Washington, D.C.

Tests are negative on suspected mad cow

No sign of mad cow disease was found in an animal the Agriculture Department had singled out for followup tests, officials said Tuesday. Initial screenings last week had raised the possibility of a new case of the disease in the United States.

A more definitive test at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, came back negative, the officials said. The announcement was a relief to the U.S. beef industry, which is still trying to recover from the nation’s first case of the disease last December.

The department said it ran a “gold standard” test twice. Officials did not say where the cow came from or why it was suspected of being diseased.

Washington, D.C.

Viacom to pay fine for indecency

Viacom agreed Tuesday to pay $3.5 million to end investigations by the Federal Communications Commission into allegations of indecency in its radio and television programming.

The fine, one of the largest in FCC history, settles three pending FCC investigations, one involving shock jock Howard Stern and two involving Opie and Anthony, who lost their Viacom-owned New York radio show after it featured a couple purporting to have sex inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

Viacom agreed to install audio delay equipment at its radio stations that broadcast live programming, and to train its broadcasters and employees about indecency laws.

The measures are not related to the FCC’s $550,000 fine levied against Viacom after the exposure of singer Janet Jackson’s breast during the CBS Super Bowl halftime show in January. Viacom is contesting that fine.

California

Goldman family pursues O.J. Simpson’s money

A memorabilia collector was ordered Tuesday to turn over O.J. Simpson’s press credentials from the 1984 Olympics in another tiny step toward satisfying a $33.5 million award in a lawsuit that found Simpson liable for the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend.

The order was issued after a closed-door court hearing in Santa Monica to determine whether Simpson is hiding assets from the family of Ron Goldman, who was slain with Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994.

Alfred Beardsley, a real estate agent and collector, was questioned by attorney Peter Csato, who represents Goldman’s father, Fred. It was unclear how much the Olympic press credentials were worth, but Csato said outside court that Beardsley told them about “other tangible properties of substantive value” belonging to Simpson that Beardsley may be able to lead them to.

Texas

Tornadoes follow days of heavy rain

Tornadoes touched down Tuesday in eastern Texas, killing a woman, injuring three people, and destroying several homes after days of rain throughout the region.

Valerie Stewart, a dispatcher for the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, said there was “pretty extensive damage,” but she was not aware of other injuries from a deadly late-afternoon tornado — one of four she said struck the county.

Creeks and rivers continued to rise Tuesday after days of heavy rain throughout much of the state. Thousands of people were told to evacuate their homes.

Winter storm warnings were also posted for parts of the Texas Panhandle, with up to 8 inches of snow forecast.

Virginia

Mysterious blasts work of pranksters

Mysterious blasts that have rattled a city neighborhood off and on this month appear to be the work of pranksters or vandals who placed small explosive devices in city sewers, authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators said the homemade cylindrical devices didn’t appear designed to kill or injure, but did make a lot of noise.

The blasts have occurred since Nov. 2 — but just on nights and weekends. Residents became so frightened that nearly 400 packed a community meeting Sunday.

Sara Driggs said the first blast jarred her family as they watched election returns.

“It’s the unknown aspect of it,” she said. “Hearing the boom is an experience like seeing a mouse. You know the mouse won’t hurt you, but it startles you.”