SOUTH

TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX WITH STUDENT PLEADS GUILTY

TAMPA, Fla. – A female teacher pleaded guilty yesterday to having sex with a 14-year-old student, avoiding prison as part of a plea agreement. Debra Lafave, 25, will serve three years of house arrest and seven years’ probation. She pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.

The former Greco Middle School reading teacher apologized during the hearing, saying “I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

The boy told investigators the two had sex in a classroom at the school, located in Temple Terrace near Tampa; in her Riverview town house, and once in a vehicle while his 15-year-old cousin drove them around Marion County.

The boy told investigators that Lafave told him her marriage was in trouble and that she was aroused by the fact that having sex with him was not allowed. He said he and Lafave, a newlywed at the time, got to know each other on their way back from a class trip to SeaWorld Orlando in May 2004. If convicted at trial in Hillsbrough County, she could have faced up to 15 years in prison on each count.

– Associated Press

NORTHEAST

VENEZUELA TO PROVIDE OIL TO MASSACHUSETTS

QUINCY, Mass. – Thousands of low-income Massachusetts residents will receive discounted home heating oil this winter under an agreement signed yesterday with Venezuela, whose government is a political adversary of the Bush administration.

A subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company will supply oil at 40% below market prices. It will be distributed by two nonprofit organizations, Citizens Energy and the Mass Energy Consumer Alliance.

The agreement gives President Chavez’s government standing as a provider of heating assistance to poor American residents at a time when American oil companies have been reluctant to do so and Congress has failed to expand aid in response to rising oil prices. Rep. William Delahunt, a Democrat of Massachusetts, met with Mr. Chavez in August and helped broker the deal. He said his constituents’ needs for heating assistance trump any political points the Chavez administration can score.

– Associated Press

AMERICA SAYS IT WILL CUT SOFTWOOD LUMBER DUTIES

The Commerce Department said yesterday it will comply with a NAFTA panel’s order to cut drastically American duties on imports of Canadian softwood lumber.

American officials said they disagree with the rationale behind the ruling, but respect its authority. The decision means America will reduce the punitive duties, which average about 16%, to less than 1%. Separate anti-dumping tariffs averaging about 4% will not be affected.

– Associated Press

WEST

AUTHORITIES PROBE DEATH OF PASTOR

PORTERVILLE, Calif. – A clergyman awaiting trial on charges of raping two teenage sisters plunged 400 feet to his death in Sequoia National Park, and federal authorities were investigating yesterday whether he fell, jumped, or was pushed.

The body of the Reverend Santos Teixeira was discovered Sunday after one of his parishioners reported the death, a park spokeswoman, Alexandra Picavet, said.

Santos, 54, plunged from a 1,500-foot granite dome known as Moro Rock, landing on a ledge.

– Associated Press