A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998

The State Journal-Register, a daily newspaper in Springfield, Ill., made a conscious choice to eliminate any reference to President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in Wednesday's paper. The editors left an explanation in the space normally reserved for the scandal-related "Doonesbury" cartoon. Patrick Coburn, the paper's publisher and editor, wrote in a column to readers that his paper was responding to criticism that the press was blowing the story out of proportion.

"Any other sex scandals were fair game." – Barry Locher, managing editor of The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill., talking about the guidelines for his paper's "Monica-Free Holiday." (Early Returns interview, Feb. 5)

Monica-Free Day for Springfield Paper (The Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Ill., Feb. 5)
For State Journal-Register readers, here's the missing "Doonesbury" from Wednesday.

Water Bill: Clinton Truthful?
In Tama, Iowa, the city water bill usually includes a bit of kindly advice, such as, "Don't forget to shovel your walk." The latest note asked, "Did President Clinton lie?" Six Tama residents called the utility office to offer their vote. City officials have vowed that next month's tab will be 100 percent Lewinsky free.
Water Bill Asks if Clinton Lied (The Dispatch/Argus, Davenport, Iowa, Feb. 4)

Ill. Candidate Says Taking Bullet for Reagan Not So Heroic
In 1981, secret service agent Timothy J. McCarthy took a bullet in the chest during an assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan. McCarthy is now a Democratic candidate for Illinois secretary of state. But primary opponent Jesse White remains unimpressed, discounting McCarthy's actions as a "one-time event."
White Unwarranted on McCarthy Attack (Chicago Sun-Times, Feb. 4)
Five Democrats Face Off in Secretary of State Race (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Feb. 1)

Key La. Congressman Mulls Retirement
U.S. House Appropriations Chairman Robert Livingston (R-La.) refused Wednesday to commit to another term. If the 20-year Congressional veteran retires at the end of this year, he would leave a vacancy in Republican leadership. Livingston is also one of Newt Gingrich's key backers, so his departure could hamper the speaker's ability to keep his post in the next Congress.
Livingston May Not Run This Year (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 5)

Colo.: Another Record-Setting Campaign?
The five Democrats and two Republicans running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Skaggs (D-Colo.) could break the state record for a congressional election by combining to raise more than $1.7 million.
House Election Could Break $1.7 Million Record (Rocky Mountain News, Feb. 5)