Texas

Protesters rally against redistricting campaign

Thousands gathered Saturday to rally against a Republican push to redraw state congressional lines and in favor of the Democratic state senators who fled to New Mexico to scuttle the effort.

“The people of Texas said ‘no’ once (Republicans) started drawing the maps,” said protester Ginger McGilvray. “They said ‘no’ with a strong voice and they didn’t listen. So here we are, standing out here … to show that we mean it.”

Despite muggy temperatures that neared 100 degrees, between 2,000 and 4,000 protesters rallied at the Capitol and cheered relatives of the 11 Democrats holed up in an Albuquerque hotel.

DETROIT

Teamsters endorse Gephardt for president

Democratic presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt accepted the Teamsters union’s formal endorsement Saturday in Michigan before moving on to Iowa and New Hampshire.

Standing in a grassy area close to Teamsters Joint Council 43 headquarters near downtown Detroit, the Missouri congressman told several hundred Teamsters that he was the best candidate to bring back jobs lost under President Bush.

“The president has made the economy a mess,” said Gephardt, above with Teamsters President James P. Hoffa. “In 24 months, he’s turned everything on its head.”

Florida

Stranded pilot whales to be returned to sea

Marine experts Saturday readied the procedure for returning five stranded pilot whales to the open sea.

The procedure will be the first simultaneous release of five whales from a single stranding incident in the United States. The release of even one whale is rare, officials said.

At high tide Sunday morning, about 50 experts and volunteers were expected to use cranes to lift the whales onto slings and load them onto boats taking them about 12 miles offshore.

Colorado

Mother gets 64 years for abusing 6-year-old

A woman was sentenced to 64 years in prison for months of torturing her 6-year-old son that included burns, whippings and starvation.

The 30-year-old woman, who pleaded guilty to child abuse, faced 10 to 224 years. Her mother was sentenced to 10 years last July for her role. Their names were not published to protect the child.

Authorities said burns, whip marks and open sores covered the boy’s malnourished body. A patch of hair was missing because his entire head was duct-taped, except for an opening for his mouth. His neck was bruised from a dog collar he was forced to wear.