Jury hears closings in Vegas hep C insurers case

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

Boy, 11, found guilty of murder conspiracy

COLVILLE, Wash. (AP) - An 11-year-old boy was convicted Friday of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in a fifth-grade plot that targeted a female classmate. Stevens County Superior Court Judge Allen Nielsen said Friday that "simple anger" fueled the plot the boy hatched earlier this year with a 10-year-old classmate at Fort Colville Elementary school in northeast Washington. School staff seized a handgun and knife the boys brought to school Feb. 7. The judge, who ...

News from around the nation

ZOOKEEPER IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI KILLED BY ELEPHANT: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A longtime zookeeper in southwest Missouri was killed Friday morning when he was crushed by an elephant, a spokeswoman for the city of Springfield said.

Did Castro die from autoerotic asphyxiation?

Judge tells man he's still legally dead

FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) - A man who disappeared decades ago is finding out there's no easy way to come back from the dead. Donald Miller Jr. went to court this week to ask a county judge to reverse a 1994 ruling that declared him legally dead after he had vanished from his home eight years earlier. But the judge turned down his request, citing a three-year time limit for changing a death ruling. Hancock County ...

Missing organs fuel outcry over teen's death

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - The parents of a Georgia teenager whose body was found inside a rolled-up wrestling mat at school said Thursday that they have a new reason to suspect signs of foul play were covered by investigators - their son was buried without his internal organs.

Some national parks could reopen

Indictment: Ga. teacher with HIV molested teen boy

ATLANTA (AP) - A south Georgia elementary school teacher accused of engaging in sex acts with a teen while knowing he was HIV-positive has been indicted by a grand jury.

News from around the nation

WOMAN TOO DRUNK TO GET OUT OF CAR CALLS 911: BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A woman is charged with felony drunken driving after police in Billings, Mont., say she called 911 and said she was too drunk to get out of her vehicle.