Elizabeth Dole forms committee DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Elizabeth Dole, the former American Red Cross leader who has worked in the administrations of five presidents, Wednesday announced she has formed an exploratory committee to see if she can build enough support for a presidential bid. Dole, officially joining the ranks of Republican presidential hopefuls, said she has found "a great American yearning" that she hoped to fill with a campaign for the White House. She strolled around a room of her supporters in a style reminiscent of her speech during the 1996 GOP convention in San Diego as she listed her accomplishments. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558748659-251> Allegedly gay teacher has class back SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A school district illegally bowed to parents' requests to remove 15 pupils from the classroom of a purportedly gay teacher, a state official said and ordered the youngsters returned to his class. By granting the requests, the district wrongfully fostered different treatment toward the eight-grade science teacher based "upon (his) perceived sexual orientation," Chief Deputy Labor Commissioner Jose Millan wrote in a ruling made public Tuesday. The ruling requires the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District to return the pupils to the classroom of James D. Merrick, a former teacher of the year in Bakersfield. Merrick, a teacher for 40 years, was hired by the district in 1994. He has neither said he is gay nor denied it. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2558748373-7ac>
