November 11, 2005

Senate votes, 49 to 42, to strip captured 'enemy combatants' at Guantanamo Bay of right to challenge their detentions in United States, principal legal tool given to them last year by Supreme Court; vote on Sen Lindsey Graham's amendment to military budget bill comes at time of intense debate over government's treatment of prisoners in American custody worldwide, and just days after Senate passes Sen John McCain's measure banning abusive treatment of them; Graham's measure, if approved in its current form by both Senate and House, would nullify Supreme Court's June 2004 opinion; it would also void habeas corpus motions filed by 200 detainees; vote comes same week Supreme Court announces it would consider constitutionality of war crimes trials before Pres Bush's military commission for certain detainees; legal experts say that case might never be decided by court if Graham amendment becomes law; Senate Democrats led by Jeff Bingaman say they would seek another vote to gut part of Graham's measure that bans Guantanamo prisoners from challenging their incarceration by petitioning in civilian court for writ of habeas corpus (M)

With construction estimates rising for the World Trade Center memorial, several directors of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation expressed concern yesterday that the performing arts center at the site might get squeezed by a tightening budget. Contributing to the uncertainty at yesterday's board meeting was the lack of a definitive overall estimate and of a dollars-and-cents breakdown for the memorial, the memorial museum, the cultural building and the performing arts center.

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is expected to announce it has created Emmy award category to recognize original video content for computers, cellphones and other hand-held devices; category is to have its debut at academy's next Sports Emmys presentation, and ultimately be added as category for other Emmy presentations as well (M)

Almost as if in a fable, complete with cautionary warning against the betrayal of schoolchildren, two of the major participants in the $11.2 million Roslyn school embezzlement case have reached plea-bargain agreements in which they are required to give evidence against their closest loved ones. Pamela C. Gluckin, the former assistant superintendent for finance, pleaded guilty to grand larceny on Thursday in Nassau County Court. The plea was part of a deal that limits any future prison term she will receive to three to six years on the condition she continues to cooperate in the case by testifying against all defendants, including her son, John McCormick, 40.

When the Philadelphia Phillies were pursuing the free-agent slugger Jim Thome in 2002, General Manager Ed Wade sent an e-mail message to Thome's agent with the club's initial offer at 12:01 a.m. on the first day they could discuss contract terms. It was a prudent move, because the Phillies' immediate interest ultimately persuaded Thome to leave Cleveland and sign with them. The Mets are in similar circumstances now, seeking to lure a dynamic free agent from a nice situation, and may have similar intentions. They have already visited Phillies closer Billy Wagner at his Virginia home to prove their interest, and as of Friday, the first day teams can extend offers to free agents, the Mets can put some financial backing behind it.