Briefly in the news

-- Paul Clinton

Federal employees could be staffing the screening area at John Wayne

Airport by the end of 2002.

Congressional leaders agreed to a compromise bill Thursday that would

shift duties for the screening of travelers and their carry-on baggage

from private workers to federal employees for three years. After that,

individual airports could use private firms or local law enforcement for

the job.

The Senate and House of Representatives will take up the airport

security bill today. It is expected to be on President Bush’s desk before

Thanksgiving.

Globe Security is the private company that currently provides the

screeners for John Wayne Airport.

Five airports in the nation will be chosen as part of a pilot program

next year. One airport would be chosen from each of the Federal Aviation

Administration’s five size categories.

John Wayne, which handles about 7.6-million passengers a year, is in

the second largest size category.