News In Brief

BUT FIX THAT HEADLIGHT, OK?

It was a tough choice for the Nashville, Tenn., woman who was late arriving at Metro Traffic Court: accept a fine or be excused in exchange for sing-ing "Jingle Bells." She chose the fine. But Judge Mark Fishburn let her off anyway. In fact, in the spirit of Christmas, the first-term jurist retired more than 100 citations last week after perceiving that the defendants were "in a festive mood" despite their legal difficulties. Those offenders were obliged to sing the famous carol, but they had the advantage of blending their voices in a sort of ad-hoc chorus.

YOU COULD CALL IT A SNOW JOB

Liliana Labra has struck a blow for women in business, becoming the first female to take full charge of the only bank on an entire continent. She'll direct the Banco de Credito e Inversiones branch at a Chilean Air Force base ... on Antarctica. Most of her customers will be military personnel, plus a few tourists. "I know this is a huge challenge," she said. "I hope I don't freeze."

Time to clean up, polluters in 12 states, D.C., are told

The US Environmental Protection Agency has ordered power plants and industrial boilers in 12 states plus the District of Columbia to reduce emissions that cause smog. New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania say the pollutants are preventing them from meeting clean-air standards. The order says 392 facilities must cut nitrogen-oxide output by a total of 510,000 tons a year by 2003. Utility groups may file suit to block the cleanup, which EPA estimates would cost $950 million. The 12 affected states:

Delaware

Indiana

Kentucky

Maryland

Michigan

North Carolina

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Virginia

West Virginia

- Associated Press

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