NATION IN BRIEF: Endangered species get quick review

Rushing to ease endangered species rules before President Bush leaves office, Interior Department officials are attempting to review 200,000 comments from the public in just 32 hours, according to an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press. The Fish and Wildlife Service has called a team of 15 people to Washington this week to pore through letters and online comments about a proposal to exclude greenhouse gases and the advice of federal biologists from decisions about whether dams, power plants and other federal projects could harm species. That would be the biggest change in endangered species rules since 1986. In an e-mail last week to Fish and Wildlife managers across the country, Bryan Arroyo, the head of the agency’s endangered species program, said the team would work eight hours a day through Friday to sort through the comments. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne’s office, according to the e-mail, will be responsible for analyzing and responding to them. The public comment period ended last week, which initiated the review.

Terror suspects shown with guns

Jurors saw video of two defendants nervously handling machine guns and assault rifles as testimony began in the trial of five men accused of plotting to attack soldiers at the Army’s Fort Dix in New Jersey. The first video shown to jurors showed defendants Dritan and Shain Duka, who are brothers, visiting a government informant’s apartment in Cherry Hill on May 7, 2007. The prosecution alleged they planned to buy four machine guns and three assault rifles. The Dukas and three others—- all foreign-born Muslims in their 20s —- are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to kill military personnel and weapons offenses.

Gang infiltration leads to arrests

Dozens of members of the Mongol motorcycle gang were arrested by federal agents in six states following a three-year undercover investigation in which four agents infiltrated the group. At least 38 members of the Southern California-based Mongol Motorcycle Club were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment that included charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, as well as gun and drug violations, said a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman. Warrants were being served in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Ohio.

Police may get day off for Sept. 11

Officials say police in Peabody, Mass., could be getting holiday pay on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack in what may be a first-of-its-kind contract provision. A proposed new contract between the city and the police union makes the attacks’ anniversary a paid holiday. The City Council must still approve. The New York City police department does not recognize Sept. 11 as a paid holiday.