Student charged for trying to sell vote

A Minnesota college student looking to profit off his political indifference has been charged with a felony for trying to sell his vote on eBay.

Max Sanders, 19, of Edina, was charged Thursday with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting, a felony under an 1893 Minnesota law that criminalizes the sale and purchase of votes.

Sanders set a minimum bid of $10 for his vote in November and offered to provide photographic documentation. Sanders, whose auction was halted before anyone bid, declined to comment. He is studying liberal arts at the University of Minnesota.

Mike Freeman, Hennepin County attorney, said, "We're not humorless in the county attorney's office ... but we decided it's something we just couldn't blow off."

The charge carries up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Freeman said an "appropriate" penalty is more likely to entail community service, not jail.

Milwaukee

4 killed as shots are fired into crowd

At least one person fired a gun into a crowd early Friday, killing four people and sending panicked revelers running for cover, police said.

Two women, 23 and 27, and two men, 34 and 28, were killed about 2:30 a.m., police spokeswoman Anne Schwartz said. Two people were injured, including a man who remained hospitalized Friday night.

More than 100 people were on the street when shots were fired, some possibly from a party, Schwartz said, adding, "We are not clear how many shooters there were."

Police were having difficulty getting cooperation from witnesses, she said.

Charlottesville, Va.

Jeers interrupt Bush at citizenship event

On his last Fourth of July in office, President Bush welcomed 72 men and women Friday as they prepared to take the oath of citizenship at the annual Independence Day ceremony at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

Addressing the honorees, who hailed from 30 countries, Bush spoke of the path to citizenship, Jefferson's legacy and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, written 232 years ago.

His remarks were interrupted at several points by protesters, some of whom shouted, "Impeach Bush." As members of the audience of about 3,000 urged the demonstrators to be quiet, Bush addressed the disturbances, saying, "We believe in free speech in the United States of America."

No arrests were made.

Cheyenne, Wyo.

5 arrested in clash at Rainbow campout

About 400 members of the Rainbow Family threw rocks and sticks at 10 federal officers as they tried to arrest a member of the group, a U.S. Forest Service official said Friday.

Five members were arrested and one officer was slightly injured. A government vehicle also was damaged.

About 7,000 members of the Rainbow Family are camping this year on Forest Service land near Big Sandy. The Rainbow Family is a loose affiliation of eccentrics, young people and hippie types who choose a forest each year in which to hold a weeklong national gathering.

Mary Cernicek, spokeswoman for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, said Friday that officers fired "pepper balls" — similar to paint balls but containing a pepper solution — to control the crowd.

Seattle Times news services