National briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 31, 2000

Texas police perplexed by escapees

DALLAS -- In a manhunt filled with high optimism and dashed hopes, law enforcement officers chased reported sightings Friday of seven well-armed escaped convicts in an urgent effort to prevent bloodshed during a second holiday weekend.

Law enforcement officials said Friday that even one of the most promising leads -- a Tarrant County apartment that undercover officers have watched for two days -- didn't appear to yield any sign of the elusive escapees.

According to authorities, a former cellmate of George Rivas, the group's suspected leader, told investigators that the seven had access to the apartment, but no one has been seen coming or going during the ongoing surveillance.

The fact that the escapees have remained undetected despite an aggressive manhunt and intensive media coverage has baffled many law enforcement officials who worry that the group might make a bold move this New Year's weekend.

The seven fugitives are suspected of killing Officer Aubrey Hawkins on Christmas Eve after robbing an Oshman's Super Sports USA store in Irving, Texas. They disappeared with more than 25 semiautomatic firearms, ammunition, winter clothing and about $70,000 in cash and checks, authorities said.

Rewards for tips leading to the escapees' capture were increased to $100,000 on Friday.

Irving Police Chief Lowell Cannaday, whose department is leading the homicide investigation, said his officers are wary that another incident could occur during the weekend.

"From this point, everything is a fear," the chief said. "The fact that it happened on Christmas Eve, I don't know that if it has any significance. I can assure you that on New Year's Eve, we'll be watching, just as on Jan. 30 and on Dec. 30."

'Cassini' spacecraft makes close flyby of Jupiter en route to Saturn

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's $3.4-billion Cassini spacecraft passed Jupiter at the closest point of its trip Saturday, using gravity from the solar system's largest planet to swing it toward Saturn.

While passing Jupiter over the next few months, Cassini will team up with the Galileo spacecraft to make dual observations of the planet and its surroundings.

Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory steered Cassini to within 6-million miles of Jupiter early Saturday to give the spacecraft a gravity boost as it heads for a rendezvous with Saturn in July 2004.

Galileo, which was launched in 1989 and began orbiting Jupiter in 1995, will also test Cassini's instruments for Saturn.

"We have a chance to make observations with a well-instrumented spacecraft that has more capabilities than any spacecraft that has previously visited Jupiter," Cassini program manager Bob Mitchell said. "Fortunately, Galileo is still operating there, so we can get a synergistic effect in studies of Jupiter by having spacecraft at two different locations at the same time."

The Cassini spacecraft was launched in 1997 on an 11-year mission. While near Jupiter, it will help with studies of the planet's atmosphere, moons, faint rings and magnetosphere, the magnetic field surrounding the planet.

Baltimore official arrested after allegedly disparaging gays in bar

BALTIMORE -- The city's housing commissioner was arrested early Friday when he refused to leave a bar after allegedly disparaging patrons he believed were gay.

Paul T. Graziano, 47, was arrested at a popular bar and restaurant in the historic Fells Point waterfront district, police said.

Graziano apologized and said he drank too much and did not remember the incident.

"I blacked out during that period," Graziano said. "I have no way to dispute it because I don't recall what happened. It's certainly not representative of my feelings."

Mayor Martin O'Malley said he wouldn't seek Graziano's resignation.

"I think this person's character is that of a good and decent man who made a very bad mistake," O'Malley said.

O'Malley also said Graziano has agreed to seek counseling. A disorderly conduct charge will not be prosecuted.

Striking Seattle Times workers reject newspaper's contract offer

SEATTLE -- Striking workers at the Seattle Times rejected the newspaper's latest contract offer Saturday, saying they weren't willing to accept layoffs that could last up to a year.

The vote, coming in the sixth week of the strike, was 348-87, according to the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild. Guild leaders had recommended members reject the offer.

Federal mediator C. Richard Barnes ordered both parties back to the bargaining table in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Employees at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, who also went on strike Nov. 21, voted Thursday to accept their newspaper's contract proposal.

The Seattle Times handles business operations for both newspapers and says the strike has cost millions of dollars in lost revenue that will force it to cut at least 10 percent of its work force, about 250 employees.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright