Briefly

Florida

Daring repair job awaits astronaut

CAPE CANAVERAL - Astronauts in orbit and engineers on Earth triedto figure out Thursday how best to pull off what will be one of themost difficult and dangerous spacewalking repairs ever attempted inorbit.

Astronaut Scott Parazynski runs the risk of being shocked whilehe's trying to fix a ripped solar wing at the international spacestation. He'll attempt the job as early as Saturday.

NASA had hoped to send Parazynski out today, but needed more timeto come up with a safe plan. If too many loose ends remain, thespacewalk would probably be bumped to Sunday, said flight directorDerek Hassmann.

Ohio

Lawyer jailed in Web sex sting

COLUMBUS - A former children's services lawyer was in jailThursday, a day after authorities allege he went to the OhioStatehouse to meet someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl he hadmet online.

Hamilton Township detective Lt. Jeff Braley had posed as the girland arranged the meeting. Barry Mentser, 48, was arrested in theStatehouse basement minutes after Braley testified two floors abovein favor of a bill that would hike penalties for sexual offenderswho prey upon children through the Internet.

California

TV, film writers say they'll strike

LOS ANGELES - Television and movie screen writers said Thursdaythey will go on strike for the first time in nearly 20 years in adispute over royalties.

Four writers told The Associated Press that Writers Guild ofAmerica President Patric Verrone made the announcement in a closed-door session, causing loud cheers.

Likely first to feel a strike's impact are late-night talk andcomedy shows that require fresh skits and monologues.

SNAPSHOT

Injection not cruel: Florida's Supreme Court ruled Thursday thatthe state's lethal injection procedures are not cruel and unusual,which could clear the way for an execution scheduled for this month.Mark Dean Schwab, convicted in the rape and murder of 11-year-oldJunny Rios-Martinez, is slated to be executed Nov. 15.

- Compiled by Henry Bailey