National Briefing
American wins New York hot dog contest / Rainbow Family, Forest Service clash in Wyoming / Statue of Liberty's crown could reopen / 4 die in Wisconsin shooting
American out-wieners past winner
Joey Chestnut achieved frankfurter immortality at Coney Island's annual hot-dog-eating contest, out-swallowing his celebrated Japanese rival in an epic overtime duel.
Chestnut, of San Jose, and six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi were tied after regulation, 59 franks apiece. That forced the tiebreaker: Who could eat five more hot dogs in the shortest time?
Organizers of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest said it was the first overtime in the history of the event, which has been staged since 1916. The winner receives $10,000, a mustard-yellow belt and a year's supply of hot dogs. And possibly indigestion.
WYOMING
Rainbow Family, officials clash
About 400 members of the Rainbow Family threw rocks and sticks at 10 federal officers who were trying to arrest a member of the group, the U.S. Forest Service said. Five people were arrested Thursday and one officer was slightly hurt.
The Rainbow Family is a loose affiliation of eccentrics, young people and hippies who hold a weeklong forest gathering each year. About 7,000 members are camping on Forest Service land near Big Sandy this year.
Officials complain that the gathering can ruin forests. The group says its members clean up and reseed afterward.
NEW YORK
Liberty's crown could reopen
The National Park Service is considering reopening Lady Liberty's crown for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to documents released by U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).
Liberty Island was closed for security reasons after the 2001 attacks. The statue's base, pedestal and lower observation deck reopened in August 2004, after a $20-million effort to improve fire safety.
But the crown and its interior observation deck, which soar about 265 feet above New York Harbor, remained closed because park officials said there was no way to evacuate people safely in an emergency.
WISCONSIN
Street crowd fired on; 4 die
At least one person fired a gun into a crowd in Milwaukee, killing four and sending panicked revelers running for cover, police said. Two women and two men were killed, police said, and two people were injured. More than 100 people were on the street when shots were fired, police said.
From Times Wire Reports
