Nearly 40 astronauts were first to ride NASA's Space Shuttle Experience launch simulator at its grand opening Friday at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The simulator re-creates a ride aboard the space shuttle, complete with the deep rumble of liftoff and a serene view of Earth from orbit. The $60 million simulator is the agency's first venture into theme-park rides, and the astronauts said it is comparable to a real shuttle flight.

john raoux / the associated press

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HELENA — Workers accidentally put a solvent into the water system at an American Indian reservation in northern Montana, and residents were advised to drink only bottled water, a tribal spokesman said Friday.

The degreaser from a container similar to that used for chlorine created a fuel smell Wednesday in the water on part of the 190-square-mile Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, said Neal Rosette, executive administrative officer for the Chippewa Cree Tribe.

Water service in the tribal system was shut off Thursday evening, Rosette said.

About 300 households, roughly 70 percent of those on the reservation, had been at risk, Rosette said. He estimated 14 gallons of solvent were added to 400,000 gallons of water.

NEW CITY — A 184-year-old U.S. atlas, worth $65,000 and stolen last month from a historical society, was recovered when it was offered for sale in Philadelphia, police said Friday.

A former employee of the Historical Society of Rockland County was trying to sell the book and is a suspect in the theft, Clarkstown Det. Gerard King said.

The book, titled "A New American Atlas" and published in 1823 by Henry Tanner, is about 2 feet tall and is bound in red leather. It was stolen between April 20 and April 23, King said.

Donald Heald of Donald Heald Rare Books in Manhattan said the book is "quite rare — there have only been six sold at auction in the last 30 years."

NEW YORK — A teenager was charged with a bias crime after authorities said he forcibly removed a 15-year-old Sikh student's turban and cut off his hair in a school bathroom as two other students stood guard, authorities said Friday.

Umair Ahmed, 17, was charged with unlawful imprisonment, menacing and aggravated harassment, all under hate crime statutes, said Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for the Queens district attorney.

Sikhism calls for men to wear their hair long, and many wear turbans.

Bail was set at $7,500 at an arraignment Friday evening. Ahmed faces faced up to seven years in prison if convicted.

WASHINGTON — A television documentary about Islam that has been the subject of a nasty fight between the filmmakers and PBS will see the light of day after all.

"Islam vs. Islamists: Voices From the Muslim Center" will air on the Oregon Public Broadcasting system's five stations, thanks to an agreement reached this week. The company will also act as distributor for the 52-minute documentary for possible broadcast on other PBS stations nationally.

WASHINGTON — Government regulators said Friday that Medicare, the federal insurance program, planned to deny coverage for artificial disks implanted in the lower spines of older patients.

The preliminary decision is expected to become final in August. It also signaled that Medicare will not cover Medtronic's Maverick lumbar disk when that device reaches the market.

Friday's decision applies to patients over 60, which is most of the 43 million people Medicare covers. Local administrators of Medicare benefits will continue to be able to pay for the devices in younger disabled patients on a case by case basis.

SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol on Friday suspended the hazardous-materials license of the company that owns the gasoline tanker involved in a crash and fire that caused a San Francisco Bay Area freeway ramp to collapse.

The action against Sabek Transportation of South San Francisco was taken after state inspectors found 36 safety violations at the company's main trucking facility in King City during an inspection that was completed May 16.

The rebuilt ramp was reopened Thursday night after causing area motorists and stores an estimated $4 million to $6 million a day in extra commuting costs and lost business.