Nation news briefs

3 FIGHT EXPLOSION OVER FACEBOOK THREATS: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Three eighth-graders from northwest Indiana who say they were expelled after joking on Facebook about which of their classmates they would like to kill asked a federal judge Wednesday to order the district to allow them to return to school.

Obama to kick off his first campaign rallies next week in Ohio & Virginia

Add kidneys to list of things that can be recycled

TSA defends pat-down of 4-year-old who become hysterical at Kansas airport

Young heart patient waiting for transplant taken from hospital found safe, dad arrested

NJ officer accused of luring 12-year-old girl

Nation news briefs

ROMNEY EXPANDS LEAD: WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney added to his big lead in the race for convention delegates Tuesday with a five-state sweep of Republican presidential primaries.

Asteroids may yield mining of precious metals, cosmic riches

Immigration offers to delay deportation of 16,500 to concrete on deporting criminals

Nation news briefs

TROOPERS SUSPENDED OVER CARAVAN 'ESCORT' REPORTS: TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Two New Jersey state troopers have been suspended without pay after being accused of escorting a caravan of high-performance cars on a 100-mph trip down the Garden State Parkway.

Appendix removal: Huge sticker shock in study

SEC files charges against ex-CalPERS CEO

Dangerous booby traps found on popular Utah trail; two arrested

Number of US illegal immigrants from Mexico drops by almost 900,000 people

Now out of jail, Zimmerman fades from sight

1 SEAL dead, 7 sailors hurt in training accident

More time needed to indict Tsarnaev

Treasury told of IRS probe in June 2012

Marine, dog reunited in surprise ceremony at Iowa State Capitol

Navy pilot earns degree in combat zone

Dark clouds hang over air shows after budget cuts hit military services

Colorado sheriffs sue over gun rules

Alaska volcano shoots ash 15,000 feet into the air

OJ's ex-lawyer contradicts his testimony on guns

Nearly 50 injured as commuter trains collide

Nation news briefs

TRAVIS SUES TO BLOCK DWI PATROL CAR VIDEO RELEASE: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Country music star Randy Travis has filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of patrol car video of his 2012 drunken-driving arrest in North Texas.

Feds propose overhaul for child care centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - Federal health officials proposed Thursday to overhaul 500,000 child care centers across the country, beefing up safety standards including background and fingerprint checks for employees and requiring states to better monitor the facilities.

Judge lets Ariz. license policy stand

Mom in NM chases down her child’s abductor; man arrested

Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend's embryo with a pill