American Scene: Mistrial declared after photo of juror sent from court

Calls to Mr. Ramsey’s public defender were not immediately returned.

KENTUCKY

Triangle law changed, vindicating Amish

FRANKFORT — Amish people in Kentucky will no longer have to use a bright orange reflective triangle on their horse-drawn buggies.

Gov. Steve Beshear signed a law Wednesday that lets them use gray or reflective tape instead to make sure other vehicles can see them at night.

The law was passed for members of the more conservative Schwartzentruber sect, who claim the triangle violates their religious rules because it represents the Holy Trinity and its flashy color calls attention to them.

Several Amish farmers in western Kentucky had served jail time for refusing to use the emblems.

Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania have allowed exemptions for the Swartzentrubers and courts in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan have sided with them in opposing the triangles.

GEORGIA

Aquarium expecting rare birth of beluga whale

ATLANTA — The world’s largest aquarium is expecting a really big baby.

The Georgia Aquarium has reported a rare beluga whale pregnancy, the first mammal to conceive at the downtown Atlanta attraction since it opened in 2005. And the mother, Maris, conceived naturally, which is rare for belugas in captivity.

Maris is being monitored round-the-clock as she gets closer to the end of her 14-month pregnancy. She is expected to give birth by June to a calf that could be up to 50 pounds.

Just six North American facilities house belugas and few are born each year. Newborn calves often don’t survive with first-time mothers, but aquarium officials are working to train Maris on how to nurse and care for her baby.

ARKANSAS

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