NATIONAL BRIEFS

NEW JERSEY: Christie's gay black court nominee rejected

Gov. Chris Christie accused Senate Democrats on Thursday of playing partisan politics at the expense of the gay black Republican he nominated to the State Supreme Court. The Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee rejected the nomination of bond lawyer Bruce Harris in the afternoon. An hour after the vote, Christie railed against the Democrats, who raised concerns about Harris's lack of courtroom experience and his vow to recuse himself from gay marriage cases.

OREGON: Three coastal towns hold first tsunami drill,/H4>

Several thousand coast residents on alert after last year's devastating earthquake in Japan took part in their first tsunami evacuation drill Thursday, stopping what they were doing and walking uphill to assembly points where volunteers handed out bottles of water and grab-bags of essentials. Residents of Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston knew that in the event of an actual tsunami they would have had about 20 minutes to get to higher ground.

WASHINGTON STATE: Hero credited in shooting rampage that killed 5

Someone in a Seattle cafe where a gunman opened fire threw stools at him, allowing others to run to safety. Ian Lee Stawicki fired two .45-caliber handguns Wednesday morning at Cafe Racer, killing four people. He fled and killed a female motorist later, taking her sport utility vehicle. Stawicki killed himself as police closed in. Police said two or three were able to escape.