The nation in brief

LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY "We got lucky today." Mike Leinbach, launch director for space shuttle Discovery, on its successful on-time takeoff. Article, this page

Water use cut ordered in north Georgia

ATLANTA - Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered a 10 percent water usage cut throughout north Georgia on Tuesday to conserve more of the state's dwindling water supply in the midst of a drought.

"In this unprecedented drought, we all have to pitch in and find ways to conserve our most precious resource," Perdue said, calling the cut a "first step."

The cuts apply to the 61 north Georgia counties covered by a September order that banned virtually all outdoor watering. There are no mandates on how the restrictions should be achieved, leaving it up to each system to decide where to cut usage. The requirements, however, exempt agricultural permit holders.

Almost one-third of the Southeast is covered by an "exceptional" drought, the worst drought category. The Atlanta area is in the middle of the affected region, which includes most of Tennessee, Alabama and the northern half of Georgia, as well as parts of North and South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.

2 O.J. Simpson co-defendants plead guilty

LAS VEGAS - Two co-defendants pleaded guilty to reduced charges Tuesday in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case, agreeing to testify against Simpson and three others in the alleged hotel room theft of sports collectibles from two memorabilia dealers.

"Guilty, sir," said Walter Alexander, 46, who entered the plea to felony conspiracy to commit robbery. Minutes later, Charles Cashmore, 40, pleaded guilty to felony accessory to robbery during a separate arraignment.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger agreed to drop charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy against both men. Both men remained free pending sentencing.

Roger said Cashmore could get probation or up to one to five years in prison at sentencing, which will come after an April 15 status check.

The district attorney said he would seek a suspended sentence for Alexander, which could get him probation instead of one to six years in prison.

Simpson, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, Michael McClinton and Charles Ehrlich remain charged with a gross misdemeanor and nine felony charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. Simpson, 60, faces an additional felony charge of coercion.

House votes down censure over speech

WASHINGTON - Republicans failed in an effort Tuesday to have the House censure Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who said in a congressional speech last week that U.S. troops are being sent to Iraq "to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

Without debate, the House voted 196-173 to kill the proposal to censure Stark for "his despicable conduct."

The vote was mostly along party lines, with all 168 Republicans on hand supporting the measure offered by Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. Five Democrats joined them.

During debate Thursday over President Bush's veto of a $35 billion increase to a children's health insurance program, Stark said, "You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

Stark initially refused to apologize despite condemnations from GOP lawmakers and others, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Moments after Tuesday's vote, however, he addressed the House to apologize to his colleagues, "to the president and his family," and to U.S. troops offended by his words.

House OKs registry for fertilizer sales

WASHINGTON - The House voted Tuesday to require the registration of sales and purchases of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which can be converted into a powerful explosive.

The bill, passed by voice vote, orders producers, sellers and some purchasers of ammonium nitrate to register with the Department of Homeland Security and makes producers and sellers maintain sales records. The bill needs Senate consideration.

The department would check purchases against terrorist watch lists, and retailers who refuse to sell to customers would receive civil liability protections.