Daily Briefing

People

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his fiancee, Callista Bisek, have found a home in McLean, Va. The couple, to be married Aug. 18, reportedly purchased a seven-bedroom home for $995,000, with the deal to close May 22. Gingrich and ex-wife Marianne finalized their divorce last month.

Update

The government yesterday announced new air-bag standards that seek to improve protection of children and small adults. The new rule overhauls government standards for air bags, credited with saving more than 5,000 lives and blamed for at least 158 deaths.

Flavio David Mendoza, who called in a bomb threat to San Francisco International Airport hoping to delay a Korea-bound plane so his girlfriend could catch the flight, was sentenced yesterday to 10 months in prison.

Mourners silently watched the start of a four-day farewell to Cardinal John O'Connor yesterday, the first day of services at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.

Laurie Hiett, wife of an Army officer who headed U.S. anti-drug efforts in Colombia, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for conspiring to smuggle cocaine and heroin to the United States.

Richard Glassel, who had feuded with the homeowners association in an Arizona retirement community, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that he barged into the group's meeting last month and shot two people to death.

Former Philadelphia mob boss Ralph Natale pleaded guilty yesterday to a criminal career that included seven murders, four attempted murders, extortion, gambling and drug trafficking. Natale, 65, also pleaded guilty to bribing Camden (N.J.) Mayor Milton Milan, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and murder in aid of racketeering.

Today in history

In 1937, the Hindenburg burned and crashed in Lakehurst, N.J., killing 35 of 97 people on board and a Navy crewman on the ground.

In 1994, Paula Jones filed a sexual-harassment suit against President Clinton.