Nation news briefs

POLICE: 'HERO' SAVED OTHERS IN SEATTLE SHOOTINGS: SEATTLE (AP) - Someone inside an artsy Seattle cafe where a gunman opened fire threw stools at the assailant during a shooting rampage police described as "callous, horrific and cold," a move that allowed others to run to safety.

Defense of Marriage Act heads to US Supreme Court over benefits

House passes veterans funding bill

NYC proposes ban on large sodas at restaurants

Edwards acquitted on 1 count, mistrial on others

Odd politics, presidential tradition: Bush back at White House with Obama

Nation news briefs

POLICE: ANGRY CUSTOMER HITS TACO BELL WITH TRUCK: HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) - Police in southwest Ohio say a customer angry over not getting a taco he ordered struck a Taco Bell restaurant's glass entrance with his truck. No one was injured.

Obama congratulates Romney on GOP nod

Nation news briefs

ROMNEY CLINCHES GOP NOMINATION WITH TEXAS WIN: WASHINGTON (AP) - Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

Elaborate Portland marriage proposal goes viral

Man convicted of NJ webcam gay spying apologizes

Even police shocked by gore in face-mauling attack in Miami that left man in critical condition

Va. girl is youngest ever in National Spelling Bee

Radioactive bluefin tuna crossed the Pacific to US

Witness says naked attacker was chewing man's face

MIAMI (AP) - A witness says a naked man chewing on the face of another naked man on a downtown highway ramp kept eating and growled at a police officer who fatally shot him to make him stop. Larry Vega told WSVN-TV in Miami (http://bit.ly/L6kwWt) that he was riding his bicycle Saturday afternoon off the MacArthur Causeway that connects downtown Miami with ...

Tornado death toll lowered to 24

Gay Fla. teen charged for her underage girlfriend

Pentagon wants $450M for Guantanamo

Texas judge: Lesbian couple can't cohabitate

Nation news briefs

POLICE DEFEND OFFICER WHO SHOT NY COLLEGE STUDENT: MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) - The president of a New York police union defended an officer who accidentally killed a Hofstra University student during a standoff with an armed intruder, saying Tuesday the only person responsible for the woman's death was the gunman who held her hostage.

IRS official to take the 5th at House hearing

Huge tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb, kills 51

MOORE, Okla. (AP) - A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

Side Briefs

ANGRY MOB PELTS MAN THOUGHT TO BE SEX ATTACKER: DENVER (AP) - Residents angry that police had not warned them about sex assaults of children took matters into their own hands, chasing down a man they thought was the attacker, pelting him with rocks and leaving him with a bloody face in Colorado, authorities said Monday.

Volcano's ash prompts flight cancellations

Kentucky teen dies with dog lead on neck

Kentucky teen dies with dog lead on neck

Should wunderkinds drop out of high school?

Cardinal skips event over Irish PM's role

More Obama aides knew of IRS audit

1 SEAL dead, 7 sailors hurt in training accident

More time needed to indict Tsarnaev