Briefs: Attorney general resigns
WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation Monday after months of controversy drew expressions of relief from Republicans and a vow from Democrats to pursue their investigation into his firing of federal prosecutors. President Bush said, "His good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons."
Officer dies in motorcade
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A police officer in President Bush's motorcade crashed his motorcycle and died Monday, less than a year after a crash in Hawaii killed another motorcycle officer accompanying the president. Rio Rancho Officer Germaine Casey, 40, crashed at the Albuquerque airport where a road enters an underground parking garage.
Memphis bridge closed
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. -- Officials shut down a major Mississippi River bridge Monday after a pier under a small approach span settled nearly 4 inches during the night in a construction zone. The approach span for the Interstate 40 bridge was still supported by other piers, an Arkansas highway spokesman said.
FAA orders inspections
WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators ordered inspections of the wing slats on all newer Boeing 737 jetliners based on findings about the fire that destroyed a China Airlines 737 in Japan last week. The orders apply to the owners and operators of 783 U.S. airplanes but will likely be imposed by other countries.
Tornado in North Dakota
NORTHWOOD, N.D. -- A tornado destroyed two mobile home parks, killing one person, and blew out windows in homes and buildings across the town, officials said Monday. At least 18 people were injured. "There's virtually nothing ... that hasn't been damaged," a spokesman for the town's emergency operations center said.
Thompson aide leaves
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Republican Fred Thompson sidestepped questions Monday about the departure of yet another high-level aide to his presidential campaign-in-waiting. "I don't know what the story is," said Thompson, who was asked about Linda Rozett's departure while campaigning at the Minnesota state fair.
Asthma hits 9/11 workers
WASHINGTON -- A new survey of Sept. 11-related illnesses an asthma rate 12 times higher than normal among those who toiled on the toxic debris piles of ground zero. The study, released Monday by the New York City Department of Health, said 3.6 percent of the rescue and recovery workers reported asthma.
School defibrillator study
SEATTLE -- A nationwide push to put portable defibrillators in every school may not be worth the cost, a new study concludes. The survey of emergency response to schools in the Seattle area over 16 years found that students suffered cardiac arrests only 12 times and a third of these children had known heart problems.
Abu Ghraib trial to jury
FORT MEADE, Md. -- Jurors began deliberations Monday at the court-martial of the only U.S. military officer charged in the Abu Ghraib detainee abuse scandal. If convicted on all four counts, Army Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan, 51, the highest ranking officer at the Iraq prison, could be sentenced to 8½ years in prison.