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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Newsmakers

Arrested Troubled former major league baseball player Elijah Dukes has been arrested again, this time on drug charges. Tampa, Fla., police say the 27-year-old was arrested during a traffic stop early Thursday after officers noticed a small bag of marijuana on his lap. Authorities say he then tried to stick the drug in his mouth as if he were going to ingest it. He also had a marijuana cigarette tucked behind his ear. Dukes has been arrested five times in the past year, mostly on driving offenses.

Evaluating The agent for Roy Oswalt says the right-hander is still evaluating his options and plans on pitching in the major leagues this season. Oswalt became a free agent when Philadelphia chose not to pick up his $16 million option for this season.

Charged Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly faces four drunken driving-related charges after an incident on Dec. 22 in suburban Pittsburgh. Police in Ross Township, Pa., charged Coonelly, 51, with one count each of drunken driving, driving the wrong way, careless driving and driving with a blood-alcohol content of at least twice the state’s legal limit of .08. Coonelly was released on his own recognizance. His arraignment is March 20 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Received Officials granted Venus Williams a wild card to play her first tournament since August at the Sony Ericsson Open next month. Williams hasn’t played singles since withdrawing after the opening round of the U.S. Open because of an autoimmune disease.

Honored Texas will honor former Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams with a statue at the football stadium that be unveiled at the Longhorns’ annual spring game on April 1.

Manuel Orantes has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the master player category. Orantes won the 1975 U.S. Open by beating Jimmy Connors in the final, and he was the runner-up to Bjorn Borg at the 1974 French Open.

Resolved Olympic champion gymnast Paul Hamm pleaded no contest to a reduced set of charges in Ohio, where he was accused of kicking a cab driver while drunk, damaging a taxi window and not paying a $23 fare. A magistrate suspended a sentence of 90 days in custody on each count, provided that Hamm completes a year of probation.