Nation digest 06/05/02

Jury begins deliberating fate of Kennedy cousin

NORWALK, Conn. -- Michael Skakel's fate went to the jury Tuesday as deliberations began on whether the Kennedy family cousin beat his 15-year-old neighbor to death with a golf club in 1975.

The jury ended for the day after about six hours of deliberations.

Deliberations began the morning after prosecutors closed their case by displaying a projected photo of a smiling Martha Moxley that dissolved into a grim crime scene photo.

Skakel, 41, is accused of killing Moxley when they were 15-year-olds living in a wealthy gated community in Greenwich. The golf club was matched to a set owned by Skakel's mother. Skakel is a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy.

A murder conviction is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.

Pay disparity between men, women closing

JACKSON, Miss. -- Women in the United States earned only 73 cents for every dollar men were paid in 1999, though the gap narrowed during the 1990s, according to census figures released Tuesday.

Women gained roughly 7 cents on the dollar over the 10-year period, according to the Census Bureau's long form.

The figure does not necessarily mean that women are being paid less than men for doing the same job. Instead, the census looked at earnings in 1999 for full-time workers in all industries and found that the national median income for men was $35,922 and $26,292 for women.

Experts said the main reasons for the wage gap are that women often take time off to have children and lose experience and pay; that women often choose lower-paying professions, such as teaching; and that women are discriminated against when it comes to promotions and raises.

NASA hoping for break in weather for launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- After nearly a week of delays, NASA hoped for a break in the weather today that would allow it to launch space shuttle Endeavour to the international space station.

Endeavour will drop off a new crew at the orbiting outpost and bring home the three men who have been living there for the past six months. The shuttle's astronauts will also repair the space station's robot arm.

Forecasters on Tuesday put the chances of acceptable weather at just 40 percent. Thunderstorms remained a threat, in addition to thick clouds and gusty wind.

As part of the space agency's post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism measures, NASA kept the 5:23 p.m. launch time a secret until 24 hours in advance.

Helicopter crashes onto roof of house; pilot hurt

TAMPA, Fla. -- A helicopter crashed onto the roof of a home, leaving wreckage in an empty bedroom. The pilot sustained only minor injuries, and none of the three people in the house was hurt.

About 17 gallons of fuel leaked from the two-seat helicopter, but did not ignite, when the craft crashed around 10 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Part of the landing skid fell into the bedroom of two children, who were not at home.

"I just heard a loud boom," said Toni Duran, who was at home with her husband and brother-in-law. "There was fuel everywhere. The gas smell was so bad I couldn't breathe."

Michael Antinori, 30, was flying from east Hillsborough County to Clearwater, Tampa fire spokesman Bill Wade said. He was released from Tampa General Hospital early Tuesday, a spokeswoman said.

-- From wire reports