Political Scene

ALASKA

Murkowski hints at indy Senate bid

JUNEAU | A week after conceding the tight GOP primary to Joe Miller, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she’s not a quitter and is “still in this game.”

Mrs. Murkowski told the Associated Press on Tuesday that she’s been inundated with calls and e-mails from supporters and overwhelmed by people asking her not to leave the race. She said she had met privately with the candidate for the state’s Libertarian Party, but no agreement had been reached.

Besides a third-party run, Mrs. Murkowski also could seek a write-in candidacy, which she called high-risk, or she could decide to stay out of the race.

She gave no timetable for a decision, but acknowledged one needs to be made soon. She has until five days before the general election to decide on a write-in run.

STEM CELLS

Judge retains stay on research funds

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to lift his order blocking federal funding for some embryonic stem cell research, saying that a “parade of horribles” predicted by federal officials would not happen.

Medical researchers value stem cells because they are master cells that can turn into any tissue of the body. Research eventually could lead to cures for spinal-cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and other ailments.

The Justice Department argued in court papers last week that stopping the research could cause “irrevocable harm to the millions of extremely sick or injured people who stand to benefit,” as well as to researchers who depend on the federal money.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth rejected that argument in refusing to lift the restraining order he signed after ruling that the argument in a pending lawsuit - that the research violates the intent of a 1996 law prohibiting use of taxpayer dollars in work that destroys a human embryo - was likely to succeed.

MONTANA

‘Tea party‘ leader ousted for Web post

HELENA | The Big Sky Tea Party Association’s board of directors has removed the organization’s president for an exchange on his Facebook page that appeared to condone violence against homosexuals.

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