'Shame' punishments like ponytail cutting increase turning courts into ‘circus shows’

Nation news briefs

TEXAS WOMAN GETS $1.4M UTILITY BILL IN ERROR : ABILENE, Texas (AP) - A lot of people gripe when they get high summertime electric bills. But Kristin Harriger's bill was nearly $1.4 million.

Final steel beam lifted at replacement skyscraper at World Trade Center

Issa: No evidence so far of White House cover-up in botched gun-tracking effort

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress doesn't have any evidence so far of a White House cover-up involving a botched gun-tracking operation, a top Republican said Sunday, countering the House speaker's assertion that President Barack Obama or his aides deliberately misled lawmakers.

Judge upholds Indiana ban for sex offenders using Facebook, other social media outlets

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A national civil rights group said Sunday it would appeal a federal judge's decision to uphold an Indiana law that bans registered sex offenders from accessing Facebook and other social networking sites used by children.

Vicious wildfires spread to tourist centers

COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) - Wildfires moved in on some of Colorado's most popular summer tourist destinations over the weekend, destroying nearly two dozen homes near Rocky Mountain National Park and emptying hotels and campgrounds at the base of Pikes Peak.

Memorial to honor 2011 Reno air race crash victims

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Organizers of the Reno National Championship Air Races are pursuing plans to build a permanent memorial for victims of last year's mass-casualty crash in Nevada.

Banana truck crash destroys 1745 Mass. building

SEEKONK, Mass. (AP) - An out-of-control tractor-trailer carrying bananas crashed into a natural gas main and ignited an explosion on Sunday morning, setting fire to an 18th-century building that housed a tavern and destroying it.

Odd news briefs

• DUCT TAPE PROM DRESS COULD WIN KANSAS TEEN $5,000: SOLOMON, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas teen has earned a spot as a finalist in a national design competition with a prom dress made entirely from duct tape.

Video of bus monitor’s misery posted on YouTube strikes a nerve worldwide

GREECE, NY (AP) - The pebble was tossed when a middle-school student in upstate New York posted a 10-minute video on his Facebook page.

Financially-strapped North Las Vegas municipality declares financial disaster

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) - There are no signs of rioters, wind-damaged homes or flooding. The brand new City Hall features gleaming marble floors and the public recreation centers offer Zumba, karate and Pilates classes.

Former principal charged in fatal stabbings

Nation news briefs

FIRE SPARKED BY SHOOTING EVACUATES HOMES IN UTAH: SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (AP) - Residents of at least 2,300 homes in northern Utah were being evacuated Friday after high winds kicked up a fire started by target shooters.

Ex-Penn St. assistant Sandusky convicted of sexual abuse of boys

Nation news briefs

AT LEAST $380K RAISED FOR BULLIED NY BUS MONITOR: NEW YORK (AP) - A video of a 68-year-old school bus monitor being mercilessly taunted by seventh-graders became a rallying point against bullies Thursday, with a fund for the New York state grandmother raising at least $380,000 and a deluge of people demanding harsh punishment for the boys.

'American Idol' is now 3rd-rated competition show

Kansas school apologies to Airman in prom dispute

Kansas school apologies to Airman in prom dispute

Morning-after pill OK for ages 15 and up

Maria Shriver is coming back to NBC News

Worker dies in blender at Oregon meat plant

Utah referee critically hurt by soccer game punch

Tests link deadly ricin to Obama letter suspect

Obama defends counterterrorism effort

Nation news briefs

NYC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADOPTS ALL-VEGETARIAN MENU: NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City elementary school has adopted an all-vegetarian menu, serving kids tofu wraps and veggie chili.

Legal tiff settled over Chicago parking meters

US assessing reported Syrian chemical use

Army amputee completes air assault school

Man arrested for letting son, 9, drive Ferrari

Pro-gun Native American billboard draws criticism

Nation news briefs

SOME LOSING JOBS AMID ALLEGED NEV. PATIENT DUMPING: CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Two staff members who violated discharge policies at a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital were fired Monday and three others are being disciplined following an investigation into busing patients to other states, the governor's office and agency officials said Monday.