News In Brief

Ex-newswoman awarded damages in fraud suit

A federal jury Friday ruled Metromedia Inc. officials defrauded Christine Craft by breaking a pledge not to alter her on-camera appearance and awarded the former Kansas City broadcaster $225,000 in damages.

The seven women and five men - the second federal jury to hear the suit - returned the verdict after three hours of deliberation. The jury later returned to the courtroom to listen to arguments for possible punitive damages against the New Jersey-based media conglomerate.