Richardson proposal could cut benefits
SANTA FE (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson's administration outlined proposals Monday to save more than $40 million on Medicaid next year, mostly by cutting benefits, payments to providers and some eligibility restrictions.
The department estimates that Medicaid will need a 31 percent increase in state money -$125 million - next year to continue current services. The $125 million is almost four times more than the pool of revenues projected to be available to cover budget increases for all of state government next year.
Court decision delays California recall election
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court threw California's tumultuous recall campaign into complete turmoil Monday by postponing the Oct. 7 election, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore in ruling that punch-card ballots could lead to some votes not being counted. The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is certain to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, putting the justices in a position to influence yet another monumental election.
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Powell honors Kurds killed by chemical attack
HALABJA, Iraq (AP) - Standing near rows of white grave markers, Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday honored 5,000 Iraqi Kurds who died in a chemical weapons attack and pledged such brutality was gone along with Saddam Hussein. With relatives of victims standing before him, Powell said: "I can't tell you that Saddam Hussein was a murderous tyrant - you know that. What I can tell you is that what happened here in 1988 is never going to happen again."
Bomb explodes in Chechnya; 25 wounded
MAGAS, Russia (AP) - A truck bomb exploded Monday outside a government security building near Chechnya, killing at least two people and underscoring Russia's vulnerability in the region just weeks before an election Moscow hopes will lead to peace.
Officials said at least 25 people were wounded in the bombing in Magas, the capital of the Russian republic of Ingushetia, which borders the rebellious Chechen republic and shelters tens of thousands of Chechen refugees.
Officials called the attack a terrorist act but did not say who might be behind it. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
