Clintons seek tax money for legal fees

WASHINGTON -- Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York have asked a special three-judge panel to order the U.S. government to reimburse them for several million dollars in outstanding legal fees from the Whitewater inquiry.

"Pursuant to the explicit authorization of the statute, and following the precedent of Presidents Reagan and Bush, the Clintons have applied for reimbursement of their legal fees incurred in connection with the independent counsel's Whitewater investigation," David E. Kendall, the Clintons' personal lawyer, said Friday night.

The government paid some of the legal fees incurred by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush during the Iran-Contra investigation.

Kendall declined to say how much money the Clintons still owe their lawyers in the seven-year Whitewater criminal inquiry, which was concluded this year.

The news that the Clintons are seeking government help to erase some of their substantial legal debts comes one month after Clinton reported earning more than $9-million last year by making 59 speeches in more than a dozen countries.

Wildfire menaces homes; Oregonians told to flee

THE DALLES, Ore. -- Gusty wind on Saturday stoked a 9,000-acre fire that threatened homes overlooking the Columbia River gorge, and more residents were urged to leave their homes.

A contingent of 125 Oregon National Guard troops arrived Saturday to join the 800 firefighters already at work protecting the city. The blaze had grown by 3,000 acres during the night and was only 30 percent contained, fire officials said.

Bodies found in truck hauling Mexican nationals

ANNA, Texas -- A semitrailer truck believed to be hauling dozens of Mexican nationals for several hours in 90-degree heat was found at a truck stop here Saturday, and police confirmed an unspecified number of fatalities.

Witnesses said one man stumbled from the trailer and was hospitalized. Rescue workers said at least two more people were in the truck parked in this small town about 40 miles north of Dallas.

It was unclear what had happened to the driver.

Kilauea eruption called most perilous since '95

HONOLULU -- Glowing lava set trees afire and oozed into the ocean before dawn Saturday as thousands of spectators braved Kilauea Volcano's scalding spray to witness the spectacle.

It is the most dangerous display of volcanic activity from Kilauea since 1995. Since the flow began May 12, the lava has triggered one major fire, burning more than 3,600 acres.

Wis. using tobacco cash to balance its books

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's entire share of the national tobacco settlement will go to fix the state's $1.1-billion budget shortfall under a bill Gov. Scott McCallum signed into law.

McCallum said the bill means Wisconsin residents will see no tax increases or deep cuts to essential services. The bill uses $825-million from the state's sale of 25 years worth of payments Wisconsin was scheduled to receive under the settlement. The state already planned to use $450-million from the sale to balance its books.

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