In The News…

Hurricane Katrina now Category 5

Hurricane Katrina strengthened to a dangerous Category 5 Sunday with 160 mph sustained wind as residents of south Louisiana jammed freeways in a rush to get out of the way of the powerful storm. The boost came just hours after Katrina reached Category 4, with wind of 145 mph, as it gathered energy from the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico.

“People need to take this very seriously and get to a safe area while they can,” State Police Sgt. Frank Coates said.

Constitution committee signs draft charter

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Members of Iraq’s constitution drafting committee signed the draft charter Sunday after making some minor amendments, but two Sunni Arab negotiators said the Sunni team rejected the final charter.

Mohammed Abed-Rabbou, one of the four principle negotiators on the 15-member Sunni team, said the Sunni officials refused to accept the draft “because the points of disagreement were not amended” to their satisfaction.

This set the stage for a bitter political battle before the Oct. 15 referendum when Iraqis will decide whether to accept or reject the document.

Dueling demonstrators descend on Texas

CRAWFORD, Texas – Several thousand people descended on President Bush’s adopted hometown Saturday, attending a rally supporting him or arriving for the last leg of an anti-war demonstration near his ranch.

The pro-Bush rally by the school football stadium was the culmination of the “You don’t speak for me, Cindy!” tour, referring to the protest that peace activist Cindy Sheehan started Aug. 6 near Bush’s ranch.

Meanwhile, busloads of war protesters gathered several miles away at “Camp Casey,” named for Sheehan’s 24-year-old son who died while serving in Iraq last year.

Anti-gay protesters at GI funerals

SMYRNA, Tenn. Members of a church brought their anti-gay message to the funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq, saying God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays.

The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Rev. Fred Phelps’ children, grandchildren and in-laws. Phelps is the founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas.

The protesters were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the church members’ cars down a highway, waving flags and screaming “God bless America.”