News In Brief

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE That was an expensive way to get to San Francisco that Lombard, Ill. resident Chong Su Yi chose - one that he may be paying for well into the future. Chong's mode of transportation: a brand-new $92,000 Lotus sportscar. To give it a good workout, he put the pedal to the metal. In fact, by the time he reached the outskirts of Elko, Nev., he had accumulated nine speeding tickets. And he was being pursued again by state troopers when his engine blew. No word yet on what he'll pay to have it repaired. Or for having the car towed 180 miles back to Salt Lake City ... where the nearest Lotus dealer is.

HI, I'M REPORTING A BURGLARY

In Pennsauken, N.J., police are marveling at the quick thinking of an elderly woman who spotted an intruder breaking into her garage. She locked the door on him, using a remote-control device that works from inside the house, then phoned 911. The suspect was still trapped there when the arresting officers arrived.

States that lead the US in importing others' garbage Concern about what New York City will do after its local landfill closes has revived efforts in Congress to limit the interstate transport of trash. The city produces 13,000 tons daily. Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin, the Congressional Research Service has compiled a ranking of states and their estimated trash imports, based on telephone interviews with officials and on estimates from BioCycle magazine. The top 10 on the list and their tonnage (in millions) for 1997 - or the most recent year for which estimates were available:

State Tons of trash received

1. Pennsylvania 6.34

2. Virginia 2.80

3. Indiana 2.12

4. Michigan 1.69

5. Illinois 1.31

6. Wisconsin 1.16

7. Kansas 1.15

8. Oregon 1.14

9. Ohio 1.02

10. New Hampshire 0.82

- Associated Press