American Scene

“The bids, therefore, are not considered reflective of the value of the terminals based on the past investment made by the commonwealth and their anticipated value as the economy recovers,” he said.

He said the leasing of the Portsmouth terminal is likely to add to that value.

WASHINGTON

Trial starts Monday on ‘don’t ask’ policy

SEATTLE | Opponents of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy against gays serving in the military are hoping for another major legal victory as a federal trial begins Monday over whether to reinstate a lesbian flight nurse discharged from the Air Force Reserve.

The trial comes just days after a federal judge in California declared “don’t ask, don’t tell” unconstitutional. While the ruling does not affect the legal issues in the case of former Maj. Margaret Witt, gay rights activists believe a victory — and her reinstatement — could help build momentum for repealing the policy.

Ms. Witt was a member of a squadron based at McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma when she was suspended in 2004 and honorably discharged. She challenged the constitutionality of her dismissal, and a federal appeals court panel ruled in 2008 that the military could not discharge service members for being gay unless it proved that the firing furthered military readiness.

• From wire dispatches and staff reports