New Jersey

Port program expands

A program in which American inspectors work abroad to check U.S.-bound ships for dangerous cargo is expanding to include some predominantly Muslim nations for the first time, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

The first phase of the Container Security Initiative Program focused on the 20 largest foreign ports, mostly in Europe and Asia. Ridge said 20 to 25 countries would be added, including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Turkey.

Under the program, U.S. officials work with foreign port authorities to identify, target and search high-risk cargo before it can reach the United States.

Kentucky

Hearing set for soldier charged in fatal attack

The soldier charged in the grenade attack on comrades sleeping in tents in Kuwait was scheduled for a hearing Monday that could lead to a court-martial, the Army announced Thursday.

Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar, 32, a soldier in the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division, will face an Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian courts.

Two soldiers died and 14 were wounded in the early- morning attack on three tents March 23, days before the brigade moved into Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Akbar, of Los Angeles, faces two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted murder and could face the death penalty.

California

Judge issues gag order in Peterson murder case

A judge on Thursday barred lawyers, witnesses and police officers from discussing the Laci Peterson murder case.

Judge Al Girolami said he thought the gag order was the only way to stop leaks and rumors from derailing Scott Peterson’s right to a fair trial.

Earlier Thursday, Judge Roger Beauchesne ruled that that there was no reason to keep eight search warrants and related police reports in the case sealed because Scott Peterson has been arrested and charged with the murders of his Modesto wife and unborn son. Beauchesne postponed their release until July.

Scott Peterson’s lawyers also oppose the release of the documents, saying it would hurt their efforts to find the real killers. They have suggested a satanic cult may have abducted and killed the pregnant 27-year-old substitute teacher who vanished just before Christmas.

Philadelphia

Council ousts gay Scout

Philadelphia’s Boy Scout council, which defied the national organization last month by promising not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, has ousted a Scout for publicly announcing he is gay.

Gregory Lattera, 18, said he learned of the decision last week when he received a letter from the Cradle of Liberty Council, which runs Boy Scout programs in Philadelphia.

The same council voted May 28 to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy.

“He decided to hold a press conference to come out as a member of the gay community,” said William T. Dwyer, the chief executive of the council. “The don’t-ask, don’t-tell policy is pretty clear.”

However, the policy adopted in May did not make any mention of gays not being allowed to make their sexual orientation public knowledge.