Wasington, D.C.: FDA asks blood donors to be wary of West Nile

Blood banks should encourage donors to call them back if they suffer symptoms of West Nile virus soon after giving blood, so the bank can decide if the donated blood should be quarantined, the government said late last week.

West Nile virus is spread mostly by infected mosquitoes, but federal scientists discovered last month it also occasionally is spread through donated blood or organs. The Food and Drug Administration cites 15 people who may have caught West Nile from a blood transfusion, out of more than 3,300 cases of the disease this year.

Once the blood connection became known, the FDA reminded blood banks not to allow donations from people with fever and flu-like symptoms, which can signal West Nile as well as other infections.

Denver: Smoking ban sought at work, public places

At least 3,000 people have signed a petition asking that smoking be banned in work places and public places, prompting Denver’s Department of Environmental Health to consider drafting a proposal for the City Council.

“There is absolutely no doubt that the momentum is with us,” said Chris Sherwin, executive director of Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance.

Existing regulations require only that restaurants with seating for more than 25 have nonsmoking sections.

Ten Colorado communities, including Boulder, Aspen and Telluride, ban smoking in restaurants or require that smoking sections be separated by a wall.

Washington, D.C.: Enron’s wind farm holdings being probed

Government investigators say they want to find out whether a former Enron Corp. executive improperly hid the company’s stake in three California wind power farms.

The three farms Sky River, Victory Garden and Zond Windsystems were recertified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in June 1997 as qualified to sell wholesale electricity to U.S. utilities.

As part of that recertification, officials at each farm told FERC that Enron would transfer ownership interests to partnerships not affiliated with Enron. A 1978 federal law requires electric utilities to buy renewable energy from FERC-approved facilities owned by independent power producers.

Earlier this month, prosecutors alleged in federal court in Houston that former Enron executives created two partnerships to disguise Enron’s interest in the California wind farms.

Los Angeles: Candidate reverses course on attack ads

A week after announcing he would run only positive commercials through Election Day, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis reversed course and put an ad attacking Republican Bill Simon back on the air.

Aides to Davis, who led by 10 points in the most recent independent poll, said they revived ads blasting Simon for his involvement in a failed savings and loan because the Republican reneged on a pledge to focus on issues by running negative ads of his own.

“We figured if he’s going to take that tack, we’re not just going to sit by idly and take it,” Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar said.

Davis is now spending around $3 million a week on television advertising.

“I am told that Mr. Davis has spent more money attacking me personally with false ads … than any other political candidate has ever endured in American political history for any position including the presidency,” Simon said Saturday speaking to supporters.