NATION IN BRIEF : TEXAS : Contest for Soviet Space Trip Canceled

Two Houston entrepreneurs who ran a sweepstakes that promised to send someone rocketing to the Soviet space station Mir for a week agreed to halt their contest in return for the dismissal of charges of operating an illegal lottery. David Mayer and James Davidson, founders of Space Travel Services Inc., told people to dial a 900 telephone number for a fee of $2.99 to enter the random drawing. Prosecutors said the sweepstakes drew about 10,000 telephone calls before it was halted after 24 hours. They said Mayer and Davidson have about $30,000 on hand, half of which is owed to the operator of the 900 telephone service. Remaining funds will be split between the state and county, but callers will not receive refunds.