Parting shot

It must be the pollution: An unhinged editorial in a Chinese government house organ hurled racist slurs at departing ambassador Gary Locke on Friday, reflecting Beijing’s anger at the former Washington governor for perceived insults like calling attention to China’s coddled ruling class by flying coach and carrying his own luggage.

The State Department signaled its support for Locke by upgrading him to business class on the long flight home and sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the airport to schlep his bags.

No Chappaquiddick here, folks. Move along: After brief deliberations, a six-person jury on Friday cleared Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, of drugged driving.

The jury obviously agreed that mistaking a sleeping pill for thyroid medication was an accident, not a crime — which is now known in legal circles as the “It’s Not Like She Drove Off a Bridge” defense.

Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1943, wartime rationing of processed food began in the United States.

To compensate for the shortage of canned corn beef hash, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized extra rations of Lucky Strike cigarettes for every man, woman and child.

— Mark Carlson, Herald staff

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