National briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 16, 2001

Roger Clinton confirms subpoena

Roger Clinton, former President Bill Clinton's half brother, said through a lawyer Sunday that he had been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in New York that is investigating reports of swindles, improper influence and other abuses in a series of last-minute presidential pardons.

Confirming a Time magazine report, the lawyer, Bart H. Williams, said his client had received the subpoena from the office of Mary Jo White, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to appear before the grand jury late this week and to bring "a small number of records."

Prosecutors examining pardons granted by President Clinton in his final days in office have been looking into reports that Roger Clinton was paid to support six requests for clemency, all of which were denied. Two Texas men have said they were swindled of $200,000 they paid to a group that included Roger Clinton; they said he promised to secure a pardon, but did not try to do so.

Red River falls slowly as others in Midwest rise

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The swollen Red River dropped slowly on Sunday along the Minnesota-North Dakota state line, where cities have frantically reinforced dikes against flooding.

However, the river is expected to stay high and above flood stage for several days, said Lynn Kennedy, a senior hydrological technician for the National Weather Service.

Elsewhere across the Midwest, communities in wide areas of Minnesota waited to see if their sandbag levees would hold as the Minnesota, St. Croix and other rivers continued rising. Parks along the Wisconsin bank of the Mississippi had been closed and residents of low-lying sections of Iowa's Mississippi shore had started sandbagging and moving belongings to high ground.

Suspect in bar shootings is called gun fanatic

ELGIN, Ill. -- The man accused of shooting 18 people in a crowded bar was an ex-con obsessed with guns and the movie Natural Born Killers who shaved his head and donned fatigues before the attack, acquaintances and witnesses said Sunday.

Police said Luther "Luke" V. Casteel, 42, returned to the bar early Saturday after being asked to leave. Bar patron Michael York, who huddled inside a garbage can behind the bar during the shooting, said he heard Casteel shout, "I'm the king -- how do you like me now?"

Two people were killed and 16 others wounded by gunfire. Five patrons suffered cuts, bumps and bruises as they tried to escape, police said.

Casteel was wearing military-style fatigues and carrying two handguns, two shotguns and 200 rounds of ammunition, police said.

On Sunday, Casteel, described by acquaintances as a divorced construction worker, was ordered held without bail. He is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, firearms violations and assault.

Police said Casteel had served 13 years in prison on a 1978 armed robbery conviction.

National Zoo beefs up security for celebration

WASHINGTON -- Officials at the National Zoo are increasing security today with the help of the D.C. and U.S. Park police departments in anticipation of large crowds at the traditional Easter Monday African American Family Celebration Day that last year was marred by violence.

"The three departments are collaborating," said Bob Hoage, a National Zoo spokesman.

Last year, outside the zoo, Antoine Jones, then 17, fired into a crowd, wounding seven children. One 14-year-old was shot as he scrambled to protect a toddler.

Hoage said that after last year's shooting, the departments worked out an agreement allowing D.C. officers and U.S. Park Police to be called to help National Zoological Park Police when unusually large crowds are expected.

Gunman in Dallas suburb kills two, himself

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- A gunman killed two people at his apartment complex early Sunday, then shot at police before turning the gun on himself.

Authorities hadn't determined a motive for the shootings Sunday afternoon.

One of the victims, a 26-year-old woman, called police to report she had been hit. Police found a teenage boy who had been shot from behind, but could not save him.

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