General Has Support From Top

The White House and Pentagon said today that Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston remains a leading candidate to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff despite an adulterous affair 13 years ago. That decision not to reject Ralston's candidacy for the nation's top military job was announced after he revealed the affair this week amid a major debate in Washington over marital morals and sexual harassment in the armed forces. Ralston, vice chairman of the joint chiefs, issued a statement taking "full responsibility for my conduct some years ago" and thanking Defense Secretary William Cohen and others for their confidence in "my ability to further serve this nation."

McVeigh Prosecutors Near End

The penalty phase of the Oklahoma City bombing trial resumed today with testimony from a mother heartbroken over the death of her 14-month-old daughter in the day care center at the federal building. Sharon Coyne described her daughter Jaci Rae and her frantic attempts to find the baby on the day of the April 19, 1995 bombing that killed 168 people. "You don't ever believe your own child has died," she told the court, her voice breaking at times. The child was found a week later in the rubble of the building. The prosecution is trying to convince the jury to call for the death penalty for Timothy McVeigh, 29, who was found guilty on Monday of blowing up the federal building.

5 Grilled in FBI Van Theft

Police in Memphis say they're questioning five people who may have information about the theft of a FBI van full of weapons, most of which still are missing. The five being questioned were not believed to be the van thieves but may have some information about who did steal the vehicle, the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper reported. Police recovered tear gas canisters and grenade launcher cartridges but about a dozen weapons including assault rifles, submachineguns and 8,000 rounds of ammunition still are missing. The van was stolen from the parking lot of a hotel where a visiting team of FBI agents from Arkansas spent Monday night. The burned-out van was found Tuesday in north Memphis.

Student Quizzed in Levin Death

Police reportedly believe the son of Time Warner's top executive was murdered for his automatic teller machine card and have questioned a former student at the high school where the victim taught. Radio and newspaper reports said police believe Jonathan Levin, 31, was jabbed with a steak knife until he revealed the personal identification number that gave access to the cash dispenser. Levin, the son of Time Warner chief executive and chairman Gerald Levin, was found Monday shot through the head in his Manhattan apartment. The student who was questioned allegedly has a criminal history and had left a message on Levin's telephone answering machine after the murder.

Serial Bomber in Atlanta Probed

Federal investigators, who have believed for months that a serial bomber could be on the loose in Atlanta, now have hard crime-lab evidence to support their suspicions, sources said today. Extensive lab tests conducted at a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms crime lab in Atlanta and at an FBI facility in Washington showed that bomb components from attacks an abortion clinic and a gay nightclub are identical. Sources said results also show that shrapnel used in those two attacks and last July's Centennial Olympic Park bombing originated in the same foundry.

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Jump

The number of Americans entering unemployment lines for the first time jumped by 19,000 last week, the government said today. Despite the Memorial Day holiday, which shortened the period during which workers were able to apply for jobless benefits last week, the Labor Department reported that initial claims rose to 337,000 in the week ended May 31. That figure compared with claims of 318,000 the week before and was the highest level for initial filings since the week ended May 3, when claims reached 348,000. Wall Street economists had forecast initial jobless claims of 320,000 in the latest week.

Ex-CIA Spy Sentenced to Prison

Confessed CIA double-agent Harold Nicholson was sentenced today to 23 years and seven months in prison for spying for Russia. Nicholson, 46, pleaded guilty on March 3 to selling national security secrets to Moscow for 2 1/2 years. He was the highest-ranking officer of the CIA ever convicted of spying. Nicholson told the court he deeply regretted having sold out his country but would not ask for forgiveness from his colleagues and fellow Americans because "I know they can't give it." Nicholson, a divorced father of three, said he had turned to selling secrets to the Russians to get money to compensate his children after "failing to keep my marriage together."

Democrats in "Dire Straits"

The Democratic Party has sent supporters a fund-raising letter written by political strategist James Carville declaring that the party is in "dire" financial straits and could be "crippled for years." The letter was sent to 450,000 households across the country. Accusing congressional Republicans of conducting a witch hunt, Carville said their politically inspired investigations of alleged fund-raising misdeeds in the 1996 election had hamstrung Democratic operations. Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman said the party was $16 million in debt and had cut back on "many non-essential activities." But he insisted Democrats would be fully funded and highly competitive in 1998 elections.

Reeve Urges More Funding

Actor Christopher Reeve, paralyzed in a horse-riding accident two years ago, made an impassioned plea to Congress today to devote more money to research brain and spinal cord injuries. Addressing a Senate appropriations subcommittee on advances in research on brain and spinal cord injuries, the former "Superman" movie star said progress was being made to find a cure for these injuries but more funding was needed. Speaking to the panel from his wheelchair, Reeve said the investment of "real dollars" was needed -- money that did not fit within the constraints of budgetary amendments. Reeve suffered multiple injuries when he was thrown from his horse at an equestrian event in Virginia two years ago.

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