NATIONAL BRIEFS

UTAH: U.S. challenges migrant law

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Utah's immigration enforcement law, arguing that it usurps federal authority and could lead to the harassment and detention of American citizens and authorized visitors. "A patchwork of immigration laws is not the answer and will only create further problems in our immigration system," said Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement. "The federal government is the chief enforcer of immigration laws . . . it is clearly unconstitutional for a state to set its own immigration policy." The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City after months of negotiations among Justice Department attorneys, state attorneys and elected leaders.

ARIZONA: Fires tied to border crossers

A government study released Tuesday links many wildfires in the Arizona-Mexico border region to illegal immigrant activity, a finding that Sen. John McCain said backs up comments he made blaming border crossers for some of the blazes. The study, carried out by the Government Accountability Office at McCain's request, found that of 77 human-caused borderland wildfires that were investigated by federal officials from 2006 to 2010, 30 identified illegal border crossers "as a suspected source of ignition." Half of those fires were lit to signal for help, provide warmth or cook food, the study noted.

ILLINOIS: 10 1/2 years for ex-guv's aide

A former top fundraiser for Rod Blagojevich was sentenced Tuesday to 10 1/2 years in prison for pressuring businesses for millions in kickbacks, an unusually stiff penalty that could portend a tough day for the former governor when he is sentenced for his own corruption convictions. Antoin "Tony" Rezko spent 3 1/2 years in custody awaiting sentencing on his 2008 convictions for fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze more than $7 million in kickbacks from companies that wanted to do business with the state during Blagojevich's tenure. He will get credit for time served.