Around the Nation

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Nursing Homes Often Violate Care Standards

More than 90 percent of U.S. nursing homes were cited for violating federal care standards in each of the past three years, the inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services reported.

For-profit facilities -- the most common type of nursing home -- had more violations, on average, than did other types of homes, and they were more likely to be deficient, said Daniel Levinson, the inspector general. Levinson reported that 94 percent of for-profit nursing homes surveyed were cited last year for deficiencies, compared with 88 percent of not-for-profit homes and 91 percent of government-run facilities.

The most common violations, cited for 28 to 36 percent of nursing homes, related to improper storage and distribution of food, accident hazards, and lack of services necessary for residents' mental and physical well-being, the report said.

About 1.5 million people live in 16,000 U.S. nursing facilities.

Medicare, the federal health insurance program that pays for most nursing home stays, said it is strengthening its safety requirements and inspecting nursing homes more frequently to improve quality.

1,150 Arrested in Calif. In Immigration Sweep

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Federal immigration authorities said Monday that more than 1,150 people were arrested in a three-week sweep in California. The sweep targeted those who ignored deportation orders or returned to the United States illegally after being deported.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said more than 400 of those arrested were from Los Angeles and nearby counties. ICE teams from San Francisco and San Diego also participated in the sweep, which concluded Saturday.

6 Killed in Fla. Van-Truck Crash

MOORE HAVEN, Fla. -- Six men in a van were killed when a tractor-trailer loaded with sand hit their vehicle in south-central Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol said the tractor-trailer ran through a stop sign around 6:30 a.m. and struck the van's right side. Both vehicles rolled over and landed on the shoulder of State Road 29, a two-lane highway about 60 miles east of Fort Myers.

Complaints About Pulpit Politics

A church-state separation group complained to the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors either endorsed or made pointed comments about political candidates from their pulpits Sunday in defiance of federal tax law. Thirty-three pastors took part in the protest, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed complaints with the IRS about six whose sermons were detailed in media reports. The IRS has said it would "take action as appropriate." The agency does not comment on specific complaints.

Teacher Gets 6 Years in Sex Case

OMAHA -- A former teacher who fled to Mexico with a 13-year-old student so she could have sex with him was sentenced to six years in federal prison. Kelsey Peterson, 26, had pleaded guilty in July to a charge of transporting a minor across state lines to have sex and avoided a similar charge that would have carried a minimum sentence of 10 years. She still faces state charges, which include kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault.

State Rests in Simpson Trial

LAS VEGAS -- Prosecutors rested their case against former football star O.J. Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart in their armed robbery and kidnapping trial.

-- From News Services