National briefs
Bridge problems known:
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota officials were warned as early as 1990 the bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River was "structurally deficient," yet they relied on patchwork repairs and stepped-up inspections. "We thought we had done all we could," state bridge engineer Dan Dorgan said. "Obviously something went terribly wrong." Story on Page 1.
Animal group yields funds:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A Sacramento-area animal rescue group investigated for how it spent millions of dollars raised after Hurricane Katrina has agreed to give up control of the $4 million that remains. Noah's Wish raised $8 million, and the state attorney general's office said all of that should have gone to help animals affected by the storm.
Marine convicted of murder:
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine Corps squad leader was convicted Thursday of murdering an Iraqi man during a frustrated search for an insurgent. Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, 23, of Plymouth, Mass., could be sentenced to life in prison without parole. A military jury said the act wasn't premeditated.
House backs troop rests:
WASHINGTON -- Brushing aside a veto threat, the Democratic-controlled House voted Thursday to give U.S. troops guaranteed time at home between deployments to Iraq. The vote was 229-194 on the legislation, designed to complicate the Pentagon's ability to rotate sufficient troops into the war zone.
Court denies Katrina victims:
NEW ORLEANS -- Hurricane Katrina victims whose homes and businesses were destroyed when floodwaters breached levees in the 2005 storm cannot recover money from their insurance companies for damages, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. The case could affect thousands of residents and business owners.
White House OKs interviews:
WASHINGTON -- The White House has agreed to let congressional investigators interview three former top aides -- Dan Bartlett, former White House counselor; Scott McClellan, former press secretary; and Michael Gerson, former speechwriter -- about what the administration knew of Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan.