National briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 28, 2000

Kennedy's sister in critical condition

BALTIMORE -- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of President John F. Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, was in critical condition Friday with a postoperative infection.

Shriver, 79, had a benign pancreatic tumor removed Oct. 12 and doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital predicted a full recovery. She was released Oct. 21.

But Shriver was readmitted Monday after complaining of pain. Doctors discovered a postoperative infection and operated Tuesday night to stem that infection, according to a statement by her son, Maryland state lawmaker Mark Shriver.

"Her husband, her children are with her and ask for everybody's prayers," his statement said.

Philadelphia teachers call a strike

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia's teachers called a strike Friday for the first time since 1981 in a move that could disrupt classes for 210,000 students if an agreement isn't reached over the weekend.

The union announced the walkout after talks between the city and the 21,000 teachers, nurses, librarians, and other school employees broke down.

School had already let out for the day when the strike was called, and union spokesman Bob Bedard said there is still hope that classes can be held as usual on Monday in the nation's seventh-largest school district.

"The real deadline, as everyone knows, is Monday morning," he said.

Mayor John Street accused the teachers union of refusing to compromise and said he would not tolerate a long strike. He said he would talk to Republican Gov. Tom Ridge about arranging a "friendly takeover" of the school system by the state, which could force teachers back to work.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that there's no more money," Street said.

Elsewhere . . .

HIT-AND-RUN: A Pennsylvania lawmaker who was arrested in a fatal hit-and-run accident after police got an anonymous tip was sentenced Friday to two to four years in prison. Former Rep. Thomas W. Druce, 39, resigned from the Legislature last month after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident, insurance fraud and tampering with evidence.

CONTROLLED BURNS: Nearly six months after a prescribed fire burned out of control and incinerated hundreds of homes in New Mexico, the National Park Service is ready to start setting them again. Park Service officials have approved plans for seven tightly controlled prescribed fires -- blazes set to reduce the possibility of wildfires -- to clear underbrush in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park in California, and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area along the Arizona-Nevada line. "If there are any structures or houses nearby, we aren't going to go there. That's just too high a risk," said Dick Bahr, a Park Service fire expert.

MINIVANS RECALLED: DaimlerChrysler AG said Friday it was recalling 1.4-million minivans built between 1996 and 2000 to fix problems with a fuel rail seal that could leak -- but a fix won't be available until March. The voluntary recall covers Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country minivans with 3.3- and 3.8-liter V-6 engines.

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