Nation digest 01/18/04

Ferry captain to seek legal fees from New York

NEW YORK -- The captain of a Staten Island ferry that killed 11 people in October wants the city to pay $250,000 for his legal fees. Michael Gansas filed a notice of claim with the city last week declaring his intent to sue for the money. New York generally defends employees against legal actions that stem from their role as municipal workers. City attorneys have said Gansas forfeited that right by refusing to cooperate with crash investigators. The captain became the focus of intense legal and media attention after the crash when he declined to talk to investigators, citing his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Michigan mom gives birth to the last of sextuplets

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A woman pregnant with sextuplets has given birth to the five remaining babies more than a week after delivering the first, a hospital official said Saturday. The four boys and two girls were three months premature. Amy Van Houten delivered four babies Friday and one Saturday morning. All were in critical condition, weighing between 1 pound, 4 ounces and 2 pounds, 1 ounce. The mother, a 26-year-old teacher, was in fair condition but tired, the hospital said.

Plane crashes in Lake Erie after takeoff

SANDUSKY, Ohio -- A single-engine plane carrying at least nine people crashed Saturday in snowy weather shortly after taking off from an island in Lake Erie, the U.S. Coast Guard said. There was no immediate word on whether anyone survived. The pilot radioed a frantic call for help shortly after taking off about 5 p.m., but controllers then lost contact with the plane, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Christopher Pasciuto said. A helicopter found the wreckage about 7:30 p.m. Saturday about a mile west of Ontario's Pelee Island, Pasciuto said.

Charleston, S.C., tops best-mannered cities list

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- To gloat would be, perish the thought, impolite. But again Charleston tops the unofficial list of the best-mannered cities in the United States. It's the tenth time and the ninth year in a row this city of pastel buildings and ocean breezes has taken or shared top honors since etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart started compiling her annual list 27 years ago. A number of Midwestern cities tied for second place this year: Springfield, Ill., Peoria, Ill., and the Quad Cities, which include Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.

-- From wire reports