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.

"There is some second guessing by people who think we should have stayed outside the house, but our job is to get inside and make sure we can protect as many people as we can," said James Carver, president of the Nassau County Patrolman's Benevolent Association.

Investigators say Andrea Rebello was being held in a headlock by Dalton Smith last week when he pointed his weapon at the officer, prompting the officer to open fire.

Rebello was killed by one of eight shots fired by the officer. Smith also was killed.

The officer, who has not been named, is on sick leave while authorities investigate.

ARKANSAS TREASURER RESIGNS AMID CHARGES SHE TOOK CASH: LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' state treasurer resigned Tuesday after being accused of taking at least $36,000 in cash — sometimes stashed in a pie box — from a broker who later came to manage a large share of the state's $3.3 billion investment portfolio.

Democrat Martha Shoffner held the office since 2007 and was re-elected in 2010. She was barred by term limits from seeking re-election next year.

"I am proud to have been elected by and to have served the people of the state of Arkansas and regret that I can no longer perform the duties and responsibilities owed to the public," Shoffner wrote in a letter to Gov. Mike Beebe. Shoffner's resignation was effective 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A spokesman for Beebe said the governor received Shoffner's letter late Tuesday afternoon but had not spoken directly to Shoffner.

She was under pressure from both Democrats and Republicans to step down after the FBI arrested her Saturday in a sting operation. She spent the weekend in Pulaski County Jail and made her initial court appearance Monday. She didn't enter a plea, but her attorney, Chuck Banks, said she would plead not guilty at the appropriate time.

LEW: IRS ACTIONS "UNACCEPTABLE AND INEXCUSABLE": WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups was "unacceptable and inexcusable" and he has directed the agency's acting director to hold people accountable.

Lew told the Senate Banking Committee that he has also asked acting director Daniel Werfel to fix any flaws in management of the IRS to make sure there is no recurrence of the problems.

An inspector general's report released May 15 found that IRS employees had inappropriately targeted conservative political groups.

Lew says he first learned about the inspector general's investigation in March but that he was unaware of the findings until they became public this month.

FEDS TAKE OVER CALIF. HIGH-RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM: SACRAMENTO  (AP) — About 17,000 Californians with serious medical problems will be moved from a state-run stopgap health insurance program to a federal plan starting in July.

The state board that oversees the California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan announced this week that participants will continue receiving benefits from the federal government until next year. That's when the state's health benefit exchange goes online and insurers will be required to accept all applicants, regardless of medical history, under President Barack Obama's health care law.

California is among 18 states whose program is being taken over temporarily by the federal government. The money available to the states was capped at $5 billion, but the pot is running out because the care for the beneficiaries turned out to be costlier than expected.

LAWMAKER CANCELS VEGAS FUNDRAISER AFTER REPORT: SACRAMENTO  (AP) — A California state senator has canceled a Las Vegas fundraiser after a newspaper reported that the host of the party could benefit from pending legislation.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Saturday's $3,000-per-person event for Democratic Sen. Ricardo Lara, of Bell Gardens, was to be hosted by Station Casinos LLC.

The Las Vegas-based gambling company could earn millions of dollars if the Legislature and governor approve a casino agreement with a Fresno-area Indian tribe. The company would operate the casino for seven years.