ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 TAG: 9602270126
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
Spy satellite office sees leaders go
WASHINGTON - The two top officials at the super-secret National Reconnaissance Office, which controls the nation's spy satellites, were ousted Monday in the wake of allegations of financial mismanagement.
The agency, which was founded in 1960 but not officially acknowledged until 1992, built up what members of Congress called ``a slush fund'' of more than $1 billion before the unspent money was traced last year. In addition, the agency also built a lavish new headquarters in Virginia at the cost of $310 million, provoking an earlier round of criticism for giving Congress only the briefest outline of its plans.
The NRO director, Jeffrey K. Harris, and his deputy, Jimmie D. Hill, were fired Monday.
- The Baltimore Sun
Murdoch: Hopefuls speak free on Fox
WASHINGTON - Rupert Murdoch pledged Monday to provide free air time on his Fox TV network to leading presidential candidates this fall, including an hour on election eve. He challenged the other networks to do the same.
Calling candidates' dependence on political advertising ``a cancer in our system which we must tackle,'' Murdoch deplored candidates having to devote more time to raising millions needed for TV spots.
Murdoch said that on Nov. 4, Fox would devote one hour of prime time - a half hour each for the Republican and Democratic nominees - for what he called a ``straight and clean chance'' to address the American public.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB