The Bush administration has changed Environmental Protection Agency reviews of chemicals in a way that will delay scientific assessments of their health risks and open the process to politicization, congressional investigators said Tuesday. In a new report and in testimony on Capitol Hill, officials with the Government Accountability Office —- the investigative arm of Congress —- criticized a White House policy that began this month to allow the Office of Management and Budget and other agencies to offer secret input on assessments of long-term exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde. Agencies will now be able to submit comments and requests for further research. This could prolong by months or years the review of certain chemicals. EPA officials insisted the change will make the risk assessment process more accessible to the scientific community by drawing on outside expertise. But many agencies, and the private contractors who do business with them, use some of the chemicals under review. They could face cleanup costs or legal liability if the EPA were to decide to regulate the chemicals.

6 remain critical after tornadoes

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency and officials were assessing the damage after six tornadoes smashed houses, piled up cars and injured more than 200 people across 25 miles of central and southeast Virginia on Monday afternoon. Six people remained in critical condition.

Candidate Franken to pay back taxes

Senate candidate Al Franken said he will pay about $70,000 in back income taxes in 17 states going back to 2003. The Minnesota Democrat has been under attack by Republicans for failing to file tax returns in California for several years when the comedian-turned-candidate earned money there. Franken said that during the years in question, he paid his entire income tax bill to the city and state where he lived on the advice of his accountant.

Sect member gives birth under guard

One of hundreds of young polygamist-sect members taken into custody by the state of Texas gave birth while child welfare officials and state troopers stood watch outside the maternity ward at a hospital in San Marcos, said Rod Parker, a spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He contends she is 18, but state officials have the girl on a list of minors taken into state custody.

N.C. warrants to remain sealed

A judge in Raleigh refused to make public several search warrants executed by police as they investigated the death of University of North Carolina student body president Eve Carson, 22, of Athens, Ga. Prosecutors say releasing the documents could endanger two informants who led police to two suspects in Carson's slaying, Laurence Lovette, 17, and Demario Atwater, 21, at an apartment in Durham, N.C.

Blame assigned in '93 N.Y. bombing

The World Trade Center owner was liable for the fatal 1993 bombing by terrorists because it failed to secure the complex's underground parking garage, an appeals court said. A jury had ruled the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was negligent. Terrorists blew up a rental van, killing six people and injuring almost 1,000. Plaintiffs are seeking damages of more than $50 million.