Ohio: Evolution to be part of science curriculum

The state school board said Tuesday it will adopt a science curriculum that leaves it up to school districts whether to teach the concept of “intelligent design,” which holds that the universe is guided by a higher intelligence.

In Columbus, the board voted unanimously in favor of the standards, which emphasize both evolution and critical analysis of the theory. It will adopt them formally in December.

The standards put into writing what many school districts already do teach evolution, but also explain that there is debate over the origin of life.

Washington, D.C.: Seizures of weapons at U.S. airports drop

A year after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, most airline passengers seem to have caught on that guns, knives and box cutters should be left at home, yet thousands of these weapons are still being intercepted, federal officials said Tuesday.

Passenger screeners seized 62,000 knives last month, down 42 percent from the 107,000 found in August, a previous low since the Transportation Security Administration began keeping numbers in February.

And while 59 firearms were discovered in September, that too was down nearly 75 percent from 228 in July and 227 in August.

Approximately 2,900 boxcutters were also found, 28 percent fewer than the monthly average of 4,000 discovered between March and August, the TSA reported.

Philippines: Rebel leader to surrender

A top leader of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, wanted by the United States for the deaths of two American hostages in the southern Philippines, said Wednesday he plans to surrender.

Hamsirahi Sali told Radio Mindanao Network that he was ready to lay down his arms but accused outgoing Southern Command military chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina of sabotaging an earlier planned surrender.

Sali, who uses the alias Commander Jose Ramirez, said he decided to give up because he feels sorry for civilians on the southern island of Basilan who could not earn a living peacefully because of military operations against the Muslim extremist group.