Iowa

Sex offender law ruled unconstitutional

A federal judge Monday struck down an Iowa law that prohibited convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools and day-care centers.

The Iowa Civil Liberties Union had challenged the constitutionality of the law, claiming it effectively banished offenders from most cities and towns.

Judge Robert Pratt, in Des Moines, ruled that the 2002 law “unconstitutionally infringes” upon the rights of sex offenders. He issued an order prohibiting the state from enforcing the law, making permanent a temporary restraining order issued last summer.

Assistant Atty. Gen. Gordon Allen argued that the law was sound public policy and designed to protect the state’s most vulnerable citizens — children.

“While some may find the means chosen excessive … there is nevertheless a rational basis for the legislative choice,” Allen said.

Oregon

Terror group suspects sentenced to prison

The final three members of a group of Muslim men from the Portland area who tried to enter Afghanistan to join the Taliban were each sentenced to prison time Monday.

They were among six men and one woman accused of conspiring to wage war on the United States.

Palestinian-born Maher Hawash, 39, was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison. Ahmed Bilal, 25, was sentenced to 10 years and his brother, Muhammad, 23, was sent to prison for eight years.

All were given reduced terms because they cooperated with authorities.

Washington, D.C.

Army plans to give soldiers some stability

The Army announced Monday that it would discourage the type of nomadic career that has characterized Army life for generations and would instead station soldiers at one base for much of their service, an effort to improve combat readiness and make life easier on troops and their families.

The new policy calls for troops to remain at their first post for six to seven years, twice as long as the current average, and envisions bringing them back to the home base later in their career as well.

Army officials said the goal was to make units more cohesive by keeping them together longer, and to help soldiers specialize in ways that enhance their effectiveness. That is a departure for an Army that has moved soldiers around frequently to give them the broadest set of experiences and training possible.

The change is also meant to make military life more attractive to families by letting them set deeper roots in their communities, buy homes and keep children in the same school longer.

California

Sea lion found 100 miles inland

California Highway Patrol officers cruising the dusty, inland farm roads of the San Joaquin Valley deal with a lot — speeders, drunken drivers, fleeing felons. On Monday morning, they dealt with a 350-pound sea lion.

“He was just sitting there on the shoulder of the road,” said Officer Mike Panelli. “He must have been 100 miles from the ocean. The Fish and Game guys said he probably came up the rivers and canals. They say he probably got there on his own.”

Panelli said while CHP officers waited near Los Banos for marine biologists to show up and take care of the quarrelsome mammal, it clambered up onto the trunk of one of their patrol cars for a nap. “He just sat there, sunning himself,” Panelli said. “If any officers got too close, he sort of growled at them.”

Eventually, experts from the state Department of Fish and Game and the Marine Mammal Rescue Center at Moss Landing arrived to pick up the sea lion and haul it away.