Nation digest 12/04/01

Spacewalk repairs clear way for shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Two spacewalking cosmonauts removed an old rubber seal stuck to the international space station, clearing the way for space shuttle Endeavour to lift off today on a flight to the orbiting outpost.

Launch is set for just after sunset amid unprecedented security to guard against terrorist attacks. Endeavour will deliver a new crew to the space station.

Endeavour's flight was delayed last Thursday because of a jammed docking mechanism that prevented an unmanned Russian supply ship from latching securely onto the space station. The obstruction turned out to be a piece of debris -- an O-ring seal from an earlier supply ship.

Teen accused of school plot appears at hearing

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A 17-year-old accused of plotting a massacre at his high school told police he wanted the event to be "bigger than Columbine" but doubted it would happen, according to an audiotape played in court Monday.

The sometimes-inaudible tape was played at a bail hearing for Eric McKeehan, who has pleaded innocent to conspiracy to commit murder and other charges.

McKeehan is one of five teen-agers charged in the case. Police say the youths plotted to smuggle guns into New Bedford High School, detonate explosives and kill as many students and faculty as possible. The alleged plot was foiled in part after one of the teens warned a teacher.

McKeehan has been held without bail since his Nov. 24 arrest. There was no immediate ruling.

Mob boss says prison sentence 'ain't bad'

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino was sentenced Monday to 14 years in prison for racketeering.

"Ain't bad," Merlino, 39, told family members sitting in the gallery. "Nine's better than the death penalty."

Merlino's lawyer said his client would serve only about nine years with credit for time served.

While a jury acquitted Merlino of the most serious charges against him last July, he and six co-defendants were convicted of a series of racketeering offenses including extortion and illegal gambling.

The sentence handed out by U.S. District Judge Herbert Hutton was less than what prosecutors had asked for. Merlino was also ordered to repay almost $338,000 and was fined $25,000.

Merlino succeeded Natale as boss of the Philadelphia-South Jersey mob after Natale was jailed in 1998.

Teamsters riled over UPS uniform policy

CANTON, Ohio -- Teamsters members in this city have voted to strike at UPS over a uniform policy that got a driver fired for wearing a red, white and blue ribbon.

The 137-12 vote Sunday gives Teamsters Local 92 business agent Greg Van Dress the authority to call drivers out if the issue can't be settled.

Joe Gill, a UPS employee for 28 years, was fired Thursday morning for wearing the ribbon on his uniform.

UPS spent tens of thousands of dollars on flag pins and decals so drivers could show their patriotism in a manner consistent with the uniform, said Norman Black, UPS manager for national media relations.

"We make no apology for stringent uniform regulations," he said.

Boat with 186 Haitians found off Florida coast

MIAMI -- An overloaded boat carrying 186 Haitians ran aground in 3 feet of water off the Florida coast Monday after being at sea for 10 days.

The Haitians were being removed from the boat about 10 miles offshore and were to be taken to the Coast Guard station in Miami. The U.S. government almost always sends illegal Haitian immigrants back to their homeland.

The Haitians were given water and lifejackets as they waited to be taken off the roughly 50-foot wooden boat, which was found about 10 miles south of Miami.

The Coast Guard has sent back 1,453 Haitian immigrants this year through September.

-- From wire reports