In the Nation

CHICAGO - Illinois' embattled governor claimed through his spokesman yesterday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) is guilty of a conflict of interest in that Reid telephoned him in early December to discuss the seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Lucio Guerrero, spokesman for Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, said he did not know firsthand which candidates Reid supported in the call, but said he knows they did not include Roland Burris, the man the governor picked for the seat. Senate leaders have vowed to oppose the appointment of Burris.

"I think the governor believes there is a conflict of interest - that Reid showed he has a horse in the race and Roland Burris wasn't one of them," Guerrero said.

In an e-mail, Reid spokesman Jim Manley confirmed that Reid called Blagojevich on Dec. 3 to talk about the vacancy. Prosecutors say Blagojevich at the time was trying to peddle the Senate seat in exchange for money or a job in the Obama cabinet.

- AP

DENVER - Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter yesterday appointed Denver's school superintendent to fill a Senate vacancy that will be created by the promotion of Sen. Ken Salazar to interior secretary in the Obama administration.

The move surprised many Republicans and Democrats, who considered school superintendent Michael Bennet a dark-horse candidate for the Senate spot because of his lack of legislative experience. He has never campaigned for or held public office.

- AP

BOISE, Idaho - More than 100 inmates broke control-room windows, overturned furniture and started a small fire at a medium-security prison, the Idaho Department of Correction said. The disturbance at the 34-year-old Idaho State Correctional Institution began before midnight Friday and was under control by about 1 a.m. yesterday.

Four inmates suffered minor injuries, including one man who needed stitches for cuts on his head. No staff members were hurt. The disturbance took place in a temporary housing block that had just opened Friday as part of efforts to trim costs amid a state budget crisis.

A group of 199 inmates, mostly parole violators, had been moved into the temporary quarters in a converted work building to help make room for 300 inmates whom prison chief Brent Reinke wants to bring home from private facilities in Texas. Reinke said he wasn't certain what started the fracas but it's possible the prisoners were unhappy with their new quarters.

- AP

A fraternity and sorority

at Utah State University were charged with felony hazing after an 18-year-old freshman pledge died of alcohol poisoning. The chapters of the Sigma Nu fraternity and Chi Omega sorority were each charged Friday with one count of third-degree felony hazing in the death of Michael Starks of Salt Lake City. Prosecutors also filed misdemeanor hazing charges against 12 students.