Texas: Library releases tapes; King feared race war

The Rev. Martin Luther King told President Lyndon Johnson he feared a “full-scale race war” following the deadly 1965 Los Angeles riots in a tape-recorded conversation released Friday.

The LBJ Library and Museum released 40 hours of phone conversations Johnson secretly recorded in 1965, including the 13-minute call from King.

The men discussed racial tension after the Watts riots and Johnson complained about opposition in Congress to some of his anti-poverty initiatives. The president also implored King to publicly support him on Vietnam.

Riots erupted in Los Angeles’ impoverished Watts neighborhood on Aug. 11, 1965, and lasted five days, killing 34 and injuring hundreds.

Washington: Condit scheduled to meet grand jury

Rep. Gary Condit was scheduled Friday to appear before a Washington, D.C., grand jury investigating the disappearance of Chandra Levy and obstruction of justice allegations involving the California Democrat and possibly others, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Condit’s scheduled appearance Friday morning was a carefully guarded secret. Authorities, concerned about grand jury leaks, declined to provide any details. It was unclear whether he offered testimony to the jury or invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Authorities have repeatedly said Condit is not a suspect in the disappearance of the 24-year-old California woman.

New Jersey: Black studies prof picks Princeton over Harvard

Cornel West, one of Harvard’s most distinguished black studies professors, is leaving for Princeton University after a falling-out with Harvard’s new president, Princeton said Friday.

His appointment is subject to approval by the board of trustees, which meets today.

West did not immediately return messages left at his office.

Harvard’s department has been at odds with President Lawrence Summers, who took over the post last year, because he did not make a strong statement in support of affirmative action at an early meeting with department members.

Summers was also said to have rebuked West for recording a rap CD and leading a political committee for the Rev. Al Sharpton’s possible presidential campaign.

Cincinnati: Ashcroft, city agree to overhaul police

U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft signed an agreement Friday with Cincinnati to overhaul police operations and curtail excessive use of force, ending a yearlong probe that began after a white officer shot and killed an unarmed black man.

City officials estimate it will cost $12 million during five years to comply with the agreement and a companion settlement of a lawsuit that accused police of harassing blacks.