DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force has tentatively decided to base its new high-altitude robot spy planes in California, a disappointment for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

        An Air Force official confirmed Wednesday that Beale Air Force Base, about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, has been selected as the home of the Global Hawk fleet. A final decision is expected after an environmental assessment in March.

        The Washington D.C.-based official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is familiar with the details of the basing decision.

        Marriane Miclat, spokeswoman for the Air Force at the Pentagon, would not comment except to say an announcement on Global Hawk will be made Friday by Air Combat Command in Langley, Va.

        Beale won out over four competing Air Force bases: Wright-Patterson, Ellsworth in South Dakota, Tinker in Oklahoma and Edwards in California. Housing the aircraft is expected to generate 400 to 850 new jobs.

        The $45 million Global Hawk, which is being tested, will be the first high-altitude, long-endurance robot plane used by the military. Plans call for the first six Global Hawks to arrive at their home base next year, and the fleet to grow each year until there are 18 in 2008.

        The strengths of Wright-Patterson, where the Global Hawk program is managed, included low construction costs and lightly used runways. The base already has an aircraft maintenance building that could have been used to house the Global Hawk.

Teen program leaving Warren
City's firearms lawsuit revived
Students e-mail questions to Antarctican sojourner
Whooping cough has schools vigilant
CPS board considers program to train prospective principals
CROWLEY: Villa Hills
PULFER: Morgue photos
Regional bike trail envisioned
Drop support plan, state urged
Physicians testify in girl's death
Silverton GOP selects ex-councilman for return
Union fights to save fire station
Abandonment, or child abuse?
Arbitrators put police officers back on force
Business council fights tax
Clinton's type of cancer is common
Cold blamed for fish kills
3 dead in I-75 collision
E. Ky. gets new judgeship; vacancies mount
Friends of Bush drawn into spotlight
Kentuckian admits to bank fraud
Lebanon to discuss land purchase
Lobbyists excused from monthly reports
Mayor cancels packed meeting
NKU cuts hike for non-Ky. students
NKU reduces hike for nonresidents
Other police firings overturned
Plan aims to revive Middletown park
Rhodes excluded from Reds park oversight
Top Trenton cop earns raves
Trail grows cold for runaway
Two-wheel vision: Linked bike paths
Two charged in home invasion robbery
Wright-Pat an also-ran for spy plane
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report