ANDRES LEIGHTON / Associated Press
An explosion at a fuel-storage site sent quake-force shock waves yesterday across San Juan, Puerto Rico, and set 15 tanks on fire. No one died.
In the Nation
Filing ties Alaska lawmaker to probe
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Documents filed in federal court directly link Rep. Don Young (R., Alaska) to a wide-ranging investigation of corruption in Alaska for the first time.The documents were filed late Wednesday in connection with next week's sentencing of Bill Allen, a key figure in the corruption probes of state lawmakers and former Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska).
The filing alleges that Young illegally received gifts totaling up to nearly $200,000 over 13 years from VECO Corp., Allen's now-defunct oil-field services company. Young's attorney did not return a call yesterday seeking comment, and spokeswoman Meredith Kenny said the congressman's office could not comment.
The 19-term congressman, under federal investigation for more than two years, has denied wrongdoing. - AP
3 groups reject Guantanamo tour
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Three human-rights groups said yesterday that they would spurn an invitation to tour the Guantanamo Bay prison next month because it doesn't include an opportunity to speak with prisoners.Amnesty International USA, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Human Rights Watch all said a recent Defense Department invitation fell short of the full access to the prison at the U.S. base in Cuba that they jointly requested in a January letter to President Obama.
A fourth group invited on the tour, Human Rights First, raised similar objections but hasn't decided how to respond. The groups have sought to inspect the prison camps and meet with prisoners. - AP
Bill makes Pulaski honorary citizen
WASHINGTON - A bill declaring Casimir Pulaski an honorary U.S. citizen is heading to President Obama's desk. Pulaski, who was born in Poland in 1745 and died in the U.S. colonies' fight against the British in 1779, was a legendary cavalryman who is still respected as a brilliant military tactician.Pulaski will become the seventh foreigner given the distinction. The others: Pennsylvania founder William Penn and his wife, Hannah; Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who supported the American Revolution; British Prime Minister Winston Churchill; Swedish humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, who rescued Jews during the Holocaust; and Mother Teresa. The Pulaski measure advanced after the Senate Thursday unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.).
Benjamin Franklin met Pulaski in Paris and recommended him to Gen. George Washington. Washington promoted Pulaski to brigadier general in 1777 after the Pole saved Washington's life and led a counterattack at the Battle of Brandywine. - Chicago Tribune
Elsewhere:
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent $85.2 million seeking a third term, including $20.3 million since Sept. 29, his campaign reported.
