Around the Nation

COLORADO

Wanted woman killed; husband arrested

LOCHBUIE — A woman wanted for questioning in a California missing-persons case was killed and her husband was arrested after a 40-mile chase and shootout in northern Colorado, authorities said.

Nicholas Vovos, 22, of Lake Forest, Calif., was arrested after the shootout Sunday at a gas station just off Interstate 76 at Lochbuie, about 25 miles northeast of Denver.

His wife, Deborah Sue Miller Vovos, 39, was killed. It was not clear whether she was shot by police or turned a gun on herself, Police Chief Steve Davis said.

“We’re still sorting out who fired what,” Chief Davis said. A sheriff’s deputy suffered cuts from a windshield shattered by a shotgun blast fired by Mr. Vovos, authorities said.

The couple were wanted for questioning in the disappearance of Carolyn Dunn Avdeef, 62, of Lake Forest, who was last seen by her family June 15. She remained missing.

FLORIDA

Boy drowns in hotel pool

KISSIMMEE — A 7-year-old boy vacationing with his family drowned in a hotel pool and remained unnoticed for a couple of hours as deputies and others searched for him, authorities said.

A tourist wearing goggles found Tad Williams of Wadesboro, N.C., Sunday at the bottom of the 8-foot-deep pool at the Howard Johnson Enchantedland Resort, Osceola County sheriff’s spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said.

The sheriff’s office ruled the death an accident. An autopsy was scheduled to confirm the cause of death.

INDIANA

Women to pose nude to save courthouse

FARMLAND — Seven women who usually gather to play cards are planning to show their neighbors exactly what they’re made of.

They want to strip down and pose for a calendar as part of the fight against plans to tear down Randolph County’s 128-year-old courthouse.

The women, ranging in age from the early 70s to older than 90, will pose nude — with strategically placed miniature replicas of the courthouse in front of them — to raise money for the Save the Courthouse Fund.

The Randolph County commissioners voted 2-1 on June 6 to demolish the courthouse in downtown Winchester, about 20 miles east of Muncie, and replace it with a new structure.

Organizers plan to sell the calendars beginning next month for $12.95 each and hope to raise at least $20,000.

KENTUCKY

Weather contains tobacco fungus

CECILIA — A fungus that attacks tobacco plants has been found in Kentucky, the first reported U.S. outbreak this year, although one authority said hot, dry weather appears to be preventing it from spreading.

Tests showed blue mold spores on nine acres of a farm near Cecilia, which is in Hardin County about 45 miles southwest of Louisville.

“With that one report, we’re very, very concerned that we have it in other places,” University of Kentucky tobacco pathologist Kenny Seebold said.

LOUISIANA

New law bans hallucinogenic plants

BATON ROUGE — Beginning Aug. 15, it will be a crime in Louisiana for anyone to possess or sell substances made from hallucinogenic and sometimes toxic plants such as angel’s trumpet. Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, a Democrat, signed the bill last week.

The measure outlaws the use of 39 herbs and plants with hallucinogenic qualities in food or drinks, but allows safe amounts of them to be used in natural medicines.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Oil chief settles harassment lawsuit

HUDSON — Oil company owner Fred Fuller will pay $780,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by five female former employees, federal officials said.

The lawsuit claimed that Mr. Fuller groped the women, demanded sexual favors and groped an employee immediately after a sexual harassment training session.

OHIO

Motorcycle clubs help patrol city

DAYTON — Fifteen motorcycle clubs with 300 members have joined to help patrol crime-infested areas and establish temporary safe zones so that children, seniors and others can play or socialize.

The clubs started the community action after a spate of shootings and other violence in the city’s West Side.

OREGON

Relative chargedin boy’s death

ESTACADA — The step-grandmother of a 4-year-old boy who had been missing for three days was charged with murder Saturday after leading police to his body in the wooded foothills of the Cascades.

Matal Zachery Sanchez was reported missing Wednesday afternoon from his home in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, where he lived with his mother and step-grandmother, Christine Coffman.

He was last seen about the same time Mrs. Coffman had left the home to run an errand, Officer Kevin Krebs said Saturday.

VERMONT

Off-course crane summers in Vermont

CORNWALL — A rare whooping crane is spending the summer in Vermont after mysteriously veering 800 miles off course on its migration toward the Midwest.

One of about 400 such birds in the world, the 4-foot-tall female has been in a river flood plain in the Lake Champlain valley since at least June 9, spending most of its time on farmer Randy Quesnel’s land.

“It is kind of neat, although I would be a lot more interested if it was a deer out there,” Mr. Quesnel said.

Whooping cranes have been a federally endangered species since 1967 and are the subject of an intense restoration project among U.S., Canadian and state wildlife agencies.

WASHINGTON

Would-be bride hosts party for homeless

EVERETT — When a would-be bride called off her wedding 12 days before the big event, she threw a party anyway and invited the homeless.

Residents of the Interfaith Family Shelter attended the bash thrown by Katie Hosking, 22, a medical assistant, and her parents.

“They had a DJ and really good music. It was a warm, friendly atmosphere. The food was delicious. It was a nice break with people not worrying about anything for one night,” shelter manager Carol Oliva said.

One homeless woman got her son out of a wheelchair and danced with him. “It was a beautiful sight,” said Susan Hosking, Miss Hosking’s mother. “It was an eye-opener.”

From wire dispatches and staff reports