Washington, D.C.

Bush said to be getting close to naming new CIA chief

The White House is getting close to naming a CIA director as counterterror officials warn of a heightened risk of attack leading up to the election four months away.

The agency’s current head, George Tenet, leaves his post a week from today, the seven-year anniversary of his swearing in. Poised to take over as acting director is his deputy, John McLaughlin, 61.

A senior administration official said White House aides expected the announcement of the next CIA director could happen soon.

The official and others with knowledge of the process, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the selection process, said President Bush had not made a final decision and was unlikely to do so over the long holiday weekend.

Massachusetts

One person wins record $290 million Mega Millions

Whoever bought the winning ticket in the $290 million Mega Millions lottery drawing couldn’t have been much happier Saturday than the person who sold it.

Jay Patel, owner of Powers Liquors, was elated as he waited along with everyone else to find out which one of his customers won the huge jackpot in Friday’s drawing with the numbers 10-25-38-39-50 and Mega Ball 12.

A hand-lettered sign that read, “We sold $290 million’s jackpot here” hung in the window of the store Patel called “the luckiest Powers Liquors in the world right now.”

Patel will receive $50,000 for selling the ticket.

“There’s no word to describe it, but it feels good,” he said.

Washington

Flags at half-staff for Reagan may be raised for July Fourth

The nation ended its formal mourning Saturday over the death of President Reagan, when flags lowered to half-staff could again be flown at full-staff.

President Bush ordered flags flown at half-staff for 30 days after Reagan died June 5 at age 93.

White House spokesman Jimmy Orr said, however, it was decided to raise the flags early, over the Fourth of July weekend, “in honor and tribute to the memory of President Reagan.”

The president’s order Friday raised U.S. flags flown over the White House, federal buildings, naval vessels, military buildings and embassies.

Gaza Strip

Israeli troops kill 2 in Gaza; one Israeli dies in West Bank

Israeli troops shot to death two Palestinian boys Saturday, pushing ahead with a broad military operation aimed at preventing militants from firing rockets at Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, meanwhile, an Israeli was killed early today when Palestinian militants fired on a car traveling near the northern Jewish settlement of Mevo Dotan, rescue and army spokesmen said.

One of the Palestinian boys, 9-year-old Ehab Shatat, was hit by machine-gun fire, apparently from a tank-mounted gun, while standing near his home in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, Palestinian hospital and security officials said.