Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Headline Article Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 14:12:10 EST Message-ID: Lines: 172 \SE A;TOP OF THE NEWS;NATION \BY FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS S=NEW STORY Soviet sub leaking nuclear material NEW YORK - A Soviet nuclear submarine that sank off the coast of Norway in 1989 is leaking radioactive cesium from its damaged reactor and soon could leak deadly plutonium, ABC News reported yesterday. The report quoted a Russian submarine designer, who surveyed the sunken Komsomolets, as saying the plutonium could leak from the nuclear warheads of two torpedos in the submarine's damaged torpedo bays. "We predict that [leakage] in 1994 or 1995," said designer Nicolai Nosov, who led an expedition to inspect the sub. A transcript of the report did not say when the inspection or the interview with Mr. Nosov took place. S=NEW STORY Minnesota spruce is nation's tree DEER RIVER, Minn. - A 62-foot white spruce from the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota has been chosen as the nation's Christmas tree. Before the tree was cut yesterday, an Indian elder laid out eagle feathers and made an offering of tobacco. The tree will be accompanied on its journey to Washington by a thousand ornaments made by local people. It will be lit Dec. 9. S=NEW STORY Perot tops Bush in his own back yard AUGUSTA, Maine - It turns out Ross Perot's best showing on Election Day was better than first thought: He managed to outpoll President Bush in Maine, where the Bushes have their summer home. The state's top election official yesterday released final vote returns showing that Mr. Perot edged out Mr. Bush for second place by 316 votes, making Maine the only state where the independent presidential contender placed better than third. President-elect Clinton was Maine's overall winner, claiming 263,420, or 38.7 percent of the state's popular vote and all four of its electoral votes. Mr. Perot placed second with 206,820 votes, or 30.4 percent. Mr. Bush was close behind with 206,504, or 30.3 percent, said Secretary of State Bill Diamond. Nationwide, Mr. Perot drew about 19 percent of the vote, while Mr. Clinton got 43 percent and Mr. Bush got 38 percent. S=NEW STORY George jury still deliberating A federal jury completed a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict yesterday in the Iran-Contra trial of former CIA spy chief Clair George. Mr. George, 62, was accused of lying to Congress and a federal grand jury about his knowledge of the Reagan administration's arms-for-hostages swap with Iran and the diversion of profits to aid the Nicaraguan Contras. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of making false statements, two counts of perjury and one count of obstructing a federal grand jury. A previous trial ended in a mistrial in August when the jury was unable to reach a verdict on any count. Jurors sent U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth a note yesterday asking for a television so they could watch a videotape of an October 1986 news conference by Eugene Hasenfus, the sole survivor of a supply plane shot down in Nicaragua. The incident began the unraveling of the Iran-Contra affair. S=NEW STORY Women's groups want more than apology PORTLAND, Ore. - Leaders of 10 Oregon women's groups said yesterday they are not satisfied with the apology that Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood has given for published allegations that he had made uninvited sexual advances to 10 women. The leaders, speaking at a hastily called news conference, declined to publicly demand that the five-term Republican senator resign, saying their organizations want to know more about the allegations published Sunday in The Washington Post. The leaders called a summit of state women's groups and activists last night to further investigate the matter. Separately, Patty Murray, the Democratic senator-elect of neighboring Washington state, said she will propose procedures to control sexual harassment in the U.S. Senate, perhaps including training sessions for all U.S. senators and staff. "This certainly says to me that the U.S. Senate needs to have a policy and procedures in place on sexual harassment, and it certainly will be one of the priorities I will go after when I get there," Mrs. Murray said in a Seattle radio interview. S=NEW STORY AAA lifts warning on Interstate 295 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The American Automobile Association lifted its warning to avoid Interstate 295 yesterday, citing a crackdown that led to 20 arrests and apparently ended a spate of random sniper attacks on drivers. The Florida National Guard, the state Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies said they would continue their stepped-up patrols of the area along the Georgia-Florida line through the Thanksgiving weekend. Interstate 295 is a major gateway for tourists driving south to Florida. "AAA's decision to lift the alert was made after a review of highway security measures," said AAA spokesman Tom Crosby. Authorities erected barricades along overpasses and installed additional lighting and fencing. There have been no reports of sniper shootings or rock-throwing attacks along the highway for two weeks. During the past two weeks, police have charged six youths in sniper shootings or with throwing rocks at motorists. S=NEW STORY Journalist pays $4,000 for cameo BALTIMORE - Most people who appear before the cameras on hit television series are paid for their work, but a newspaper columnist is paying $4,000 for a cameo appearance as an extra on the CBS comedy "Murphy Brown." Ruth Ann Leach of the Nashville Banner offered the winning bid at the convention of the Society of Professional Journalists. The proceeds benefit the society's Legal Defense Fund, which provides legal assistance to defend journalists' free-speech rights. S=NEW STORY Blinding snowstorm blankets Denver area DENVER - A blinding snowstorm hit Denver and surrounding areas yesterday, forcing the closure of schools and offices and cancellation of flights at Stapleton International Airport. United Airlines, the major carrier here, canceled half its flights while Continental canceled all but flights in wide-bodied jets. Denver Mayor Wellington Webb had to cancel an appearance last night on Arsenio Hall's talk show after his flight was canceled, his spokesman said. Mr. Webb was going to appear on the late-night show to address the issue of Amendment-2, an anti-gay referendum that voters passed on election day. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM