Former FDA chief focus of inquiry

Washington The inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that an inquiry is under way into the recent resignation of Lester Crawford as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Several senators and House members sought the inquiry after Crawford resigned, but officials had previously refused to confirm one was under way.

In particular, the lawmakers wanted information about whether Crawford followed ethics laws that require he report his financial assets and income to the government.

Crawford has denied that he had any conflicts with his finances and said he was simply tired and wanted to seek work elsewhere.

Panel strikes down gay marriage, registry

Concord, N.H. A state commission on same-sex unions dealt a series of defeats Monday to proponents of gay marriage.

The panel voted to urge state lawmakers not to allow gays to marry, not to recognize out-of-state same-sex unions, and not to set up a domestic partner registry for couples who cannot legally marry.

“My hope is before I die I will be able to approach a justice of the peace in the state of New Hampshire and be legally married,” said Ed Butler, an openly gay commission member, who had submitted the recommendation for marriage. Soon afterward, the panel defeated his recommendation by a 10-2 vote.

Earlier this month, the panel voted to recommend a constitutional amendment stating marriage is between one woman and one man, though the measure seems unlikely to gain traction in the Legislature.

8-year-old girl gets first bear of season

Oakland, Md. An 8-year-old girl killed the first black bear of Maryland’s 2005 hunting season, downing the 211-pound adult male with two shots from a .243-caliber rifle about an hour after dawn Monday, the Department of Natural Resources said.

Maryland law sets no minimum age limit for hunters, but first-timers must pass a course and show that they can safely handle and shoot a firearm. Sierra scored 98 percent on her safety test, Peditto said.

Civil liberties group sues Hawaii over jail

Honolulu A civil liberties group sued the state of Hawaii on Monday, saying it failed to protect inmates at a youth prison where teens were abused and kept in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, asks for a federal court-ordered expert to “design, implement and oversee policies and procedures” at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, said Lois Perrin, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii.

“The state has been aware for over two years of a multitude of problems,” she said. “The state should be embarrassed that this lawsuit is necessary.”

An ACLU lawsuit last month accused guards at the prison of discriminating against inmates because of their sexual orientation.