NATION BRIEFS

CALIFORNIA/Deal shortens school year

The Los Angeles teachers union says it has reached a deal with the school district that would shorten the school year by at least five days, as officials cope with a $640-million budget deficit. United Teachers Los Angeles spokeswoman Marla Eby said that under the agreement reached Saturday teachers will take five unpaid furlough days this year and seven next year, saving the nation's largest school district $180 million. The deal would allow schools to maintain class sizes and save more than 2,000 jobs. The agreement has to be approved by the teacher's union members.

WASHINGTON/Weather program shortfall

After a year of crippling delays, President Barack Obama's $5-billion program to install weather-tight windows and doors has retrofitted a fraction of homes and created far fewer construction jobs than expected. The program was a hallmark of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a way to shore up the economy while encouraging people to conserve energy at home. But government rules about how to run what was deemed to be a "shovel-ready" project have thwarted chances at early success, according to an Associated Press review of the program. Energy officials said the stimulus infusion is on track to create thousands of career-pathway jobs and support an industry that lowers carbon emissions while saving consumers money.

RHODE ISLAND/Play turns too rough

A zookeeper has been treated at a hospital for minor head injuries and released after butting heads with a giraffe. A spokeswoman for the Roger Williams Park Zoo told The Providence Journal that the 18-foot-tall giraffe was being playful and took a swipe at the keeper when she was cleaning up in a space between the exhibit and the public viewing area yesterday. The keeper remained conscious and was able to walk to safety. Spokeswoman Jan Mariani said Griffy, 20, is not an aggressive animal but likes to get close to people and get his head petted.