A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, May 25, 1999

At a press conference Monday, Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster (R) explained why he tried to hide his dealings with former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. "It ain't real cool to put out there that you are buying something from David Duke," he said. A federal grand jury is investigating Foster's $150,000 purchase of Duke's political mailing list during the 1995 gubernatorial race.

"It ain't real cool to put out there that you are buying something from David Duke." – Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster (R) (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., May 25)

Duke says the investigation is a politically-
motivated probe being led by a friend of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, who is challenging Foster for the governorship.

• Governor Explains His Dealings with Duke (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, May 25)
• Transcript From Gov. Foster Press Conference (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, May 25)

Low Turnout Expected at Kentucky Primaries
With only two contested statewide races on the ballot in today's Kentucky primary, turnout is expected to be less than 10 percent. Peppy Martin, a Hart County publicist, and David L. Williams, an Adair County utility contractor, are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Paul Patton, who is unopposed today.
• Election Day (The Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky., May 25)

McDermott May Yet Challenge Gorton in Washington Senate Race
Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott may decide to challenge Republican Sen. Slade Gorton, after all. McDermott, who is in his sixth term in Congress, but who also lost three gubernatorial races in the 1970s and '80s, previously said he was not interested in the Senate race.
• McDermott Getting More Serious About Challenging Gorton (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 25)

McCain Gets 'Courage Award'; Slammed in Local Press
Who says there's no place like home? After GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain won the Kennedy family's "Profile in Courage" award Monday, a columnist from the largest paper in McCain's home state of Arizona panned McCain's rebel image.
• 'Courage' In Same Pit as 'Hero' (The Arizona Republic, May 25)

Oklahoma Senate Sends Bomb Trial Money to Tornado Victims
The Oklahoma Senate decided Monday to take all the money being spent on the state trial of Oklahoma City bombing defendant Terry Nichols and use it to help the victims of this month's tornadoes.
• State Senate Votes to Halt Nichols' Funding (The Oklahoman, May 25)

San Francisco, L.A. to File Suit Against Gun Makers
Unlike the other cities which are suing the gun industry, San Francisco, Los Angeles and four other California cities are relying on a state consumer protection law that outlaws unfair or deceptive business practices. The previous claims have largely been that gun makers are negligently selling a dangerous product.
• California Cities Suing Gun Makers (San Francisco Chronicle, May 25)

Calif. Teachers' Union Wants to Organize Charter Schools
California's largest teachers union and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, the former Democratic governor and presidential candidate, are at odds over a bill that would require charter school teachers to join the same union to which local public school teachers belong.
• Charter Schools Backers Battle Labor Measure (Los Angeles Times, May 25)
• Editorial: Jerry's Kids (The Wall Street Journal, May 25, subscription required)

Davis Is Democrat to Watch in California's 'Proving Ground'
With Republicans controlling Texas, New York and Florida, California Gov. Gray Davis is one of the few high-profile Democratic state leaders in the nation. His brand of centrism, similar to President Clinton's, is under scrutiny from both the political right and left.
• Davis Becomes Democrat to Watch as He Tries to Walk a Centrist Line (Los Angeles Times, May 25)

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