Washington, D.C.: Federal health officials weigh in on smallpox vaccine

Top federal health officials said Friday they favor offering the smallpox vaccine in stages: first to all who work in hospital emergency rooms, then to about 10 million health care and emergency workers, and eventually to the general public.

The officials emphasized that no decision have been made. That decision rests with the White House, where some have been pushing for an even more aggressive program, vaccinating more people more quickly, according to health and White House officials.

Health officials offered no timetables for vaccinations but said they favor waiting until the vaccine is licensed, rather than delivering it as an experimental drug. The first batch of shots will be licensed in November.

Los Angeles: Bail hearing delay sought for actor Robert Blake

Granting Robert Blake an immediate bail hearing would waste time and money, prosecutors said Friday in arguing for a delay of more than a month for the actor, who is accused of killing his wife.

The filing by the District Attorney’s Office responded to a California Supreme Court order to show why Blake, jailed since April 18 on charges of killing his wife, should continue to wait for a bail hearing.

Blake’s attorneys contend the delay is keeping the 69-year-old former “Baretta” star from helping them in their defense. But prosecutors Pat Dixon and Greg Dohi said a bail hearing should be combined with a Nov. 13 preliminary hearing that will determine whether the case should go to trial.

Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash will decide the bail issue and has scheduled a hearing Monday to discuss it.

Oregon: Charges filed in slayings of 12-, 13-year-olds

An Oregon man was charged Friday with killing two girls and abusing their corpses.

Ward Weaver, 39, of Oregon City, was already jailed on charges of raping his son’s girlfriend when the bodies of the two girls were discovered on his property.

A grand jury indictment charged Weaver with aggravated murder in the deaths of Ashley Pond, 12, and Miranda Gaddis, 13; two counts of sex abuse and one count of attempted rape for Ashley; and one count of abuse of a corpse for both girls.

John Foote, the Clackamas County district attorney, said he would seek the death penalty.

Tim Lyons, Weaver’s attorney, entered a plea of innocent on all charges.

Ivory Coast: Cease-fire signing remains on for today

West African peacemakers struggled to hold together a cease-fire deal Friday in divided Ivory Coast while rebels accused loyalists of readying their long-threatened counterattack under cover of truce talks.

One of the top mediators said the agreement would be signed today in the front-line town of Tiebissou.

Insurgents have seized half of Ivory Coast since they began their rebellion Sept. 19 with a bloody failed coup.