Charges against artist Steve Kurtz thrown out  A judge dismissed
charges against Steve Kurtz, professor and member of the
Critical Art Ensemble, who has been in a four year legal battle
after police discovered biological lab equipment and harmless
bacteria in his home. The cops were at his house because he
called 911 to report that his wife had died of heart failure. He
had the biological gear and specimens for an art project. Kurtz
was initially investigated for bioterrorism but later indicted
for mail and wire fraud. From the New York Times: U.S. District
Judge Richard Arcara ruled that the 2004 mail and wire fraud
indictment against Steven Kurtz, a University at Buffalo
professor, was ''insufficient on its face..."  ''Obviously this
is a weight off his back, but he still had to suffer through
this for four years,'' said Kurtz's attorney, Paul Cambria.
''The last thing this guy is is a bioterrorist.''  The U.S.
Attorney's Office in Buffalo said it was considering an appeal
but otherwise declined to discuss