Civil War general's skull taken; police say part of satanic ritual

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The skull of a Civil War general known as an "evil genius" was stolen from his grave in a crime that authorities believe may be part of a satanic ritual.

The remains of Gen. Elisha Marshall were dug up between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the city's Mount Hope Cemetery, police said. Some bones were found near the grave site along with satanic symbols.

The grave robbery occurred during summer solstice - the day with the longest period of sunshine when police said they typically find evidence of satanic activities.

Marshall was born in Rochester in 1829 and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He fought Indians in the West and fought in some of the bloodiest Civil War battles.

Marshall's unit fought in the second battle of Bull Run and at Fredericksburg. He was injured twice and was named a brigadier general for his bravery.

When Marshall was trying to organize the 14th New York Heavy Artillery regiment in Rochester, he managed to divert recruits from another regiment, leading a historian of the other regiment to describe him as an "evil genius."

Michigan officials say they

weren't `slammed' after all

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - Ottawa County officials who accused WorldCom of illegally switching - or "slamming" their phone service - now say the problem was their fault.

An investigation revealed the lines were switched mistakenly by a county official in a move to cut phone costs.

The problem at Central Dispatch occurred May 11 when several outgoing lines stopped working. Incoming calls on 911 emergency lines were not affected, and the trouble did not seriously disrupt dispatch operations.

Medical group mulls support

for embryonic stem cells

DALLAS - The American Heart Association is considering endorsing and even paying for research of embryonic stem cells, the building blocks of all human tissue typically obtained from aborted fetuses or human embryos.

The research could bring breakthroughs for people suffering from ailments including heart diseases and strokes, medical experts said. But moral and ethical questions persist from opponents who say using stem cells is exploitative, given their sources.

An eight-member task force, appointed by the Dallas-based nonprofit association last year, plans to make a recommendation to the group's board tomorrow.

N.Y. courts to push treatment

for nonviolent drug offenders

NEW YORK - State courts will start using their "coercive" powers immediately to put nonviolent drug offenders in treatment programs, said Chief Judge Judith Kaye, noting 75 percent of people arrested test positive for drugs.

While accepting treatment ultimately is voluntary, courts would offer it to every nonviolent drug offender identified, said Jonathan Lippman, the state's chief administrative judge.

Defendants who opt for treatment would plead guilty and be sentenced for their crimes, then have their sentences deferred pending successful completion of a treatment program. They then would be eligible for a lighter sentence.

The reform package was announced Thursday.

Officials celebrate, dedicate

final segment of L.A. subway

LOS ANGELES - The last planned segment of the city's $4.5 billion subway was dedicated yesterday in a ceremony at the new San Fernando Valley station.

Officials cheered completion of the final, 6.3-mile segment that connects North Hollywood to the rest of the Metro Rail Red Line already operating on the south side of the Santa Monica Mountains between Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles.

The last leg came in on time, but the overall 17.4-mile system was marked by cost overruns, delays, political fighting, scandals and ultimately a vote by Los Angeles County residents in 1998 to ban further use of tax money for subways.

Biggest U.S. beef processor

issues recall over E. coli fears

WASHINGTON - IBP, the nation's biggest beef processor, yesterday recalled 266,000 pounds of ground meat that may be contaminated with the deadly bacteria E. coli O157:H7.

The beef was distributed to wholesalers, distributors and grocery stores in 25 states, none in the West or Rocky Mountain states.