Texas

Democrats again flee redistricting dispute

With a big Texas football weekend under way, House Democrats took advantage of low legislative attendance and again broke a quorum in their battle to block congressional redistricting.

The lawmakers’ disappearance Friday night meant the House — which already had approved a Republican redistricting bill — could not vote on a government reorganization bill some senators coveted.

When word of the Senate plan began to spread, most House Democrats bolted before a vote on the other bill was called — banking on enough Republicans leaving town for the Texas-Oklahoma football game to break quorum.

After attempts to round up the fleeing lawmakers failed, the House ultimately adjourned until this afternoon.

Kentucky

Former governor collapses during speech

Former Kentucky Gov. Edward T. “Ned” Breathitt was in critical condition at a hospital Saturday after he collapsed during a speech at the University of Kentucky.

Breathitt, 78, was admitted to the intensive care unit of UK Chandler Medical Center in Lexington.

According to a statement from cardiologist John Gurley, there was no evidence that Breathitt suffered a heart attack, head injury or a stroke. Breathitt was unconscious and on a ventilator.

Breathitt, a Democrat, was governor from 1963 to 1967 and also served three terms in the Legislature.

Washington, D.C.

Cattle held at border don’t have disease

Preliminary tests indicate cattle quarantined at the Mexican border because they had blisters in their mouths are not sick with foot-and-mouth disease, the Agriculture Department says.

Peter Fernandez, associate administrator for the department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, made the announcement Friday, a day after U.S. officials quarantined the herd of 40 cows because of the blisters.

Philadelphia

Mayor ‘subject’ in probe that included bugging

As Mayor John F. Street’s campaign foundered amid speculation about why his office was bugged, a federal official confirmed the mayor was a “subject” in an FBI probe.

In the three days since listening devices were found in City Hall, Street has said repeatedly that federal prosecutors told him he was not a “target” in a criminal investigation.

But a federal official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Friday that Street was a “subject” in an investigation. The legal term is used to describe a person whose conduct is within the scope of a probe, although they may not be suspected of breaking the law.