Interior Secretary Says Sorry to Reporter

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is apologizing for threatening to punch a Colorado reporter who asked him about problems with the government's wild horse program at a campaign event. Salazar on Wednesday called Dave Philipps, a reporter with The Gazette of Colorado Springs, to apologize and offer him an interview. The apology came a day after the newspaper posted an audio recording of Salazar's Election Day comments. In the audio, Salazar is heard accusing Philipps of setting him up by asking about a Colorado horse slaughter proponent who has bought hundreds of wild horses. Salazar tells the reporter: "If you do that to me again, I'll punch you out." Salazar at first simply said Wednesday that he regretted the exchange. But the newspaper called on him to apologize.