News Briefs
March 6, 1996
Web posted at: 11:20 p.m. ESTAlabama teen arrested for latest fire at black church
SELMA, Alabama (CNN) -- A white teen-ager was arrested Wednesday for allegedly setting the latest in a string of fires that have destroyed four black churches in Alabama over the last four months.
Christopher Allen Deer, 19, was charged with arson. Investigators said he has admitted setting the fire that destroyed the New Liberty Baptist Church in Tyler, Alabama, on February 28.
Jim Cavanaugh of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms had earlier said agents had been looking at the possibility of an organized racial hate crime, but have now ruled out that possibility.
Jury asks to hear Menendez testimony again
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The jury deliberating in the Menendez double murder re-trial requested a read-back of some portions of Erik Menendez' testimony Wednesday, a move that prosecutors said may hurt the defendants.
The jurors' request suggests that they are focusing on the pre-meditation theory rather than the child abuse contention offered by the defense, prosecutors said.
The defense contends that the brothers killed their parents out of fear for their own lives after years of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The prosecution holds that the defendants were greedy and wanted to lay their hands on their wealthy parents' estate.
This is the second trial of the Menendez brothers, who admitted shotgunning their wealthy parents to death in August 1989. Their first trial -- heard by two juries -- ended in deadlock in January 1994.
Armey announces short-term debt-ceiling deal
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House and Senate have agreed to extend the government's borrowing authority until March 29, House Majority Leader Dick Armey and GOP Gov. Mike Leavitt of Utah announced Wednesday.
The debt-ceiling bill should go to the House floor for a vote late Thursday or Friday, and then go immediately to the Senate.
The U.S. governors hope to use the two-week extension to fine-tune their welfare/Medicaid reform plan, making their suggestions acceptable to both President Clinton and congressional members. The reform plan would then be attached to long-term debt-ceiling legislation.
The extension of the debt ceiling allows the United States to pay its financial obligations, such as foreign debts and Social Security payments. The current debt ceiling extension expires March 15. If the temporary extension is not enacted the government cannot pay its bills.
Marijuana use doubles among 14-, 15-year-olds
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Marijuana use among 14- and 15-year-olds doubled between 1992 and 1994, said Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Florida.
McCollum is part of a House subcommittee studying what it calls a "shocking" increase of marijuana-use among youths.
The panel said it is hearing reports that the average age of the first-time user of marijuana is now 13-and-a-half.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health
- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
Jury due to get subway bomber case
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Jury deliberations were expected to begin Wednesday in the case of accused subway fire-bomber Edward Leary.
The defense claims Leary, 50, did not intend to hurt anyone when he ignited the firebombs, but was made psychotic after ingesting a mix of Prozac and other prescription drugs. Defense lawyers say he didn't know what he was doing. Leary admits placing the bombs on the trains December 15 and 21, 1994. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder and other crimes.
The prosecution says Leary, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, was trying to extort money from the New York City Transit Authority. When Leary planned the attacks, he was depressed and angry over the loss of his $87,000-a-year computer analyst job and upset by the deaths of several relatives.
About 50 people were injured in the attacks, 16 seriously, including Leary, who was badly burned.
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