Pennsylvania: Children’s TV host buried

Fred Rogers, a children’s television icon known for his zip-up cardigan and his invitations to be his neighbor on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” was buried in a private ceremony Saturday.

About 60 relatives, friends and co-workers attended a funeral for Rogers, who was host of the public television show for more than 30 years, said family spokesman David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on the show.

Rogers, who produced the show from 1968 to 2000, died Thursday at his Pittsburgh home, following a bout with stomach cancer. He was 74.

Rogers taped his final new episode in December 2000; one of his red sweaters now hangs in the Smithsonian Institution.

San Francisco: Police chief asks state to investigate his indictment

Police Chief Earl Sanders, indicted with other top brass for allegedly covering up a street brawl involving off-duty officers, has asked the state to investigate whether prosecutors exceeded their authority in the case.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday that the felony indictments handed up against Sanders and nine other officers went beyond what San Francisco Dist. Atty. Terence Hallinan had sought.

The case stems from allegations that three officers beat up two men outside a bar in November over a bag of steak fajitas. The officers were indicted Thursday on assault and battery charges, and seven other officers, including Sanders, were charged with conspiring to obstruct justice.

The officers were booked and released Friday. At the urging of Mayor Willie Brown, the city’s Police Commission decided that evening to keep Sanders on the job, but commissioners said they would meet again Monday.

Philadelphia: Panel says more money needed to monitor sex abuse

A national lay panel responsible for monitoring clergy sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church says it will need millions more dollars to do its job than the American bishops have budgeted.

Members of the National Review Board, which oversees the Office of Youth and Child Protection, say it could cost $3 million to $5 million to fulfill the ambitious mandate.

But with only $1.12 million for this year from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the review board is preparing to tap Catholic philanthropic sources for the difference.

However, the heads of some prominent Catholic philanthropies said last week they are not going to “let the bishops off the hook” by making up all of the shortfall.