Washington, D.C.: Americans urged to leave Oman, United Arab Emirates

The State Department on Monday urged Americans to leave Oman and the United Arab Emirates “due to heightened tensions and increased security concerns resulting from the current situation in the region.”

The department said families of U.S. officials and nonessential embassy workers also were advised to leave and that the U.S. embassies would have enough employees to provide consular services.

Oman and the United Arab Emirates border Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Air Force has planes stationed in both countries prepared to attack Iraq if President Bush authorizes military action.

Washington, D.C.: Airport screeners seize more than 4.8 million items

Airport screeners have seized more than 4.8 million items — including guns, knives, a kitchen sink pipe and a circular saw — in the 13 months the federal government has been in charge of security.

The Transportation Security Administration on Monday gave its most thorough accounting of seizures at the nation’s 429 commercial airports.

The TSA’s tally on items confiscated since February 2002 included: 1.4 million knives, 2.4 million sharp objects, 1,101 guns, 15,666 clubs, more than 125,000 incendiary items and nearly 40,000 box cutters. Local police arrested 922 people at checkpoints, though how many of those resulted in convictions is not known.

Chicago: Journal editors seek review of dietary supplements

Prompted by concerns about the safety of ephedra, The Journal of the American Medical Assn.’s editors say dietary supplements need government regulation similar to the scrutiny given over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Ephedra likely would never have been approved had it undergone such review, JAMA Editor Dr. Catherine DeAngelis said Monday. She called for legislation to require FDA regulation of supplements claiming to have a biological function — including weight loss, increased exercise endurance and enhanced sexual function.

Existing law does not require dietary supplement makers to provide evidence of safety or efficacy before marketing the products. Once these products are marketed, the FDA must demonstrate that they are unsafe before it can take regulatory action, according to an editorial to be published in the March 26 edition of JAMA.

Arkansas: Drivers can now choose ‘Choose Life’ license plates

Gov. Mike Huckabee signed a bill Monday in Little Rock authorizing a “Choose Life” specialty license plate, adding Arkansas to a growing list of states that allow car tags with an anti-abortion slogan.

The plates will cost $35 more than standard license tags, with part of the proceeds to be distributed to nonprofit groups that counsel pregnant women and encourage adoption.

Critics have said the plates will likely lead to court battles. The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday that it is considering whether to challenge the law on constitutional grounds.