down was longer than the guideline range, which recommended a maximum sentence of 6.5 years. (AP)