Nev. senator admits affair

Nev. senator admits affair

LAS VEGAS — Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted Tuesday he had an extramarital affair with a woman who was a member of his campaign staff.

“Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage,” Ensign, 51, said at a brief news conference in his home state. “It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life. If there was ever anything in my life that I could take back, this would be it.”

An aide in Ensign’s office said the affair took place between December 2007 and August 2008 with a campaign staffer who was married to an employee in Ensign’s Senate office. Neither has worked for the senator since May 2008. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the developments.

More freedom for Hinckley

WASHINGTON — A federal judge says John Hinckley, the man who tried to kill President Ronald Reagan, can spend more time away from his psychiatric hospital and apply for a driver’s license.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman says Hinckley’s health will probably improve with more freedom and that he wouldn’t be a danger to himself or others.

The judge ruled that Hinckley can increase the length of his visits to his mother’s hometown of Williamsburg, Va., from six nights at a time to nine. He’ll also be able to do volunteer work and take driver’s education.

Federal prosecutors had opposed increasing the length of time Hinckley is away from Washington’s St. Elizabeths Hospital.

Extending federal benefits

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to extend health care and other benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of federal employees.

White House officials say Obama plans to announce decision today in the Oval Office. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the president had not yet made the announcement.

China backs off filtering

BEIJING — China’s authoritarian government has backed away from an order to load Internet-filtering software on every new computer after a major outcry by citizens used to the relative freedom of online life.

Legal challenges, petitions and satirical cartoons had been part of a broad grass-roots effort to scuttle the initiative since it was announced earlier this month.

A Ministry of Industry and Information Technology official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Chinese computer users are not required to use or install the Green Dam Youth Escort software — though the software will still come pre-installed or be included on a compact disc with all PCs sold on the mainland from July 1.

Book fetches $80,000

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana soldier’s rare leather-bound first- edition copy of volume one of “The Federalist” has sold for $80,000 at an auction.

Indiana National Guard Capt. Nathan Harlan was in high school when he paid $7 for the 1788 book that’s the first part of a two-volume book of essays calling for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Harlan will get all the proceeds because Heritage Auction Galleries is waiving its 20 percent commission in recognition of his upcoming second deployment to Iraq.

Demand for resignation

HAMILTON, Bermuda — Nearly 1,000 protesters demanded Tuesday that Bermuda’s premier resign, saying he should have consulted with high-ranking officials before accepting four released Guantanamo inmates.

The protesters said they are not against the presence in the British territory of the four Chinese Muslims known as Uighurs, who were declared innocent of any wrongdoing by U.S. authorities. But they said Premier Ewart Brown showed disrespect by not consulting with Britain or local police officials before making the decision.

Death termed suspicious

CASTLETON, Vt. — The brother of actress Mia Farrow has been found dead in his art gallery, and police said Tuesday his death is suspicious.

Sculptor Patrick Farrow, 66, was found late Monday by police responding to an emergency call from the Farrow Gallery in Castleton, a small town near the New York border. A woman there had called asking for help.

Associated Press