National briefs

HOUSTON (AP) -- A man who apparently jumped to his death Sunday from a single-engine plane at 9,000 feet was the target of a federal investigation involving the theft of NASA technology, authorities said.

Russell Edward Filler, a 47-year-old engineer for a NASA contractor, was contacted by federal authorities Thursday.

Consumer prices rise

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer prices rose by a modest 0.3 percent in October as falling prices for airfares and cigarettes helped to temper the biggest increase in gasoline costs in six months.