NATION IN BRIEF

Machinists reach deal with Boeing; strike ends

The machinists union on Saturday ratified a new contract with the Boeing Co., ending an eight-week strike that cut the company’s profits and stalled passenger jet deliveries. Union members voted about 74 percent in favor of the proposal five days after the two sides tentatively agreed to the deal and union leaders recommended its approval. The union represents about 27,000 workers at plants in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas. The union has said the contract protects more than 5,000 factory jobs, prevents the outsourcing of certain positions and preserves health care benefits. It also promises pay increases over four years rather than three, as outlined in earlier offers.

Up to 9 migrants from boat missing

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for migrants missing after their boat ran aground east of downtown Miami. Border Patrol spokeswoman Elee Erice said 33 people have been accounted for, including three found dead. As many as nine people could be lost. A bystander spotted the aging, rusty boat in distress Friday and called officials. Shortly afterward, several people jumped into the water. Erice said four of the people found were Brazilians and the rest were from the Dominican Republic.

Congresswoman out of foreclosure

A California congresswoman whose house temporarily went into foreclosure has paid up the delinquent home loans, she said. “Everything is currently in order and has been resolved,” U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson told The Long Beach Press-Telegram, which also had reported that she held the highest lease for a government car in the House of Representatives. Richardson, who is running for re-election Tuesday, temporarily lost her Sacramento home to foreclosure this year. Washington Mutual sold it at auction in May but reversed the sale after Richardson complained she hadn’t received proper notice. The Democrat said she has worked out a modified loan with the lender and plans to put the home up for sale or rent in December. She also said she lowered the lease on her government car from $1,299 a month to $774.

Lung Association spurns affiliate

The American Lung Association is dissolving its Northwest affiliate and wants the rogue group to hand over ownership of its $3.2 million Seattle headquarters, which it sold for $10. The national charity sent a cease-and-desist letter to regional affiliate American Lung Association of the Northwest, the ALA said, demanding that the regional affiliate stop using the American Lung Association name, turn over its financial assets and take steps to get the building back. At the heart of the dispute is the sale of the affiliate’s headquarters to a separate corporation set up by the affiliate’s chief executive without permission from the national organization.