From the Wire

Supreme Court refuses to hear case: The United States Supreme Court decided to not hear a case challenging the federal do-not-call register on Monday, saying that the registry is a reasonable government attempt to help protect personal privacy. The case was filed by telemarketers who believed that the registry, which now includes more than 64 million phone numbers, violates First Amendment rights. While the 2003 federal law excludes charities, pollster numbers and political caller volunteers, businesses can be fined up to $11,000 for calling people on the registry. Telemarketers filed the appeal because the law singles out businesses while other groups are exempt. In February 2004, a circuit court ruled that there was no evidence for their argument because charitable callers are not intrusive to personal privacy.

Poison scare in the mail: Four newspapers have been sent suspicious envelopes containing powder and a letter saying the substance is poison in the past week. Last Friday the Des Moines Register received a package that was later confirmed to hold the chemical metaldehyde. The delivery resulted in the evacuation of 70 employees. Another similar envelope was delivered on Saturday to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. However, once the substance was tested, it was discovered to only be onion power with other seasonings. On Monday both the Atlanta-Constitution and the Charlotte Observer received envelopes postmarked from Virginia containing powder. No injuries have been reported, but the FBI is investigating as the mailings appear to be very similar to the anthrax attacks that plagued the country after Sept. 11, 2001.

Shortage of flu vaccine: Chiron Corporation, a major British flu-shot supplier, was abruptly shut down because of contamination and manufacturing problems on Tuesday by the British regulators, an action that will make flu shots scarce this season in the U.S. With over half (about 46 million shots) of the U.S.’s supply of flu-shot no longer available, U.S. health officials have advised healthy adults to refrain from receiving a shot in order to ensure that the elderly and others, such as children, will be given the needed shots. With only about 54 million flu shots now available this season, the Bush administration has asked the doctors begin asking for voluntary rationing of the supplies. High risk individuals, such as babies, toddlers, elderly, pregnant women and health care workers, are urged to receive shots. Health officials have asked its other manufacturer, Aventis Pasteur, to help provide more supplies.