GINGRICH MEETS A NEWT

Cockroaches crawled upNewt Gingrich's lapels and a 50-pound bearcat sat on his head during Columbus Zoo director Jack Hanna's visit to the Speaker's office today. Gingrich, who said his boyhood dream had been to be a zookeeper, invited Hanna to drop by with a few friends, which also included a python and a poisonous African toad. Although Hanna normally includes a tiger in his entourage, Capitol Police balked at letting him pack a tranquilizer gun. Instead, Hanna brought a newt. "Notice how small and unprepossessing they are," Gingrich said, with a smile, as the newt stood on his hand.