Washington, D.C.

FDA to announce new rules on cattle feed

The Food and Drug Administration plans to announce Friday new restrictions to keep mad cow disease from being spread through cattle feed, livestock industry sources said Wednesday.

The feed restrictions are aimed at closing loopholes in a rule issued in 1997. That rule bans the use of cattle protein in feed for other cattle. A misshapen protein is blamed for mad cow, a fatal, brain-wasting disease also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

In January, the FDA announced additional restrictions on feed ingredients, including a ban on the use of cattle blood. The American Feed Industry Assn. said Wednesday that the FDA would announce more restrictions Friday.

Los Angeles

Police beating probe widens

The Los Angeles police investigation into the beating of car-theft suspect Stanley Miller is going beyond the 11 flashlight blows administered by officer John J. Hatfield to a second officer who is seen on TV news footage kicking the suspect while he is down.

The blow, delivered by Officer Peter Bueno, occurred 54 seconds after police pushed Miller to the ground around 6 a.m. on June 23 at the conclusion of a car chase.

At the time, seven officers, including a sergeant, were on top of Miller, apparently attempting to handcuff him. Bueno is seen grasping Miller before ramming his knee into the suspect’s midsection.

Grenada

Caribbean nations to send delegation to Haiti

Caribbean nations critical of Haiti’s interim government announced on Wednesday they will move to improve relations, starting with sending a high level fact-finding delegation to Haiti next week.

Leaders of the 15-member Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, wrapped up their four-day summit in St. George’s with the much-anticipated announcement. But the Caribbean leaders attached conditions to their diplomatic gesture.

One calls for an end to the interim government’s allegedly one-sided persecution and imprisonment of individuals loyal to ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Others urge that all political parties be freely allowed to participate in upcoming elections.