Attorney General Bill McCollum was sworn into office today as Florida's 36th Attorney General. McCollum, a native Floridian, joined Governor Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson at today's inaugural ceremony in Tallahassee, where the members of the new state Cabinet assumed the responsibilities of their offices.

"I am humbled to serve the people of Florida as their Attorney General and will make the safety and security of our state and its citizens my top priority," said McCollum. "I look forward to the days and tasks ahead as we work together for the good of this state."

McCollum, of Orlando, served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1972, retiring as a Commander after 23 years of service in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He later represented the people of Central Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives for 20 years, retiring in 2001. Today, as he begins his term as the state's newest Attorney General, McCollum pledged to continue to protect Florida's communities, families and children. One of his priorities will be the Attorney General's Child Predator CyberCrime Unit, which protects children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The unit has made 33 arrests since its inception in October 2005.

Ban, however, took a different approach, never mentioning the U.N. ban on the death penalty in all its international tribunals, and the right to life enshrined in the U.N. Charter.

"Saddam Hussein was responsible for committing heinous crimes and unspeakable atrocities against Iraqi people and we should never forget victims of his crime," Ban said in response to a reporter's question about Saddam's execution Saturday for crimes against humanity. "The issue of capital punishment is for each and every member state to decide."

His ambiguous answer put a question mark over the U.N.'s stance on the death penalty. It also gave the new chief an early taste of how tricky global issues are, and how every word can make a difference.

Some brewers, especially small ones, already offer tastings at their own facilities, as does Anheuser-Busch at its Fairfield plant. But previously, companies couldn’t offer free samples outside their own tasting rooms.

The new law allows beer tastings at bars and restaurants. It limits the amount to no more than 8 ounces per person a day and requires the beer to be served in a glass. Tastings cannot last more than an hour and there are also annual limits on the number of tastings a single manufacturer, importer or wholesaler can offer at a particular establishment.

Graul said an announcement is expected to be made later this afternoon that Green, a Republican from Green Bay who lost his bid for governor in November against Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle, will return to Godfrey & Kahn, a Milwaukee-based law firm with offices in Green Bay, Appleton, Madison, Waukesha, Washington and China. Green worked for the firm for 11 years, beginning in 1989.

The firm specializes in business law and corporate transactions, according to its Web site, but also serves individual clients in matters such as estate planning.

Green will work with clients on administrative and regulatory legal matters and assist businesses in their needs in international markets, according to a news release.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Tuesday that he would push the United Nations to adopt a universal ban on the death penalty after this weekend's execution of Saddam Hussein. Italy, which assumed a two-year non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council Monday, was one of 85 UN member states that in December joined together to urge the abolition of the death penalty and institute a moratorium on executions. Reuters has more.

Hussein's execution has prompted criticism from rights groups and world leaders, both for its imposition of the death penalty and the circumstances surrounding Hussein's trial and hanging. Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Europe's human rights watchdog, said in a statement posted on the COE website Tuesday: "The trial of Saddam Hussein was a missed opportunity in a country which does not have many opportunities. It was an opportunity for Iraq to join the civilised world. The former Iraqi dictator was a ruthless criminal who deserved to be punished, but it was wrong to kill him.... The death penalty is cruel and barbaric, and I call on the Iraqi authorities to abolish it. It is late, but not too late, for Iraq to join the great majority of civilised and democratic countries in the world who have already abolished the death penalty."

In addition, U.S. district courts will be closed today, as will the offices of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. All appointments and interviews originally scheduled for USCIS will be rescheduled. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will also be closed today.

Ford, whose presidency in the 1970s was defined by his controversial pardon of former President Richard Nixon, died Dec. 26 at age 93. President Bush has declared today a national day of mourning. All flags should be flown at half-staff.

A memorial service is scheduled for today at the National Cathedral in Washington.