News briefs

Group's rolls up

since hate spree

PEORIA, Ill. - From Matthew Hale's perspective, the year since agunman went on a two-state campaign of racial violence has been oneof conflict that yielded significant reward. While the survivors ofBenjamin Smith's attacks last July 4 physically healed and familiesof those killed nursed deeper wounds, the group that is accused ofhelping hone his racist beliefs - the World Church of the Creator -grew.

The organization found a national platform and has seen itsmembership increase. Hale, its leader, claims to have adherents inmost states and says membership to the East Peoria-based group hasdoubled.

But the growth, Hale said, has had more to do with its philosophythan Smith's rampage, which targeted blacks, Jews and Asians acrossIllinois and Indiana.

Hale, 28, refuses to say how many members pay dues. But accordingto one group, the organization has added 35 chapters in the pastyear.

The World Church of the Creator has become a "magnet for youngvolatile white supremacists," the suburban Chicago hate-monitoringgroup Center for New Community said in new report. The report wasreleased to mark the anniversary of the shooting spree by Smith, whowounded nine and killed two before killing himself.

Former day care

operator sentenced

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A former day care operator has been convicted ofkilling two infants who were in her care and sentenced to two lifeprison terms.

It was the third trial for Gail Cutro; a conviction in her firsttrial was overturned and the second trial ended in mistrial.Prosecutors said the case was an example of child abuse calledMunchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a care providerharms children for attention.

Jurors on Sunday found Cutro, 40, guilty of homicide by childabuse in the deaths of Parker Colson and Ashlan Daniel, both 4months old.

Prosecutors had sought murder convictions.

The jury acquitted Cutro of charges that she injured a third 4-month-old.

Prosecutor Johnny Gasser told jurors that Cutro either suffocatedor severely shook the infants at the day care center she operated ather home in suburban Irmo.

China approves

sale of Viagra

BEIJING - After more than a year of clinical trials, Chinaannounced today that it has approved sales of the anti-impotencedrug Viagra.

The State Drug Administration said the drug will be available byprescription.

The agency said the drug is to be marketed under the Chinese name"Wan Ai Ke," according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Introduction of the drug abroad in 1998 drew widespread interestin China, whose men have been interested for centuries in drugs toincrease sexual potency.