Nation in brief: Senate OKs funds for timber counties
The Senate on Wednesday approved a plan to extend payments to rural counties hurt by cutbacks in federal logging.
The Senate plan would authorize about $2.8 billion to extend the so-called county payments law through 2011. Another $1.9 billion would be directed to rural states through a proposal to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program, which reimburses state and local governments for federally owned property.
The plan, approved 75-22, faces an uncertain fate because it is attached to an emergency spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush has vowed to veto the bill because of concerns of a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Without the law – formally known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act – thousands of teachers and hundreds of law enforcement officers in dozens of states could be laid off, Wyden and other lawmakers said.
Most of the money goes to six Western states – Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska – although Mississippi, Arkansas and other Southern states also receive significant payments.
GREENCASTLE, Ind.
Expelled sorority sues DePauw
A sorority accused of evicting members based on appearance and popularity sued DePauw University on Wednesday over the school’s decision to expel the organization.
Delta Zeta, which had been accused of asking only attractive, popular students to remain active members, filed the claim in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, accusing DePauw of breaking promises and contracts, defaming the sorority, and interfering with its business relationships.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, a public apology, its return to the university’s Greek system and a retraction of certain statements about the sorority. It also asks that DePauw acknowledge “that Delta Zeta did not make any decision based on appearance and race.”
DePauw spokesman Ken Owen said the university disputed many of the sorority’s allegations.