Around the Nation

Federal Judge Rejects New Trial for Rezko

CHICAGO -- A federal judge on Wednesday turned down a request for a new trial from convicted influence peddler Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the pivotal figure in a major Illinois political corruption scandal.

Rezko, 53, who made millions of dollars as a Chicago real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, was a major fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, President-elect Barack Obama and a number of other officials.

Rezko was convicted in June of using clout with the governor's office to launch a $7 million scheme to squeeze payoffs out of a construction contractor and seven money-management firms seeking state business.

U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve, who presided over the three-month trial, said prosecutors proved their case.

Bush Speaks Fondly Of His Work in Africa

President Bush said Wednesday night that one of his "most uplifting" experiences while in office has been working to help fight hunger and disease and increase education in Africa.

Bush, who spoke at the Washington Hilton while accepting a humanitarian award from the charity group Africare, said that "our collective work in Africa is a labor of love" for him and the first lady, who was in the audience.

"I've had a lot of uplifting experiences as the president," Bush said. "And one of the most uplifting has been to witness a new and more hopeful era dawning on the continent. Over the past eight years, it's been moving to watch courageous Africans root out corruption, and open up their economies, and invest in the prosperity of their people."

For Bush, whose popularity at home remains historically low, the focus on African humanitarian efforts remains a high point of his administration. The crowd of 1,500 responded to his speech with a standing ovation.

Bush was awarded the Bishop T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Award for his work in Africa. Previous recipients have included former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Gays Protest Marriage Setback

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Same-sex couples walked down the aisle for the first time in Connecticut, while gay activists planned to march in protests across the country over the vote that took away their right to marry in California. Jody Mock and Elizabeth Kerrigan, who led the lawsuit that that overturned the state law, emerged from West Hartford's town hall to the cheers of about 150 people.

GOP Targets Fundraising Law

The Republican Party wants to make it easier to raise and spend political money and plans to sue the Federal Election Commission to alter a six-year-old law written by Sen. John McCain, the party's defeated presidential candidate. Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. Duncan said he wants the courts to eliminate restrictions on coordinated spending by national parties and federal candidates and to permit the national organizations to raise money for state parties.

Outrage at Racist Graffiti

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina NAACP wants North Carolina State University to expel four students accused of painting racist messages about President-elect Barack Obama on campus. Chancellor James Oblinger held a closed meeting on the subject with NAACP President William Barber.

Friday Shuttle Launch Is Set

CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA cleared the space shuttle Endeavour for a Friday-night launch to the international space station, but the weather outlook was not too promising. A cold front was expected to bring rain and thick clouds by the weekend.

-- From Staff Reports and News Services