Nation & world

Facebook hires US press secretary

NEW YORK - Facebook hired Joe Lockhart, who served as presssecretary during President Bill Clinton's second term, as vicepresident of global communications.

The 51-year-old Lockhart will start on July 15 in his new post.He will move to California from Washington, D.C.

Facebook, the world's largest online social network, has beenpadding its ranks with Washington insiders as it grows. Recently,the company hired two aides of former President George W. Bush aslobbyists.

Lockhart has also worked as a TV journalist on CNN, NBC News andSky Television of London. He founded Glover Park Group, acommunications firm.

Family finds cats

after tornadoes

MONSON, Mass. - A Massachusetts family whose home was destroyedby the tornadoes that struck the state on June 1 has found all sevenof its cats alive.

Michael Roescher said all seven of his family's cats were insidetheir rented home in Monson when it collapsed, but the last one wasrecovered from the rubble on Sunday.

He said that he's "thrilled" and "shocked" because he didn'tthink there was any way the cats could have survived thedevastation.

All were in good shape, except for bruised paws from trying todig out.

Pitchman indicted

over sales scheme

PHOENIX - A grand jury indicted a Phoenix-based TV pitchmanaccused of running a nationwide scheme to sell essentially worthlessInternet-based businesses to more than 200,000 people.

Federal prosecutors said Donald Lapre was charged with 41 countsof conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional moneylaundering. He was accused of overseeing and promoting theopportunity through his company called "The Greatest Vitamin in theWorld."

During the course of the scheme, the government says at least220,000 victims were defrauded of nearly $52 million.

Man returns at 99

for college degree

BEND, Ore. - An Oregon man who dropped out of college just shortof graduation in 1932 has earned his degree at age 99.

KTVZ-TV in Bend reports that Leo Plass, of Redmond, received hisdiploma a few days ago from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

Plass says he was less than one semester away from graduatingfrom what was then called Eastern Oregon Normal School and startinga career as a teacher.

But Plass says it was the Depression, and a teaching salary of$80 a month wouldn't cut it. So when a friend offered him a spot ina logging outfit at $150 a month, Plass says he couldn't pass it up.

Pita incident leads

police to woman

BOUDLER, Colo. - Police in Colorado say a woman with anoutstanding warrant for her arrest was found because she threw herpita sandwich at Boulder cab driver.

The Daily Camera reports that 28-year-old Sarah Renee Lane wasarrested Sunday after she got angry with a cabbie who told her shecouldn't bring food into the car.

Police records say yogurt sauce spattered on the driver's beardand face and made a mess in the vehicle.

Officers arrested her because she had failed to appear in courtfor a dog-at-large ticket.

COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS