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Small plane causes scare at Capitol

WASHINGTON

A single-engine airplane violated restricted airspace around the nation's capital Wednesday and flew to within 6 miles of the U.S. Capitol before being diverted by interceptor aircraft. The incident was resolved before evacuation was ordered in the Capitol, which houses Congress. A propeller-driven Cessna 177, which had taken off from Carroll County airport in north-central Maryland, entered restricted airspace 30 miles north of Washington at 12:12 p.m., FAA spokesman Hank Price said. Two F-16s and a Coast Guard helicopter intercepted and escorted the plane to a Virginia airport, and Capitol police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said the pilot was being interviewed. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the White House was at "normal security levels" after the incident ended. Violations of the restricted zone have been falling steadily since 2003, from nearly three a day to just under one a day, Federal Aviation Administration records show.

NEW YORK

Scientist-priest wins $1.6M religion prize

The Rev. Michael Heller, a prolific Polish scientist, author and Roman Catholic priest who bridges disciplines to explore the origins of the universe, was named Wednesday as winner of a religion award billed as the world's richest annual prize given to an individual. Heller, 72, said in a statement that he intends to spend his 2008 Templeton Prize winnings - worth more than $1.6-million - on developing an academic center in Krakow devoted to research and education in science and theology. He also criticized adherents of intelligent design, which holds that aspects of the universe and living beings are best explained by a higher power, as committing a "grave theological error." Heller will receive the prize May 7. The Templeton Foundation sponsors various projects on science and religion and was founded by mutual funds entrepreneur Sir John M. Templeton.

MICHIGAN

Kevorkian plans to run for congressional seat

Assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian plans to run for Congress, complicating a Michigan race that is expected to be among the most competitive in the nation. He will run with no party affiliation for a congressional seat representing Detroit's suburbs, said Ruth Holmes, Kevorkian's longtime jury consultant. He plans to focus on prison reform and bringing integrity to the government, Holmes said. She said he will make a formal announcement next week. Kevorkian, 79, claims to have helped at least 130 people die from 1990 until 1998. He was released from prison in June and remains on parole.

AMHERST, Mass.

Charges protested in racial attack

Faculty and students at the University of Massachusetts rallied Wednesday in support of a black biology student who faces attempted murder charges after a white man allegedly taunted him with racial epithets, broke his nose and smashed his dormitory window. About 200 people gathered in support of Jason Vassell, who authorities said stabbed two nonstudents after he was provoked into an argument Feb. 3. The two survived and were not immediately charged in the fight - something supporters of Vassell, 23, note when they complain prosecutors were influenced by race in bringing the charges. Vassell does not have a criminal or violent history, according to friends and faculty.

Also

Animals seized: Police found 117 starving and diseased dogs - including about 40 that were dead or dying - Tuesday at an animal shelter in Sand Springs, Ky. Two people were charged with animal cruelty. Meanwhile, in a rural area northwest of Tucson, Ariz., about 800 small dogs and 82 caged parrots were seized from a triple-wide mobile home, authorities said Wednesday. No charges have been filed, but an investigation continues.

Bank shooting: A man fatally shot two people Wednesday in the McComb, Miss., bank where his ex-wife worked, then fled with the woman and killed her before committing suicide, authorities said.

UNC shooting: Two suspects were charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the killing of the University of North Carolina's student body president, though one remains at large.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 22:50:44]