Effort in Arizona would give residents who live in high crime areas free shotguns

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A former mayoral candidate in Tucson, Ariz., is launching a privately funded program to provide residents of crime-prone areas with free shotguns so they can defend themselves against criminals. Shaun McClusky said the program modeled after one recently launched in Houston would provide training and enough money to buy a basic shotgun to residents who pass background checks, ...

Nation news briefs

MAN WINS $8K AFTER DISNEY 'SMALL WORLD' BREAKDOWN: LOS ANGELES (AP) - An attorney says a disabled man was awarded $8,000 by Disneyland after the "It's A Small World" ride broke, stranding him for three hours while the theme song played continuously.

Health overhaul to raise claims cost 32%

North Dakota signs nation’s most restrictive abortion law, expects fight

Judge Judy's son, a DA, embroiled in NY rape case

Administrators armed in Colo. school district

SD Sen. Johnson to retire, cites age

Sidestepping major ruling on gay marriage?

Conn. priest to admit to meth charge

$338M lottery winner feels 'pure joy’

Nevada Assembly considers first ever expulsion

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A lawmaker who has been arrested twice in two months, hospitalized for a mental evaluation and accused of threatening to harm a Democratic Party leader could this week become the first person in Nevada history to be kicked out of the Legislature.

Donors give $8M so Detroit can buy 23 EMS units, 100 police cars

DETROIT (AP) - Several businesses have pledged a total of $8 million to help cash-strapped Detroit pay for a new fleet of emergency vehicles, including 23 EMS units and 100 police cars, to boost public safety and reduce response times, Mayor Dave Bing announced Monday. Racing team owner Roger Penske, who leads Penske Automotive Group ...

Odd News

BELGIUM'S CHOCOLATE STAMPS OFFER LICK WITH A KICK: BRUSSELS (AP) - Feel like having chocolate at Easter in Belgium? Well, send a letter and really lick that chocolate-flavored postal stamp.

High court gay marriage tickets cost money

Woman gets prison time in 'total ID theft'

Health care law could be liability for Demos

News from around the nation

Dad still drive’s his son’s truck

Man mauled by pet deer, faces charges

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama man was charged with illegally keeping seven deer as pets, including a buck that mauled and partially blinded him, wildlife officials said Friday. On Oct. 30, Julius Dunsmore entered a fenced pen on his property in Marshall County in the northern part of the state and was attacked by a nine-point buck. Dunsmore said the deer lifted him up on its antlers and carried him 30 feet. One antler ...

Hindenburg inspired Pa. man's house blast

Height of 1 World Trade Center debated

Crime witnesses ID on rats215

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An anonymous social media site has been identifying witnesses in violent crimes across Philadelphia with the stated intention of trying to "expose rats," and city authorities were trying to find out who is behind it, police said Friday.

Suit: Dad criticized for denying son McDonald's

News from around the nation

Chess, rubber duck inducted into Hall of Fame

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - The rubber duck squeaked out a win for a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame, joining the ancient game of chess in the 2013 class inducted Thursday.

VA lifts overtime requirement for claims workers

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Department of Veterans Affairs will temporarily suspend a program that requires more than 10,000 disability claims processors to work at least 20 hours of overtime per month with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki saying Thursday he had to be careful not to burn out his workforce.

IRS refunded $4B to identity thieves

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service issued $4 billion in fraudulent tax refunds last year to people using stolen identities, with some of the money going to addresses in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Ireland, according to an inspector general's report released Thursday.

Math, reading scores up slightly

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sometimes the best isn't good enough: Most American fourth- and eighth-graders still lack basic skills in math and reading despite record high scores on a national exam.

Gay rights bill gets Senate OK

One final toast for surviving Doolittle Raiders this weekend