In the News

Kidnappers renew threat to kill four Christian activists

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Kidnappers holding four Christian peace activists gave U.S. and Iraqi authorities a “last chance” to release all detainees in Iraq, threatening in a videotape broadcast Saturday to kill the hostages if their demands were not met.

The hostages-two Canadians, an American and a Briton-were shown on the tape broadcast by Al-Jazeera looking gaunt and standing near a white wall in what appeared to be a house, then it cuts away to another shot in which they were seated and talking, but their voices were not heard.

The pan-Arab station’s announcer said the group, the “Swords of Righteousness Brigades,” issued a statement warning it was the “last chance” for U.S. and Iraqi authorities to “release all Iraqi prisoners in return of freeing the hostages.”

Scientists discover frozen methane gas deposit on ocean floor off California

LOS ANGELES – Scientists have discovered an undersea deposit of frozen methane just off the Southern California coast, but whether it can be harnessed as a potential energy source is unknown.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in tapping methane hydrates, icelike crystals that form at low temperatures and high pressure in seabeds and in Arctic permafrost.

Scientists estimate that the methane trapped in previously known frozen reservoirs around the globe could power the world for centuries. But finding the technology to mine such deposits has proved elusive.

The newly discovered deposit – believed to be substantial in size – was found about 15 miles off the coast at a depth of about 2,600 feet, at the summit of an undersea mud volcano. Scientists were conducting an unrelated study when they came across the volcano, which sits on top of an active fault zone in the Santa Monica Basin.

Families of Challenger crew observe 20th anniversary of disaster

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The widow of Challenger’s commander laid a wreath of roses and carnations at a memorial honoring fallen astronauts Saturday, the 20th anniversary of the day the space shuttle lifted off from a launch pad a few miles away and blew apart 73 seconds later.

June Scobee Rodgers, whose husband Dick Scobee was the shuttle’s commander, recalled waiting for the launch that chilly morning with other family members of the crew, including 12 children.

“Our lives were shattered, but over the years that followed the families persevered with tremendous success,” Rodgers said. “I believe those parents launched aboard Challenger would be proud of their children.”

Seven astronauts died in the explosion, and the images of the shuttle bursting apart were replayed over and over to a shocked nation.

On Saturday, 250 people joined a ceremony at Kennedy Space Center to honor Scobee, pilot Mike Smith, astronauts Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Ron McNair and Greg Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe, who was supposed to be the first teacher in space.

Pharmacists sue over birth-control policy

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Four pharmacists who refused to sign a pledge promising to dispense the morning-after birth-control pill sued Walgreen drug stores, alleging they were illegally fired.

The lawsuits accuse Walgreen Co. of violating the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act. The pharmacists were being represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, a public-interest group founded by evangelist Pat Robertson.

A new state rule requires pharmacies that sell federally approved contraceptives to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control “without delay” if they have the medication in stock. The rule is being challenged in federal court.

In response to the rule, Deerfield-based Walgreen asked pharmacists to pledge in writing that they would fill prescriptions for contraceptives such as the morning-after pill. The plaintiffs were suspended indefinitely without pay when they refused to sign the pledge in November.