NATION IN BRIEF: State will cut water allocation

California said Thursday that it plans to cut water deliveries to their second-lowest level ever next year, raising the prospect of rationing for cities and less planting by farmers. The Department of Water Resources projects that it will deliver just 15 percent of the amount that local water agencies throughout California request every year. Since the first State Water Project deliveries were made in 1962, the only time less water was promised was in 1993, but heavy precipitation that year ultimately allowed agencies to receive their full requests. The state’s reservoirs are low after two years of dry weather and court-ordered restrictions on water pumping out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Man dies in fall from bridge

One worker was killed but nine others were rescued after they fell from a new bridge under construction near New Orleans. Authorities say a girder gave way and the workers plunged about 30 feet into Lake Pontchartrain while building a new span of Interstate 10. Nine workers were quickly pulled from the water and two were taken to hospitals. Officials said the most serious injury reported among survivors was a broken arm. The bridge is to replace another one heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Ex-plant manager charged in ID fraud

The former manager of a kosher slaughterhouse found to have employed hundreds of illegal immigrants in Iowa was arrested by authorities who allege he helped many workers get fake documents. Prosecutors said Sholom Rubashkin, 49, the son of Agriprocessors owner Abraham Aaron Rubashkin, is charged with conspiracy to harbor undocumented immigrants for financial gain, aiding and abetting document fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. Immigration agents said in a federal affidavit that one witness said Sholom Rubashkin gave him $4,500 to buy identification documents for illegal-immigrant workers. Agents raided the Cedar Rapids plant May 12, arresting 389 people in what officials said then was the largest single-site immigration bust in U.S. history.

Spector trial delayed by injury

The first day of testimony in music producer Phil Spector’s murder retrial in Los Angeles was canceled after a juror fell and broke his foot in the court parking lot. The trial is not in session on Fridays. Prosecutors claim Spector shot actress Lana Clarkson in 2003 after she resisted his sexual advances.

Polar bear hauled out of moat safely

A polar bear that fell into a dry moat at his enclosure at the Milwaukee County Zoo more than two weeks ago was rescued by officials who hoisted him out with a crane. Zero the bear was playing with a toy on Oct. 13 when he tumbled off the edge of his exhibit. Officials had hoped the 19-year-old polar bear would use a nearby stairway in the moat to climb back to his exhibit, but he stayed where he was. The zoo tried to tempt him out with apples, peanut butter and herring, but officials finally anesthetized the 1,100-pound bear and pulled him out.