WASHINGTON – President Bush vented frustration anew yesterday over the Senate's failure to vote on more than 180 of his nominations, including more than two dozen to the federal bench.
“Some have been waiting for more than a year,” said Bush, who invited many of the nominees to the White House for an event Thursday. “As a result, careers have been put on hold, families have been placed in limbo and our government has been deprived of the service of these fine nominees.”
Democrats counter that Bush is equally responsible for the stalemate between the White House and Capitol Hill. They say that, in some cases, Bush has nominated people who have no chance of being approved by Congress.
Associated Press
Mother bewildered by daughter's killings
BATON ROUGE, La. – A woman whose daughter killed two fellow students in a college classroom before committing suicide said yesterday she will be “haunted to the end of my days for what my child has done.”
Jennie Williams issued a statement offering sympathy to the families of the women who police said were killed by her daughter Friday at Louisiana Technical College.
Williams said she could not explain why Latina Williams, 23, killed the two women, then turned the gun on herself.
“In this tragedy, just like you, we have many questions but no answers,” Jennie Williams said.
Police said they have not determined a motive for the shootings.
Police Sgt. Don Kelly said Latina Williams entered the room, spoke with the instructor and left, then returned through another door and fired six rounds, killing both victims. Kelly said she then reloaded and shot herself in the head.
Associated Press
KFC measure ruffles feathers of its critics
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Animal-rights advocates are squawking at a measure that would make fried chicken Kentucky's official picnic food.
State Rep. Charles Siler is sponsoring legislation to assign the designation to KFC's “finger lickin' good” chicken, first served by Col. Harland Sanders in 1940.
The late colonel's fried chicken deserves the title because of the worldwide attention and economic benefit it has brought to the state, Siler said. KFC, a subsidiary of Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc., has 11,000 restaurants worldwide.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals bristles at the idea. The animal-rights group claims that the chickens KFC serves are abused.
Associated Press
Robber prefers prison to jail, gets his wish
ADRIAN, Mich. – Ask and you shall receive in Lenawee County Circuit Court.
A man who pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery faced no more than a year in county jail but asked to be sent to prison instead to help his chances of rehabilitation.
Michael Thomas Isaacson got what he wanted when a judge sentenced him to 17 months to 15 years in state prison, with a recommendation for a psychological evaluation and counseling.
Isaacson told Judge Timothy Pickard he believes programs available in state prison will help him “get back on my feet.”
Associated Press
