Washington, D.C.

ACLU suing FBI on Internet privacy

The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the FBI’s use of expanded powers to compel Internet service providers to turn over information about their customers or subscribers.

A lawsuit challenging secret FBI national security letters was filed April 6 in U.S. District Court in New York but not made public until Wednesday because of its extraordinary sensitivity.

The FBI can issue national security letters, or NSLs, without a judge’s approval in terrorism and espionage cases. They require telephone companies, Internet service providers, banks, credit bureaus and other businesses to produce highly personal records about their customers or subscribers.

Washington, D.C.

U.S. won’t pursue China trade cases

The Bush administration said Wednesday it had decided not to investigate allegations of Chinese labor rights violations and currency manipulation, arguing that diplomatic engagement is a better way to combat America’s record trade deficit with China.

Some business groups praised the decision, saying the administration had exhibited political courage to choose diplomacy over confrontation with China, especially in an election year where rising anxiety about job losses to foreign competition has become a major issue. The United States ran up a record $124 billion trade deficit with China last year.

But the AFL-CIO, which had petitioned the government to take its labor rights’ case, blasted the decision as “an outrage and an insult.”

Washington, D.C.

Road deaths hit 13-year high

More people died on U.S. roadways last year than at any time since 1990, largely because of an increase in accidents involving sport utility vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.

Last year’s 43,220 total fatalities marked a 1 percent rise from the 42,815 deaths recorded in 2002, according to NHTSA, which said the numbers were preliminary and would be finalized in August.

The rate of fatalities, however, remained unchanged because there were more vehicles on the road and more miles driven.

All classes of vehicles except SUVs and motorcycles actually improved last year, with 259 fewer deaths than in 2002, the agency said. The number of fatalities involving pedestrians and other nonmotorists fell by 140 to 5,443.

But 456 more SUV occupants died in crashes last year than in 2002, for a total of 4,451. More than half of those accidents were rollovers.

Washington, D.C.

WWII memorial opens today

The National World War II Memorial will assume its central place among Washington’s defining landmarks today, opening to the public after nearly two decades of debate and anticipation.

The chain-link fences surrounding the $172 million project are set to come down early this morning, and visitors will be allowed to enter the 7.4-acre site at 9:30 a.m., a month before the memorial is to be officially dedicated Memorial Day weekend.

The opening marks the culmination of a campaign that began in 1987, when legislation to establish the memorial was introduced in Congress. Arguments about its location and design — in Congress, in public hearings and in federal court — delayed the start of construction until 2001.

The May 29 dedication ceremony and other Memorial Day weekend events will draw about 800,000 people to the Mall, according to the National Park Service.