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Nation in brief

Sen. Reid backtracks, admits error on tickets

WASHINGTON - Reversing course, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's office acknowledged Wednesday night he misstated the ethics rules governing his acceptance of free boxing tickets and has decided to avoid taking such gifts in the future.

The Nevada senator continued to assert that it was "entirely permissible" for him to accept ringside seats for three professional boxing matches in 2004 and 2005 from the Nevada Athletic Commission, but he has nonetheless decided to avoid doing so in the future, his office said.

"In light of questions that have been raised about the practice, Sen. Reid will not accept these kinds of credentials in the future in order to avoid even the faintest appearance of impropriety," spokesman Jim Manley said.

The announcement came after several ethics experts said the Democratic leader misstated congressional ethics rules in trying to defend his actions.

Reid accepted the free seats from the Nevada commission as it was trying to influence his support for legislation to create a federal boxing commission.

Reid told Las Vegas reporters on Tuesday he would continue to accept such tickets and did not believe he did anything wrong even though fellow Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who joined him for one of the fights, decided to reimburse $1,400 for his seat.

Elsewhere ...

PLEA DEAL REACHED: A California man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge rather than be retried on allegations that he lied to the FBI about his son's attendance at a terrorist training camp. Umer Hayat, 48, will plead guilty to lying to customs agents about money he was carrying on a Pakistan trip three years ago and other charges will be dismissed. His son, Hamid Hayat, 23, was convicted of supporting terrorism by attending an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan in 2003 and lying to the FBI.

COURTHOUSE SHOOTING: In Scottsboro, Ala., a man shot two people on the lawn of a county courthouse after a hearing in a domestic case Wednesday because he disagreed with a children's visitation arrangement, officials said. The man and woman shot suffered head wounds and were in serious condition, officials said. The suspect was tackled by a marine conservation officer.

CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS: In Packwood, Wash., a married couple and their daughter were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in a locked camper, authorities said Wednesday. The man and wife, both 40, and their 13-year-old daughter were from Seattle, officials said. They did not release their names.

[Last modified June 1, 2006, 06:16:23]