WASHINGTON

FORMER PRESIDENT HIRES NEW SPOKESMAN

President Clinton has hired a new spokesman, a veteran of the Howard Dean 2004 presidential campaign and New York City’s 2012 Olympics bid. Jay Carson was also a former press secretary for Senator Daschle, a Democrat of South Dakota, and has worked for the Democratic National Committee. Mr. Clinton’s office announced Mr. Carson’s hiring yesterday.

Mr. Carson replaces Jim Kennedy, who announced he is leaving to become a spokesman for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Mr. Kennedy has worked since 2002 as the chief spokesman for the former president. He also worked in the Clinton White House from 1998 to early 2001.

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

REPUBLICAN BEATS IRAQ WAR VETERAN TO TAKE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

CINCINNATI – A Republican former state lawmaker claimed a seat in Congress on yesterday by narrowly defeating an Iraq war veteran who drew national attention to the race with his military service and a series of harsh attacks on President Bush.

With all precincts reporting, Jean Schmidt had 52%, or 57,974 votes, compared with Democrat Paul Hackett’s 48%, or 54,401 votes. Ms. Schmidt’s margin of victory amounted to about 3,500 votes out of more than 112,000 cast. Ms. Schmidt, 53, will replace Republican Rob Portman, who stepped down this year after being named U.S. trade representative by Bush. Mr. Portman held the seat for 12 years, consistently winning with more than 70% of the vote in the Cincinnati-area district.

Democrats had viewed the race as a bellwether for 2006, saying even a strong showing by Mr. Hackett in such a heavily GOP district would be a good sign for them in the midterm elections.

– Associated Press

NORTHEAST

POLICE BLAMED IN N.J. CAR TRUNK DEATHS

CAMDEN, N.J. – Police failed to follow proper procedures as they searched for three missing boys later found dead, neglecting a national group’s recommendations to immediately look in enclosed spaces such as car trunks, a report released yesterday said.

The report also faulted the parents of the children for waiting three hours to call police, and for not disclosing during the massive search that one of the boys had previously played in the trunk of the car that was parked in the yard where they had been last seen. The victims – Anibal Cruz, 11; Daniel Agosto, 6; and Jesstin Pagan, 5 – were found in the car’s trunk following two days of fruitless searching after they vanished June 22 from the yard of the Cruz home. An autopsy concluded they were alive for hours while the search continued.

The boys’ parents and their attorneys were given the report yesterday morning; it was then released publicly. A lawyer for one of the boys’ mothers said it was unfair to criticize the families for their search efforts and that his client did not know whether her son had played in the trunk before.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

TRAIN STRIKES DUMP TRUCK AND DERAILS, KILLING 2

RALEIGH, N.C. – An Amtrak passenger train struck a dump truck and derailed yesterday, killing two people, after the truck’s driver apparently drove around a lowered crossing gate, police said.

Witnesses reported the gate and a light at the crossing were working before the truck, loaded with gravel, drove onto the tracks, said police spokesman Jim Sughrue. There were no serious injuries among the 180 passengers and crew on the train, he said.

The collision knocked the train’s engine and four of its seven cars off the tracks, said Fire Department Assistant Chief Bryant Woodall. Killed were the truck’s driver, Chris McCullough, 34, of Garner, and passenger Keith Spence, 33, of Raleigh.

– Associated Press