Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 10, 1995                   TAG: 9505100081
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN THE NATION

MALIBU, Calif. - Actor Gary Busey was charged Tuesday with felony cocaine possession in connection with an apparent drug overdose that hospitalized him for four days.

Busey, 50, was released from the hospital on Monday and later checked himself into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, said publicist Jonathan Perry.

``They are currently evaluating him to see what his program will be,'' Perry said Tuesday. He declined to comment on the criminal charges.

Arrangements were being made for Busey to surrender for booking on the charges, the district attorney's office said. He faces arraignment in about two weeks, but no date was set, said Deputy District Attorney Michael Wilson.

Busey, 50, was charged with one felony count of possession of cocaine and one count each of misdemeanor possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms, possession of marijuana and being under the influence of cocaine.

- Associated Press

On-line politics planned

WASHINGTON - PoliticsUSA, a new World Wide Web computer service, will provide full coverage of the 1996 election cycle beginning Aug. 1, its creators said Tuesday.

Users will be able to participate in moderated discussion groups, get election results, keep up with political news, access databases of information on candidates, issues and polling data, and buy books, subscriptions and political memorabilia.

- Associated Press