Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, dies

In this Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 file photo, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller poses at a home in Habitat's Global Village in Americus, Ga. Fuller died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, after visiting a hospital in Americus, Ga., according to his wife, Linda. He He was 74. (AP Photo/Walter Petruska, File)

By DORIE TURNER
Associated Press Writer


ATLANTA (AP) — A millionaire by the time he was 30, Millard Fuller gave up his fortune and invested his life in Habitat for Humanity — a Christian charity that has built more than 300,000 houses and turned poor people into homeowners by using "sweat equity" and no-interest loans.

Fuller, who co-founded Habitat with his wife Linda, died early Tuesday morning near his south Georgia home after suffering from chest pains, headache and difficulty swallowing, his wife said. He was 74.

The couple was planning to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August with a 100-house worldwide "blitz build." Those plans will likely go forward without him.

"Millard would not want people to mourn his death," Linda Fuller said. "He would be more interested in having people put on a tool belt and build a house for people in need."

From its beginning in 1976, headquartered in a tiny gray frame house that doubled as Fuller's law office, Habitat grew to a worldwide network that has provided shelter to more than 1.5 million people.

Habitat home buyers are required to work on their own houses, investing what the Fullers called "sweat equity."

Preaching the "theology of the hammer," Fuller built an army of volunteers that included former U.S. presidents, other world leaders and Hollywood celebrities.

One of Habitat's highest-profile volunteers, former President Jimmy Carter, called Fuller "one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known.

"He used his remarkable gifts as an entrepreneur for the benefit of millions of needy people around the world by providing them with decent housing," Carter said in a statement. He called Fuller "an inspiration to me, other members of our family and an untold number of volunteers who worked side-by-side under his leadership."

The son of a widower farmer in the cotton-mill town of Lanett, Ala., Fuller earned his first profit at age 6, selling a pig. While studying law at the University of Alabama, he formed a direct-marketing company with his friend Morris Dees — who later founded the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala. — selling cookbooks and candy to high school chapters of the Future Homemakers of America. That business made them millionaires.

When Fuller's capitalist drive threatened to kill his marriage, the couple, who wed in college, sold everything to devote themselves to the Christian values they grew up with.

"I gave away about $1 million," Fuller said in a 2004 interview with The Associated Press. "I wasn't a multimillionaire; I was a poor millionaire."

The couple's search for a mission led them to Koinonia, an interracial farming collective outside the south Georgia town of Americus. There, with Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan, the Fullers developed the concept of building no-interest housing for the poor — an idea that eventually grew into Habitat for Humanity.

For the first 14 years, Fuller's salary was just $15,000; his wife worked 10 years for free.

Fuller's works won him numerous accolades, including a 1996 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. For nearly three decades, he was the public face of Habitat, traveling the world to hammer nails and press bricks from local clay alongside some of the Earth's poorest.

Jeff Snider, executive vice president of Habitat during the early '90s, recalled Fuller as a man driven by his commitment to the destitute. Once, Snider said he suggested setting aside some of the money Fuller raised.

"He had one and only one response, which was, 'The poor, Jeff, need the money now,'" he said. "So we ran the place full tilt, on the edge all the time, and it was stressful — but he was right."

A scandal that had smoldered for years flared anew in 2004 to sully Fuller's legacy.

Habitat's international board moved to oust Fuller as chief executive officer after allegations surfaced that he had sexually harassed a female staff member in 2003. The move came despite the board's conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the charge.

However, the allegations mirrored complaints in 1990 from female staffers and volunteers that led to Fuller's yearlong exile from the organization's headquarters.

Fuller acknowledged he had kissed and hugged the women who made the 1990 complaints, but argued they had misinterpreted his actions. He categorically denied the later charge.

President Carter intervened in both instances to prevent the board from ousting Fuller.

In 2004, Fuller reached a compromise allowing him to stay on in the largely ceremonial role of "founder and president." After the Fullers backed out of an agreement not to discuss the situation publicly, the board voted in 2005 to oust them.

Months later, the Fullers and their supporters formed The Fuller Center for Housing, a fundraising group for Habitat affiliates.

The ouster and a subsequent relocation of Habitat to Atlanta "cut the heart out of Habitat," said Dees.

Fuller attributed his ouster to disagreements with the board over whether to slow the charity's growth. He argued Habitat was becoming more bureaucracy than mission.

Throughout the scandal, Fuller insisted he did not want to do anything to compromise Habitat's mission.

"I've always felt that this is God's work," he said. "And it's always been bigger than me, from day one."

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Associated Press Writers Dionne Walker in Atlanta and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.

Obama picks Republican commerce secretary

President Barack Obama listens to Sen. Judd Gregg, left, a New Hampshire Republican, speak, after the president announced Gregg as his choice for commerce secretary, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press Writer


CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Democrats have complained that Republican Sen. Judd Gregg is too pro-business, but the former tax lawyer is also known as a cool-headed and stubborn negotiator willing to break ranks with his party if need be.

Gregg, a key player in devising the $700 billion banking bailout package in the fall, is the only person ever elected senator, congressman, governor and executive councilor in New Hampshire. Now he's in the running to add another title to his long resume: commerce secretary.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would be tasked with helping President Barack Obama steer the nation out of the recession.

"The people who have worked with Judd will tell you, whether they were working with him or against him, that he's smart; he tends to be very disciplined in approaching a problem," said former GOP Sen. John Sununu.

A month after defeating Sununu in November, New Hampshire Democrats sent out a news release in which state party Chairman Raymond Buckley accused Gregg of being George W. Bush's "top enabler" in the Senate and predicting he would be held accountable for the failed economy, the war in Iraq and "the entire Bush tenure."

Then, after Gregg expressed skepticism about bailing out the auto industry, Buckley accused him of hypocrisy, saying, "Just months after selling the bailout to the American people, the so-called Judd the Great has now decided to abandon them instead." Gregg eventually voted to stop progress on the auto bailout.

But Buckley changed his tune when the prospect of Gregg leaving the Senate enhanced Democratic chances for victory next year; Gregg's replacement would serve the remaining two years of his term but not run for the seat in the 2010 election.

"If (President Obama) determines that Sen. Gregg is essential to his effort to rebuild America's economy, then we should trust his judgment and support his decision," Buckley said Monday.

Despite his long, close ties to the Bush family, Gregg has bucked his party on some issues. He opposed Bush's 2005 energy bill, voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and has supported embryonic stem cell research.

He also has found himself at the center of floor fights in Congress.

Last year, he slowed action on the Democrats' first two major pieces of legislation, ethics reform and a minimum-wage increase. He later helped block debate on a Democratic measure opposing the president's troop increase in Iraq.

Those efforts had Democratic Leader Harry Reid likening Gregg to a basketball player sent into a game to throw elbows and rough up opposing players.

Obama apparently wants to use those elbows on his team. On Friday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs joked that Gregg might join the president, his aides and advisers on the basketball court.

"Sen. Gregg looks like he might have an inside game," Gibbs said.

Phelps is apologetic for his behavior

In this Sept. 25, 2008, file photo, Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, smiles while holding a box of cereal with his image on it during a news conference in Baltimore. Kellogg said Thursday it won't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps because of a photo that showed him with a marijuana pipe. Phelps apologized for his "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

Olympic great Michael Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper Sunday showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World.

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina.

While the newspaper did not specifically allege that Phelps was smoking pot, it did say the pipe is generally used for that purpose and anonymously quoted a partygoer who said the Olympic champion was "out of control from the moment he got there."

The U.S. Olympic Committee said it was "disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps," who was selected the group's sportsman of the year.

"Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people," the USOC said in a statement. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities."

USA Swimming said its Olympic champions are "looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams."

"That said," the governing body added, "we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way."

Marijuana is viewed differently from performance-enhancing drugs, according to David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency. An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods.

"We don't have any jurisdiction," Howman said. "It's not banned out of competition. It's only if you test positive in competition."

He said U.S. officials and swimming's world organization, could punish Phelps — perhaps under code of conduct rules — if there is "sufficient evidence to indicate possession, supply or distribution."

"We have to be strong on these things," Howman said. "We certainly are relying on those who are responsible to look into this."

The USOC noted that Phelps acknowledged his mistake and apologized.

"We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion," the group said.

Mother of octuplets is receiving few gifts

By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER
Associated Press Writers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Where is the unlimited supply of diapers, formula and baby wipes? The free van? The brand-new house?

Women who give birth to six, seven or eight babies are often showered with dazzling gifts from big corporations, local businesses and strangers. But that is not happening with the Southern California mother who delivered octuplets last week.

The news that she is a single mother with six other children — and that all 14 were conceived by having embryos implanted — seems to have turned off many people, and companies are not exactly rushing to get publicity by piling on the freebies.

Nadya Suleman, 33, has been lambasted by talk-show hosts, fertility experts, even her own mother, who has her hands full taking care of Suleman's other children, ages 2 to 7.

Gerber spokesman David Mortazavi said that if the baby-food maker was planning to do something for the family, it probably would have done it already, and that the octuplets' birth was not on Gerber's radar. He would not elaborate.

Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Tricia Higgins said that the maker of Pampers does not actively seek out parents to sponsor, but that the octuplets' mother can ask for what is typically provided in multiple births: a jumbo pack of diapers for each child, baby wipes, and coupons for discounts. That is unlikely to last Suleman a week.

Suleman's spokesman Mike Furtney said that he has received some "fairly negative" comments from the public but that offers to help with the babies have come in from nurses, and some baby stores have stepped forward to volunteer their support.

"I don't remember the brand name, but one major disposable diaper company sent some diapers," he said. Furtney said he was confident that once Suleman tells her story, many of her critics will "readjust their thinking a little."

Furtney said Suleman has had offers for TV and other media deals, but he added it was too early to discuss how much money she might receive.

For a single mother, the cost of raising 14 children through age 17 ranges from $1.3 million to $2.7 million through age 17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Suleman octuplets' medical costs have not been disclosed, but the average cost for just one cesarean birth in 2006 was $22,762 in California. The Suleman babies were born nine weeks premature. In California, a single premature birth in 2006 led to an average hospital stay of 25 days and cost $164,273. That would amount to a $1.3 million bill for eight.

Suleman's income is unclear. She was employed by a mental hospital from 1997 through 2008.

4-year-old dies after washing machine tumble

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) — A 4-year-old girl died after she climbed into a washing machine and her little brother switched it on, Orange County sheriff's officials said Tuesday.

Kayley Ishii apparently climbed into the front-loading washer Monday and her 15-month-old brother managed to start the device, sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

"The boy could have easily bumped into it or turned it on," Amormino said. The machine's controls were 20 inches from the floor and the start switch was a simple push button, he said.

The girl was in the water-filled, tumbling machine for at least two minutes before her mother, Mayumi Ishii, found her.

Investigators said the mother could not explain why Kayley climbed inside the front-loading washing machine.

"They don't know if they were playing or what," Amormino told the Orange County Register. "It is very unusual."

Kayley died at a hospital Monday night after doctors tried to revive her for several hours. An autopsy found she died of blunt force trauma and the death was ruled accidental.

The girl's father, Reuben Ishii, declined to comment to reporters.