Smithsonian not welcome in bid for mine capsule

PITTSBURGH -- The rescue of nine men from a western Pennsylvania coal mine has set off a tug-of-war over the metal capsule that lifted the men to safety from 240 feet underground.

The Smithsonian Institution wants to add the grungy, yellow cage to its collection, although the federal agency that owns the capsule isn't ready to let go of it.

And now officials from a small mining history center in Somerset County, where the rescue took place, are putting in their own plea.

"Ultimately, this is an issue of who this history belongs to," said Paul Douglas Newman, a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. "If the local community were not equipped to tell this story, it should go to Washington, but we have the facilities right here."

Newman and some local officials are campaigning to get the capsule for the Windber Coal Heritage Center, near the Quecreek Mine where the men were trapped by rapidly rising water.

Election officials edit workers training video

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Broward County election officials have thrown out part of a poll worker training video after Republicans complained about its portrayal of a white GOP voter berating a black election worker.

The video, using election office employees as actors, showed eight situations ranging from voters with disabilities and language problems to voters who are belligerent.

The segment on belligerence, which was erased on Friday, showed the exchange between a white voter and a black poll worker.

"I'm voting Republican and do you want to know why? All Democrats are communists," the voter tells the poll worker.

"Sir, you are wrong, I'm a Democrat and I'm certainly not a communist," responds the poll worker.

Catholic religious orders to keep abusive priests

PHILADELPHIA -- Leaders of Roman Catholic religious orders approved details of their plan Saturday to keep sexually abusive clergy away from children but in the priesthood, creating review boards to monitor how their communities handle offenders.

The Conference of Major Superiors of Men, an association of heads of groups such as Bendictines and Jesuits, also acknowledged their members had sometimes failed to sufficiently discipline errant clergy in the past.

"We are deeply sorry for that and publicly apologize for whenever and however we have failed victims or families," they said in the document, which won overwhelming approval by the leaders.

Rockettes audition idea bothers dancers union

NEW YORK -- A dancers union says the current roster of Rockettes shouldn't be kicked out of Radio City Music Hall.

The corporate owner of the landmark concert venue wants to replace the standing roster of Rockettes with a system of open auditions. The dancers with the trademark high-leg kicks have been working without a contract since February.

Talks are scheduled to resume Monday, said John Hall, chief negotiator for the American Guild of Variety Artists.

The Rockettes' performances in New York could be jeopardized if an agreement isn't reached, Hall said.

--From wire reports