October 26, 1995
Web posted at: 11:50 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council said Thursday the safety of the nation's water supply is threatened by a proposed environmental measure.
The group says 81 million Americans are exposed to arsenic, radon, or chlorine contaminants, all known or probable carcinogens, through tap water. A GOP proposal would block stricter EPA standards for those chemicals.
"It's easy to solve the problem. It's relatively inexpensive to solve the problem, and we believe that Congress should not step in the way of EPA efforts to solve this issue," said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Hours after Cuban President Fidel Castro departed from the United States, a 17-year-old member of the Cuban national soccer team defected at Miami International Airport.
Lazaro Abuin Sanchez sought political asylum Thursday morning when he and his team passed through Miami on their way to Cuba. The team was returning from a 10-day visit and tournament in Philadelphia.
Sanchez ran to a Metro-Dade county police officer and pleaded for protection from the Cuban state security officers traveling with the team. Sanchez said his father and uncle live in the United States, but he does not know where. He left behind a wife and 1-year-old daughter in Cuba.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate committee investigating Whitewater said Thursday it will recall two witnesses to testify about the suicide of deputy White House counsel Vince Foster.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief of staff, Margaret Williams, and Susan Thomases, a longtime friend of the first lady, will be questioned next week about conversations they had with Mrs. Clinton following Foster's suicide.
The committee also voted Thursday to issue 49 subpoenas for telephone records and other documents related to the investigation.
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The videotaped deposition of O.J. Simpson scheduled for Monday has been postponed.
Simpson was subpoenaed for the deposition by attorneys representing the family members of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson in civil suits against Simpson.
Daniel Petrocelli, the attorney for Fred and Kim Goldman, told CNN that the deposition was postponed by the court at the request of Simpson's civil attorney, Robert Baker.
Baker filed motions with the court seeking to prevent the deposition from being videotaped and asking that it be sealed. A new date for the deposition will be set once those issues are decided.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- A woman put her 2-year-old daughter in the hot oven of a school cafeteria Wednesday, according to police.
The woman, Veronica Russell, 25, was charged Thursday with assault and child endangerment. Police said she has a history of mental illness.
Cafeteria employees rescued the baby girl and held the mother until police arrived. The baby was listed in fair condition in Columbus Children's Hospital Thursday with second-degree burns on her back, arms and hands, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Russell could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) -- General Motors is recalling nearly 2.5 million midsize cars for replacement of rear seat belt anchor bolts. The affected models are 1989-90 Chevrolet Celebrities; 1989-91 Pontiac 6000s; 1989-96 Oldsmobile Cieras; and 1989-96 Buick Centuries.
Bolts that anchor rear seat belts to the body of the cars do not meet standards used by the U.S. and Canadian governments, GM said. It advised owners to return the cars to dealers for replacements. The standard requires that seat belts withstand a 3,000-pound load for 10 seconds. GM said there have been no owner reports of seat belt failures, accidents or injuries related to the defect.
RALEIGH, North Carolina (CNN) -- "Joe Camel" is going on a cigarette break and who knows how long it will last. The cartoon spokescamel, whose appeal to young people drew fire from anti-smoking activists, will be dropped from all Camel cigarettes billboard advertising at least temporarily. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. declined to say when Joe Camel ads might return to billboards.
Joe Camel, featured on the brand's packs for decades, will continue to show up in print ads and other promotional uses. On billboards he will be replaced by an updated, neon-outlined camel image. RJR denied comments by some analysts that the timing of Joe Camel's hiatus is connected to proposed government regulations to fight underage smoking.
SANTA CRUZ, California (CNN) -- Mister Twister is smiling again. The professional clown who was fined for putting coins in expired parking meters persuaded local lawmakers to see things his way. Members of the Santa Cruz City Council put on red clown noses Tuesday as they unanimously repealed an ordinance making it illegal to put money in someone else's parking meter.
Mister Twister, also known as Cory McDonald, had been feeding meters for six years until he was stopped last month. The national publicity that followed embarrassed local officials. Last week the city dropped the citation and $13 fine. McDonald estimates he spends about $2,000 a year -- 5 percent to 10 percent of his income -- on meter feeding and other charitable contributions.
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