Bush signs spending bill
President Bush on Tuesday signed a sprawling, stopgap spending bill to keep the government running for the next 12 months.
The president’s move, which came on the last day of the government’s budget year, was expected even though the measure spends more money than he would have liked. The legislation is one of the few bills this election year that simply had to pass.
The $630 billion-plus spending bill wraps together a record Pentagon budget with aid for automakers and natural disaster victims, and increased health care funding for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure contains $488 billion for the Pentagon, $40 billion for the Homeland Security Department and $73 billion for veterans’ programs and military construction projects.
The measure also lifts a quarter-century ban on oil drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Detroit
Woman charged with mail theft
In a case that echoes a “Seinfeld” episode, a former postal worker has been charged with stealing thousands of pieces of mail that authorities say she had kept in a storage unit northwest of Detroit.
Federal investigators say they’ve recovered more than 9,000 pieces of mail from a storage unit in Fowlerville. Authorities allege that Jill Hull admitted storing the mail because she couldn’t deliver it on time.
Islamorada, Fla.
Man saves dog from shark
A dog is recovering after a Florida Keys carpenter dove in to save his pet from a shark.
Greg LeNoir said he took his 14-pound rat terrier Jake for a daily swim at a marina Friday.
The five-foot shark suddenly surfaced and grabbed nearly the entire dog in its mouth.
LeNoir said he yelled, then dove into the water. He hit the shark in the back and the creature finally let go of the dog.
New York
Ifill will moderate with broken ankle
Gwen Ifill has a broken ankle, but she’ll still serve as the upcoming vice presidential debate’s moderator.
The veteran PBS newswoman tripped in her Washington-area home while walking downstairs Monday, carrying material she was using to prep for the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.
Despite the pain, doctors have given her the OK to travel to St. Louis, where the vice presidential debate is scheduled for Thursday.
“Another crazy twist in a crazy week,” Ifill said.
Ifill is moderator of PBS’ “Washington Week” and senior correspondent on “The NewsHour.”