Head of Marshall Space Flight Center steps down

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The head of the NASA center responsible for the space shuttle fuel tank that has come under suspicion in the Columbia disaster announced Tuesday that he is stepping down.

Arthur G. Stephenson, director of the Marshall Space Flight Center since 1998, said his departure was not connected to any problems at the center.

Stephenson, 60, will leave as Marshall director on June 15 and said he will assume an educational position within NASA until he retires in January. No immediate replacement was named.

The shuttle fleet is grounded as investigators try to pinpoint why Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on Feb. 1, killing all seven astronauts.

"With NASA preparing to implement a comprehensive 'Return to Flight' effort, I felt the timing for this move is in the best interest of the agency, Marshall and me, personally," Stephenson said in a statement.

Fletcher, Chandler to square off for governor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Republican Rep. Ernie Fletcher and Democratic state Attorney General Ben Chandler were nominated for Kentucky governor Tuesday, setting up a fall battle between two well-known politicians to replace a lame-duck, scandal-tainted Democrat.

Fletcher, a three-term congressman, is considered the GOP's best hope in years to capture an office it hasn't won since 1967. His opponent has major name recognition: Chandler is a grandson of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, a former governor, senator and major league baseball commissioner.

Fletcher said he got a congratulatory call from President Bush's deputy political director. "They're looking for new leadership in this state," Fletcher told supporters.

He also said he would draw a sharp contrast between himself and Chandler.

"It's going to be a very aggressive campaign," he said.

Chandler's reaction was one of relief. He called the primary "the end of one long journey and the beginning of another."

With all precincts reporting, Fletcher had 88,747 votes, or 57 percent of the total. Former Jefferson County official Rebecca Jackson trailed with 43,147 votes, or 28 percent, while state Rep. Steve Nunn, son of the last GOP governor, Louie Nunn, had 20,147 votes, or 13 percent.

In the Democratic race, Chandler had 141,398 votes, or 51 percent, edging state House Speaker Jody Richards, who had 125,578 votes, or 45 percent.

Grandparents fight for rights to 3-year-old boy

PITTSBURGH -- The grandparents of a 3-year-old boy have obtained a temporary order prohibiting their widowed daughter-in-law from moving to North Carolina, where she wants to start a new life with her fiance.

Ronald and Rose Miller obtained the order on April 29 against 32-year-old Bonnie Miller, the wife of their late son, Jeff, who died in March 2002 of leukemia. The order against her moving, which remains in effect until a June 4 hearing, also gives the Millers more visitation time with grandson Kevin.

-- From wire reports