Largent to quit House, run for governor
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WASHINGTON - Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., who came to Congress as part of the Republican revolution of 1994, intends to resign his House seat on Nov. 29 to run for governor.
A statement prepared for release late yesterday said Largent, a former Seattle Seahawks star and NFL Hall-of-Famer, decided his constituents "need full-time representation in Washington in the months ahead."
Largent's seat is reliably Republican, and his successor will be chosen by special election at a date to be determined.
Kathy Keating, the wife of Republican Gov. Frank Keating, is expected to run for the seat and was in Washington in recent weeks to prepare for a campaign.
Ex-prosecutor sentenced for withholding information
ST. LOUIS - A former federal prosecutor was sentenced to two years' probation yesterday for withholding information that exploding tear-gas canisters were used during the Branch Davidian siege.
U.S. District Judge Charles Shaw also ordered Bill Johnston to perform 200 hours of community service. Johnston was convicted of withholding information about the use of pyrotechnic tear gas on April 19, 1993, the day the compound burned. Davidian leader David Koresh and some 80 followers died inside.
Wal-Mart fined $1 million in environmental case
WASHINGTON - Wal-Mart Stores agreed to pay a $1 million fine to settle government charges that it illegally discharged storm water runoff from new-store construction sites, the Justice Department said yesterday.
In addition to the fine, the world's largest retailer will establish a $4.5 million "environmental-management plan" to improve its compliance with environmental laws, the department said.
Students' identical answers raise questions in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. - The state has asked 22 school districts to explain why students wrote identical paragraphs in answer to certain questions on statewide exams, Treasurer Doug Roberts said yesterday.
The Michigan Educational Assessment Program science and social-studies tests were administered this winter to fifth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at 550 school districts.
Bodies of girls, rescuer found in pond; dad missing
CAMDEN, Ohio - Divers found the bodies of two sisters and a man yesterday, a day after he tried to save the girls from a quarry pond in western Ohio. The girls' father remained missing.
Tara Wood, 11, and her 9-year-old sister, Josey, were fishing from the bank of the quarry Wednesday afternoon when they were pulled into the water by the current of a creek that drains into the quarry, authorities said.
Their father, Jim Wood Jr., went after them and also was pulled in. Russell Hileman, 37, was fishing nearby and jumped in to try to rescue the family.
Texas officer shot while training to handle gunmen
ARLINGTON, Texas - A police officer was shot and killed yesterday while training at a junior high on how to handle a gunman inside a school.
Officer Joey Cushman was among 20 to 30 officers who were training at Ousley Junior High School, police spokeswoman Danetta Chube said. The school year had ended, and no students were present.
All of the officers wore full gear that includes a helmet and a bulletproof vest.
Rubber bullets were supposed to be used, but police were not sure what type of bullet killed Cushman.