Around The Nation

Bug in Philly mayor's office just one of several investigations in city\nPHILADELPHIA -- Mayor John F. Street tried to get his re-election campaign back on track Thursday after FBI bugging devices were discovered in his office, insisting that he has done nothing wrong and that prosecutors have assured him he is not the target of the investigation.\nHe and other politicians called on the FBI to say who is being investigated -- something the FBI refused to do for the third consecutive day.\nStreet's Republican rival, Sam Katz, denied having anything to do with the eavesdropping equipment. The bitter rematch between the two has been marked by charges of intimidation and race-baiting.\nThe devices were found Tuesday by police conducting a routine sweep of Street's City Hall office suite.\nConservatives appeal for overseas help with Episcopal Church\nDALLAS -- With a schism in the Episcopal Church looking ever more likely, angry conservatives formally denounced the denomination's growing acceptance of gay relationships Thursday and pleaded with Anglican bishops worldwide to help them reorganize the American church.\nConservatives ended an emotional three-day meeting by issuing a declaration that demands church leaders repent. It also looks to overseas Anglican bishops to "guide the realignment" of the denomination.\nThough the situation is volatile, the gathering sponsored by the American Anglican Council gave a huge boost to an emerging conservative network that could evolve into a new denomination separate from the existing Episcopal Church.\nNext week, the heads of the 38 branches of the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, will meet in London to discuss the American crisis and a parallel problem in Canada.\nTexas lawmakers agree to new congressional map after months of squabbles\nAUSTIN, Texas -- State lawmakers reached an agreement Thursday on a new congressional map that would put the delegation in Republican control, fending off last-minute GOP infighting about how to divide up the seats.\nThe new map would add as many as seven Republicans to Texas' congressional delegation, currently dominated by Democrats 17-15.\n"The majority of the voters in the state of Texas support President George W. Bush and his policies. The majority of our congressional delegation does not, and that's just not fair," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday.\nThe announcement paved the way for a vote today in the House and Senate and appeared to end months of squabbling over redistricting that included two walkouts by Democrats who sought to block a vote.\nGov. Rick Perry is expected to sign the bill if it passes.