National Briefing

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Republicans delay vote

Senate Republicans, demanding the right to try to change a huge spending bill, forced Democrats to put off a vote on the measure until next week. The development will force Congress to pass a stopgap funding bill to avoid a partial shutdown of government.

Republicans and some Democrats contend the $410-billion measure is filled with waste. They want to offer amendments, none of which is expected to pass. But votes on several are now scheduled for Monday night, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. Reid said he was one vote short of the 60 needed to end debate and free the bill for President Obama's signature.

The measure was once considered relatively bipartisan.

OREGON

Army captain pleads innocent

An Army captain accused of stealing nearly $700,000 from the U.S. government while serving in Iraq pleaded not guilty to charges including theft of government property and money laundering.

Capt. Michael Dung Nguyen, 28, is accused of stealing more than $690,000 entrusted to him as the battalion civil affairs officer in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, between April 2007 and Feb. 24. A federal grand jury indictment in Portland alleges Nguyen used some of the money to buy two new vehicles, along with computers, electronics and furniture.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Army suicides still on the rise

Eighteen soldiers are suspected of killing themselves in February, the Army said, following 24 suicides in January. The increase continues a four-year rise in an Army under stress from two wars.

The Army normally releases figures on self-inflicted deaths only once a year. But officials decided to announce monthly figures to focus attention on the problem and on prevention.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said there were two confirmed suicides in February and 16 suspected but still being investigated -- compared with 11 confirmed deaths in the same month of 2008.

Chiarelli said it appeared the Army would see a rate of 20.5 suicides per 100,000 in 2008, surpassing the civilian rate for the first time since record keeping began in 1980. The civilian rate is about 19.5 per 100,000 when adjusted to mirror the gender and age mix in the Army.

NEVADA

Yucca ruled out as a waste site

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the proposed Yucca Mountain site is no longer an option for storing highly radioactive nuclear waste, brushing aside criticism from several Republican lawmakers.

Instead, Chu said at a hearing in Washington, D.C., that the Obama administration thinks the nearly 60,000 tons of waste in the form of used reactor fuel can remain at nuclear power plants while a new, comprehensive plan for waste disposal is developed.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama's rival for president last year, asked whether it was true that Obama and Chu viewed Yucca Mountain as no longer an option.

"That's true," Chu replied.

Chu's remarks are the most definitive signal yet that the government's attempt to address the nuclear waste problem is going in a new direction.

Nevada lawmakers have battled the dump for years.

-- times wire reports