Nation briefs 1/16/04

Woman pleads to filing false report about jackpot

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A woman who said she lost a $162 million Mega Millions lottery ticket when she dropped her purse pleaded no contest Thursday for making the story up on a police report. Elecia Battle, 40, made no comment in court other than to say "yes" when asked if she understood her rights and the charge of filing a false police report. The no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but means Battle will not fight the charge. The Cleveland woman faces a possible penalty of 30 days to six months in jail and $1,000 fine at sentencing Feb. 19.

Federal pension insurance program's deficit swells

WASHINGTON -- The deficit for the government's pension insurance program ballooned to a record $11.2 billion last year, more than triple the previous year's total, and officials are warning that taxpayers could be called on for a bailout. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.'s financial woes are driven by an increasing number of bankrupt pension plans, from such companies as Bethlehem Steel and US Airways, and record-low interest rates, officials said. PBGC was created in 1974 to guarantee payment of some benefits earned in traditional pension plans, which are offered by employers and promise workers a set benefit based on salary and years of service.

Civil rights leaders upset by Bush's MLK site visit

ATLANTA -- President Bush's plan to observe the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 75th birthday at his Atlanta grave site Thursday upset some civil rights leaders, who say the president's politics and poor scheduling conflict with their plans to honor King. The Rev. Tim McDonald of Concerned Black Clergy said the president's appearance shows "that he wants black votes, that he wants to give the appearance that he's not a racist, that he's not a war hawk, but we can see through that veil." State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, said Bush's policies on the Iraq war, affirmative action and social service funding have been "in direct contradiction to the King legacy."

-- From wire reports