New York

Bank robbers turn to notes as weapons

The city’s 400th bank robbery of 2003 required no safecracking. No hostage-taking. Not even a drawn gun.

The robber simply walked Tuesday into an HSBC branch in Manhattan, produced a threatening note demanding money and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The unremarkable formula has been the hallmark of a remarkable rise in city bank robberies in 2003: 408 were reported by New Year’s Eve, up 64 percent from 249 in 2002.

The numbers defied a dip in the city’s overall robbery rate and outpaced increases nationwide, exasperating police and bank officials.

“I honestly can’t tell you why it’s happening. … It’s just a rash,” said Ed Hausdorf, director of security for North Fork Bank, hit by more than three dozen robberies in 2003.

The vast majority of stickups-by-note involved robbers working solo.

Texas

Veteran congressman makes switch to GOP

After nearly a quarter-century as one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, Texas Rep. Ralph Hall switched parties to become a Republican and said he expected support from the White House.

President Bush praised Hall’s decision.

“Ralph is a close friend of the Bush family. He is a well-respected leader of the highest integrity, and a tireless advocate for the people of Texas,” Bush said.

Hall, 80, made the move Friday, the final day for candidates to file to get their names on the ballot for Texas’ March 9 primary.

Before the switch, the House had 228 Republicans, 205 Democrats, a Democrat-leaning independent and one vacancy.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting said he was disappointed but would wait to hear from Hall before commenting further.

Washington, D.C.

Foreign aid rules change to favor justly governed

A revolution in U.S. foreign aid, rewarding countries for how they govern, is finally ready to get under way, almost two years after first promised by the Bush administration.

The program will favor countries whose governments are judged to be just rulers, welcoming hosts for foreign investment and promoters of projects to meet their people’s basic health and education needs.

Administration officials expect this year to inaugurate the plan, known as the Millennium Challenge Account.

Rep. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., an expert on Latin America, said the program does nothing over the short term to help that region’s impoverished masses.