Author Louis Auchincloss dies at age 92

Author Louis Auchincloss dies at age 92

NEW YORK — Louis Auchincloss, a prolific author of fiction and nonfiction whose dozens of books imparted sober, firsthand knowledge of America’s patrician class, has died. He was 92,

James Auchincloss, said Wednesday that his grandfather died Tuesday, a week after suffering a stroke.The author’s wife, Adele, an artist and environmentalist, died in 1991. They had three sons.

Auchincloss wrote more than 50 books, about one a year since the end of World War II, including the novel “The Rector of Justin,” a memoir “A Writer’s Capital,” biographies, literary criticism and short stories. A four-time fiction finalist for the National Book Award, his nominated novels included “The Embezzler” and “The House of Five Talents.”

Auchincloss lived up to the old world ideal of being “useful,” bearing the various titles of writer, attorney, community leader and family man. He was a partner at the Wall Street firm of Hawkins, Delafield & Wood and president of both the Museum of the City of New York and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was also a cousin by marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who worked with him when she was a book editor.

PETA proposes robotic groundhog for Pa. festival

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — An animal-rights group wants organizers of Pennsylvania’s Groundhog Day festival to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic stand-in.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it’s unfair to keep the animal in captivity and subject him to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany tens of thousands of revelers each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, a tiny borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. PETA is suggesting the use of an animatronic model.

But William Deeley, president of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says the animal is “being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.” The groundhog is kept in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state Department of Agriculture. He says PETA isn’t interested in Phil from Feb. 2 on, and is looking for publicity.

Attacker hits Israeli chief justice with sneaker

JERUSALEM — An Israeli man hurled his sneakers at Israel’s Supreme Court chief justice on Wednesday during a hearing on medical marijuana, hitting her between the eyes, breaking her glasses and knocking her off her chair.

Dorit Beinisch was not seriously hurt, and the incident appeared to be isolated, though there have been rising numbers of threats against the judiciary. Beinisch, who has served as chief justice since 2006, received first aid in her chambers and was treated with ice before returning to the courtroom a few hours later to conclude the hearing.

Court spokeswoman Ayelet Filo identified the assailant as Pinchas Cohen, 52. She said his motive was unclear, but the attack did not appear linked to the hearing. A top court security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk to the media, said the court has been aware of Cohen since he threatened a judge in 2006. He said Cohen’s motive stemmed from a dispute in family court.

Rajapaksa wins re-election

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a resounding re-election victory, state media reported Wednesday, beating back a challenge from his former army chief who said he feared arrest after hundreds of troops surrounded his hotel. With nearly all ballots counted, Rajapaksa won 5.9 million votes, or 58 percent, to Sarath Fonseka’s 4.1 million, or 40 percent, according to state TV. Turnout was about 70 percent. The president now must rebuild the country after last year’s successful offensive to destroy the Tamil Tiger separatists after 25 years of conflict.

N. Korea detains American

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says it has detained an American man for trespassing on its border with China. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch today that the man was detained Monday and is under investigation. The report did not provide further details.

North Korea said late last month it was holding another U.S. citizen for “illegally entering” the country through the North Korea-China border, though did not elaborate. The man detained in December is widely believed to be Robert Park, an American missionary who South Korean activists say crossed into the country over a frozen river several days earlier to raise the issue of human rights in the North.

Associated Press