Sanders: Enrolling in party an option
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Bernie Sanders, Congress' longest-serving independent and a self-described socialist, backtracked two days into his presidential campaign, saying Saturday that he would register as a Democrat if needed to compete in the party's primary in all 50 states.
Announcing his candidacy Thursday outside the U.S. Capitol, the senator from Vermont rejected any suggestion that he register as a Democrat. "No," Sanders said, "I'm an independent." But a day later, questions surfaced in New Hampshire about whether he would be eligible to compete next year in the nation's first presidential primary.
New Hampshire requires candidates to fill out a form declaring party registration.
On Saturday, after addressing more than 100 supporters stuffed in a Manchester home and spilling out into a yard, Sanders said, "We will do what we have to do" to make sure his name appears on the ballot alongside Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"We are going to be on the ballot in 50 states. You don't win unless you do that," Sanders said.
Sanders' campaign reported that he raised $1.5 million in the first 24 hours after he announced his candidacy.
Recycling center's fire cause probed
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Fire officials worked Saturday to determine what caused a large blaze that spewed a tower of thick, black smoke as it destroyed a recycling facility in central Ohio.
No injuries were reported in the Friday fire at Phoenix Recycling Inc. in Columbus.
Fire officials said that no evacuations were necessary, but authorities had cautioned nearby residents to stay indoors as smoke filled the air. American Electric Power shut down service to more than 20,000 residents as a precaution.
Battalion Chief Tracy Smith said in a statement Saturday that the site remained an active fire scene.
Firefighters expected it could take a few days to extinguish remaining hot spots at the building.
About 100 people were working at the business when the blaze started about 4 p.m. Fire officials said that it took at least five hours to bring it under control.
Jefferson's house opens slave home
The first log slave quarters with dirt floors to be rebuilt at Thomas Jefferson's home were formally unveiled Saturday at Monticello, and descendants of more than 100 slaves from the third president's plantation marked the occasion in Virginia.
Re-creating structures to represent slave life at the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence is part of a larger restoration effort underway to show a fuller history at Monticello. In addition, nine rooms on the upper floors of the mansion that were previously empty have been furnished to give visitors a deeper look at Jefferson's family and what life was like in 1809.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 05/03/2015