Briefly

Idaho

Saudi student cleared of terrorism charges

Handing the government a stinging defeat in its war on terror, a jury acquitted a Saudi graduate student Thursday of charges he used his computer expertise to help Muslim terrorists raise money and recruit followers.

“I hope the message is that the First Amendment is important and meaningful in this country,” said David Nevin, defense attorney for Sami Omar Al-Hussayen.

The case against Al-Hussayen, a 34-year-old Ph.D. candidate in computer science student at the University of Idaho, was seen as an important test of a provision of the Patriot Act that makes it a crime to provide expert advice or assistance to terrorists.

Pennsylvania

Study: Exercise crucial for strong bones in girls

Got exercise?

A recent study indicates that exercise is more important than calcium in developing strong bones in girls and young women.

Researchers at Penn State University and Johns Hopkins University found that even when girls took in far less calcium than the recommended daily allowance, bone strength was not significantly affected, said Tom Lloyd of Penn State’s College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

However, when the girls were asked about their exercise habits, a strong correlation was found between exercise and bone strength.

No one is encouraging teens to stop drinking milk, though. The researchers noted that the young women studied were still getting more calcium than many female American teens.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Scientists urge more access to mammograms

A worsening shortage of providers is threatening women’s access to mammograms, says a major new report that found long waits for the breast X-ray in parts of the country.

Too many women skip mammograms for a variety of reasons, yet the scans, while imperfect, remain the best method for detecting breast cancer when it’s most treatable, the Institute of Medicine said Thursday.

Improving access, through such steps as allowing specially trained nondoctors to help radiologists do the work, is crucial to getting more women checked, concluded the prestigious scientific group, which advises the government about health.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Australian to be tried on terrorism charges

An Australian held at the Navy’s prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will face a military tribunal for allegedly training and fighting alongside members of al-Qaida in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

The military charged David Hicks with conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder and aiding the enemy, the Pentagon said in a news release. Hicks will plead not guilty, his military lawyer said.

Hicks is not specifically accused of hurting or killing anyone. In justifying the charge of attempted murder by an unprivileged belligerent, the Pentagon alleges Hicks participated in fighting in Afghanistan as an illegal combatant.

New York

Charges tossed against gay weddings mayor

A judge Thursday dismissed criminal charges against a small-town mayor for marrying gay couples.

Barring an appeal, the ruling spares New Paltz Mayor Jason West the possibility of fines or jail time for presiding at the weddings of more than two dozen same-sex couples on Feb. 27. The weddings drew the Hudson Valley village of New Paltz into the growing national debate over gay marriage.

The charges were thrown out by New Paltz Town Court Justice Jonathan Katz.

West, 27, faced 19 misdemeanor counts of solemnizing marriages for couples without a license. If convicted, he could have gotten a year in jail.