A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, May 18, 1999

Despite what you might have read in an e-mail or seen on the Web, Kurt Vonnegut did not give the commencement speech at MIT and Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate Peppy Martin is not proposing a gay rights initiative. Both are Web hoaxes.

"We were very, very lucky because our trailer had a six-foot extension off the living room and that made all the difference." – Vice President Gore, in Iowa, expanding on his childhood "on a farm." (The Washington Post, May 18)

While the former has been widely debunked, the latter forced Martin to shut down his campaign Web site this weekend after someone hacked into it and made it appear as if Martin favored gun control and wanted to require that the state hire gays and lesbians.

• Hackers Strike; Peppy Martin Shuts Web Site (Lexington Herald-Leader, May 18)
• CNet's Favorite Net Hoaxes (C|Net)

Political "hacktivism" is becoming more frequent, especially outside the United States. It has even become an issue at the local level. In the Philadelphia mayoral race, which holds its highly-contested Democratic primary today, the FBI and FEC investigated a bogus Web site that appeared to be posted by John White (D) but was really posted by a supporter of opponent Dwight Evans (D).
• Dems Hustle Votes (Philadelphia Daily News, May 18)
• Dirty Politics Hits the Web (InternetNews.com, March 1)

Pataki Promises 'Something Big'
New York Republicans have been invited to attend Gov. George Pataki's "major political announcement" next Monday, but they won't say what it is. Pataki, who has harbored presidential ambitions, could be announcing a bid or could be coming out in support of another "Governor George."
• Gov Coy on Next Week's 'Major Announcement' (New York Post, May 17)

Boston Mayor Supports Gore
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) endorsed Vice President Al Gore's 2000 presidential bid Monday night at a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser in Boston.
• Mayor Gives the Nod to Gore's Candidacy for President (The Boston Globe, May 18)

Ventura Receives Minnesota's First Veto Override in 17 Years
Jesse Ventura on Monday became the first Minnesota governor in 17 years to have his veto overridden by the legislature. Ventura was opposed to a bill meant to help a woman who was suing a car manufacturer over injuries she sustained in an accident.
• Legislature Overrides Veto for First Time in 17 Years (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, May 18)

On the last day of the session, the legislature also passed the state's largest tax cut ever. The cut had been an issue of contention between Ventura and the legislature.
• Legislature Passes Biggest Tax Cut in State History (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, May 18)
• What Happened on the Major Issues (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, May 18)

Tennessee Senate Approves Confederate License Plates
A majority of Tennessee senators figured that if groups such as the traditionally black Delta Sigma Theta sorority could have specialty license plates, then the Sons of Confederate Veterans should be able to have their own tags as well. The tag would be decorated with a picture of the confederate battle flag.
• Senators Approve Confederate License Tag (The Tennessean, Nashville, May 18)
• Specialty License Plates (Tennessee Department of Safety)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com