Nation/world roundup
Hurricane Stan slams into Mexico's Gulf, leaving dozens dead
VERACRUZ, Mexico -- Hurricane Stan slammed into Mexico's Gulf coast Tuesday, forcing authorities to close one of the nation's busiest ports and spawning related storms across the region that left at least 66 people dead, most from landslides in El Salvador.
Stan, which whipped up maximum sustained winds of 80 mph before weakening to a tropical storm, came ashore along a sparsely populated stretch of coastline south of Veracruz, a major port 185 miles east of Mexico City.
Court returns to physician-assisted suicide as issue of federal power
WASHINGTON -- Newly installed Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday sharply questioned a lawyer arguing for preservation of Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law, noting the federal government's tough regulation of addictive prescription drugs.
The 50-year-old Roberts, hearing his first oral argument since succeeding William H. Rehnquist at the helm of the court, seemed skeptical of the Oregon law, and the outcome of this case was as unclear after the argument as before.
Inside, retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor seemed ready to back the law allowing dying patients to obtain lethal doses of medication from their doctors.
Although O'Connor could provide the fifth vote in Oregon's favor, she likely will be off the court before the case is decided. A 4-4 tie would be decided by a new justice.
Mayor of New Orleans announces layoffs amid Katrina damage
NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin said Tuesday the city is laying off as many as 3,000 employees because of the financial damage inflicted on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.
Nagin described the layoffs as "pretty permanent" and said that the city will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to notify municipal employees who fled the city in the aftermath of Katrina, which struck about a month ago.
The mayor said the move will save about $5 million to $8 million of the city's monthly payroll of $20 million. The layoffs will take place over the next two weeks.
U.S. Armed Forces seek to retake western Iraq towns
HADITHA, Iraq -- U.S. troops pushed through streets sown with bombs Tuesday in their biggest operation this year in western Iraq, seeking to retake three Euphrates River towns from insurgents.
At least five U.S. service members have been killed in the fighting. Operation River Gate, launched at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, was the second U.S. offensive in a week in the Anbar province, near the Syrian border.
Al-Qaida in Iraq called for intensified attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces during the Muslim period of fasting, which started Tuesday for the nation's Sunnis.
Supreme Court nominee Miers has no judicial experience
WASHINGTON -- President Bush named White House counsel Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court in transition Monday, turning to a longtime loyalist with no experience as a judge and scant public record on abortion, to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Miers "will strictly interpret our Constitution and laws. She will not legislate from the bench," the president said as the 60-year-old former private attorney and keeper of campaign secrets stood nearby.
Miers was Bush's second selection in three months to fill vacancies on the high court.
Google still faces hurdles before connecting San Fran to Web
SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc.'s offer to provide a free wireless Internet access service throughout San Francisco is shining a national spotlight on the ambitious project, but the online search engine still faces significant obstacles before tackling the job.
The proposal from the Mountain View-based company must first be selected among the finalists -- a process that San Francisco officials hope to complete in three weeks, Mayor Gavin Newsom said Monday.
San Francisco received 23 other proposals, including plans submitted by established telecommunications providers.
Another bidder, a local startup called Feeva Inc., currently offers free Internet access in a busy part of San Francisco in a partnership with Google.
From wire reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.