Nation digest 09/28/02

What's left of Isidore dumps rain in Northeast

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The remnants of Tropical Storm Isidore swept into the Northeast on Friday after leaving thousands of people without power in swamped communities across the South.

The storm left nearly 10 inches of rain in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee but largely spared the region's flood-prone mountains. By late afternoon, it was dumping rain on Pennsylvania, New York and parts of New England.

Isidore hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a hurricane last weekend, killing at least two people. It was blamed for at least two deaths in the United States, in Mississippi and Tennessee, and millions of dollars in damage.

Committee probes Clinton discussion of Olympics bid

NEW YORK -- The U.S. Olympic Committee is investigating whether Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton improperly discussed New York City's bid to host the 2012 games with an Olympic official.

The committee is looking into a meeting between Clinton and Anita DeFrantz on Sept. 6, when Clinton hosted DeFrantz for a special session of Congress at Federal Hall. DeFrantz, a representative of the Olympic selection committee, has publicly stated that she discussed New York's bid with Clinton.

"We have not been apprised of any constraints on senators when it comes to promoting their states," said Clinton spokeswoman Karen Dunn.

New York and San Francisco are the U.S. finalists for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The USOC will choose between the two on Nov. 2.

Kentucky governor won't run for Senate in 2004

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Paul Patton dropped his plans to run for the Senate in 2004, a week after getting caught in a sex scandal.

"I cannot envision circumstances under which I would be a candidate," the 65-year-old Democrat said Friday.

He is serving his second term as governor and is barred under the law from running again in 2003.

Patton was hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit last week by a nursing home operator who claims he turned regulators loose on her business after she ended their two-year relationship.

The governor acknowledged having an extramarital affair with Tina Conner but denied misusing his office.

-- From wire reports