Raton school principal named in fraud complaint
RATON, N.M. (AP) - Raton Middle School Principal Bill Nacarrato and a school district secretary have been named in a criminal complaint alleging fraud and conspiracy.
The six-count complaint against Nacarrato and Cindy M. Feldman was made public Monday by the Raton district attorney's office. It accuses the two of misappropriating more than $3,000 of school money during the past year.
Nacarrato and Feldman allegedly used an unauthorized invoice on Oct. 10, 2002 to obtain $1,163 in district funds. They allegedly used another invoice in April for an additional $2,090.
Nacarrato sent a letter of resignation to Raton Superintendent Linda Hale on Friday, stating he was retiring and his resignation would be effective Nov. 14.
Hale said Nacarrato has been placed on administrative leave until his retirement date and that Feldman was still working at Kearny Elementary as of Monday.
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Hale referred questions about the allegations to the district attorney's office. Deputy District Attorney Len Olsen could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.
Congress passes budget to aid postwar efforts
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress voted its final approval Monday for $87.5 billion for U.S. military operations and aid in Iraq and Afghanistan, a day after Americans in Iraq endured their worst casualties since March. In an anticlimactic moment, for which only a handful of senators appeared, the Senate approved the bill by voice and handed a legislative victory to President Bush, who had requested a similar package two months ago.
The voice vote - in which Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., was the only one to shout "Nay" - let lawmakers sidestep the roll call that usually accompanies major legislation.
Firefighters sent home as Calif. fires diminish
BIG BEAR, Calif. (AP) - Exhausted firefighters were sent home Monday as remaining crews doused hotspots and watched for new ones - the vast wildfires that ravaged parts of Southern California all but surrounded.
More than 27,000 people remained displaced from their homes, but that was well down from the 80,000 at the peak of the fires, said a spokesman for the state Office of Emergency Services.
Dennehy civil lawsuit moved from Houston
HOUSTON (AP) - A judge Monday granted Baylor University's request to have a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of slain Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy moved from Houston to Waco, the university's home.
State District Judge Bruce Oakley, a Baylor graduate, said he was moving the case "in the interest of justice" and to keep from inconveniencing potential witnesses.
Attorneys for defendants Drayton McLane, chairman of Baylor's Board of Regents, school president Robert Sloan, former athletic director Tom Stanton and former basketball coach Dave Bliss were among those present at a more than hour-long hearing.
Defense attorneys argued the case should be moved to Waco because McLane, owner of baseball's Houston Astros, is not a permanent resident of Houston and Harris County. McLane is the lone defendant with ties to Harris County.
