USA
Hazleton, Pa., began defending its crackdown on undocumented immigrants Monday in the nation's first federal trial to explore whether local governments may act on their own to curb illegal immigration. The American Civil Liberties Union and Hispanic groups contend that laws calling for fines of landlords and business owners who rent to or hire illegals are unconstitutional.
President Bush wraps up his five-nation Latin American tour Tuesday in Mexico. On Monday, his itinerary in Guatemala called for visits to a healthcare facility in a poor area and to a vegetable-growing cooperative.
Downtown Oneida, N.Y., was evacuated Monday morning after a derailed train carrying pro-pane exploded, and fire officials said more explosions were possible. There were no injuries.
Ford Motor Co. sold its controlling stake in British automaker Aston Martin to a consortium of investors Monday for $848 million. Ford seeks a cash infusion to fund its turnaround plan.
Firefighters in Southern California expected to have fully contained by late Monday a blaze that burned more than 2,000 acres 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Authorities said the brush fire, which threatened expensive homes in Anaheim Hills and led hundreds of residents to evacuate, may have been caused by a vehicle fire, possibly involving a stolen car.
The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline rose 20 cents, to $2.55, over the past two weeks, the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 filling stations said Sunday. Reduced refinery production and less imported gasoline were cited as the causes.
The National Hockey League meted out a 25-game suspension, its longest in terms of games missed, Sunday to Chris Simon of the New York Islanders for his stick-swinging attack on an opponent. Simon hit Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers in the face in retaliation for a hard check. Hollweg wasn't seriously injured.
The NCAA basketball selection committee designated Ohio State, North Carolina, Kansas and defending national champion Florida as the top seeds for the tournament that begins regional play on Thursday.
Little-known Argentine tennis player Guillermo Canas snapped the 41-match winning streak of Roger Federer Sunday in Indian Wells, Calif. Canas won their second-round match at the Pacific Life Open 7-5, 6-2. The Swiss star was bidding to surpass Guillermo Vilas's 30-year-old record of 46 straight victories.
