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

In brief: Summers withdraws from Fed campaign

From Wire Reports

WASHINGTON – Lawrence Summers, who was considered the leading candidate to succeed Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman, has withdrawn from consideration, the White House said Sunday.

Summers’ withdrawal followed growing resistance from critics, including some members of the Senate committee that would need to back his nomination. His exit could open the door for his chief rival, Janet Yellen, the Fed’s vice chair. If chosen by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Yellen would become the first woman to lead the Fed.

In the past, Obama has mentioned only one other candidate as possibly being under consideration: Donald Kohn, a former Fed vice chair. But Kohn, 70, has been considered a long shot.

Obama is expected to announce a nominee for the Fed chairmanship as early as this month. Bernanke’s term ends Jan. 31, 2014.

Summers and his allies have been engaged in an unusually public contest with supporters of Yellen, with each side lobbying the administration.

“Larry was a critical member of my team as we faced down the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and it was in no small part because of his expertise, wisdom and leadership that we wrestled the economy back to growth and made the kind of progress we are seeing today,” Obama said in a statement.

Six still hospitalized after Ohio bus crash

CINCINNATI – At least six of more than 30 people injured when a bus drove off an interstate highway and overturned remain hospitalized in southwest Ohio.

The Greyhound bus struck a tree and a fence and flipped on its side before sliding to a stop in a cornfield, injuring at least 35 people early Saturday. At least nine were hospitalized overnight.

None of the injuries was considered life-threatening.