Around the Nation

Legislature OKs compensation overhaul

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Handing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger one of the biggest victories of his new political career, the state Legislature approved an overhaul of California’s workers’ compensation program, the most expensive one in the nation.

The bill passed the House 77-3 and the Senate 33-3. Mr. Schwarzenegger plans to sign the bill Monday at a Boeing Co. aircraft factory in Long Beach, Calif.

California’s 91-year-old system has some of the nation’s highest insurance premiums for employers and some of the lowest benefits for workers.

The bill aims to save employers billions of dollars by setting a higher standard of proof for workers claiming to be injured, requiring employees to use doctors approved by their employers and their insurance companies and imposing stricter time limits on medical benefits.

Opponents of the bill, including lawyers and many injured workers, have largely blamed insurance companies for the surge in premiums.

Guardsman pleads not guilty to desertion

FORT STEWART, Ga. — A National Guardsman who refused to rejoin his unit in Iraq, saying he refused to take part in an “oil-driven war,” pleaded not guilty to desertion yesterday.

Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia of the Florida National Guard faces up to a year in prison and a bad conduct discharge. His court-martial was scheduled for May 19 at Fort Stewart.

Sgt. Mejia, 28, was gone without permission for five months. He emerged in Florida in October after a two-week furlough and criticized the war before turning himself in last month.

He has applied for conscientious objector status, but the Army pressed on with prosecution because he was gone so long.

Florida hotel rejects heterosexual couples

KEY WEST, Fla. — Three heterosexual couples said they were turned away from a hotel in this homosexual-friendly tourist spot because of their sexual orientation.

The six were vacationing with a same-sex couple and had reservations at a hotel called Big Ruby’s when the three straight couples were turned away.

“The manager literally said, ’We don’t want you here,’” said Jim Pirih, who was vacationing with his partner and straight friends.

The group was already settled in their rooms Wednesday when the manager told the straight couples they would have to leave, citing a policy of not allowing heterosexuals on the property, Mr. Pirih said.

Big Ruby’s did not immediately return a phone message yesterday.

Motorist ticketed for I-95 accident

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A motorist was issued a $128 ticket yesterday in a fiery crash that shut down Interstate 95, a major highway link between New York and Boston.

Sarah Waddle was cited for failure to drive in the established lane. It was the only citation issued in the now-completed police investigation of the March 25 oil tanker accident. The tanker exploded into flames, causing structural steel in the overpass to sag. No one was seriously hurt.

The bridge is used by 120,000 vehicles each day. Northbound lanes were reopened three days after the crash; southbound lanes were back after less than a week.

Teachers can demand students get HIV test

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. James E. Doyle signed first-of-its-kind legislation yesterday that requires students to get tested for HIV if teachers think they were exposed to contaminated blood.

Privacy advocates say the law infringes on students’ medical privacy and could lead to discrimination against homosexuals. Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, called the law “a wild exaggeration” of HIV fears.

State Republican Sen. Carol Roessler introduced the bill after a student at an Oshkosh alternative school cut his hand on a window and splattered blood in a teacher’s eye in 2001.

Supporters of the law say it is a necessary precaution for teachers, who too often face violence or medical emergencies.