2 Pa. judges given partial immunity in civil suit

By MARK SCOLFORO

Two former county judges accused of taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send juveniles to private detention facilities are partially immune from civil lawsuits, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Friday.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:35 pm

Robbery motive in deaths of 5 in rural Arkansas

By JON GAMBRELL

Thieves shot to death five Arkansas family members and burned their bodies for the meager bounty of a set of wheel rims and some flat-screen televisions, court documents said Friday.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:35 pm

Police: NC girl raped, killed on day she was taken

By ALYSIA PATTERSON

A 5-year-old North Carolina girl was raped and killed the same day she was taken from her home, according to an arrest warrant released Friday. Shaniya Davis was sexually assaulted and asphyxiated Nov. 10, the day her mother reported her missing from the trailer park where she was staying…

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:30 pm

Wyoming challenges Yellowstone snowmobile rules

By BEN NEARY

The state of Wyoming filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to block the National Park Service from further restricting snowmobile numbers in Yellowstone National Park.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:30 pm

Army relents, will allow media at Palin book event

The U.S. Army said Friday it would open Sarah Palin's appearance on Fort Bragg to media, a reversal from earlier in the week when the military wanted the event closed out of fears it would prompt political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:25 pm

Police: 3rd arrest made in Vegas officer's death

By KEN RITTER

Police say they have arrested a third person in the shooting death of an off-duty Las Vegas police officer in his garage.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:15 pm

Plea deal reached in store scuffle case

By JIM SALTER

A black school teacher charged with assaulting white police officers, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace has agreed a plea deal with prosecutors convicting her of two misdemeanor counts.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:15 pm

Cops: Woman smuggled drugs to Pa. inmate with kiss

A western Pennsylvania woman has been ordered to stand trial on charges she passed a drug-filled balloon to a state prison inmate while kissing him. State police said guards at the State Correctional Institution-Mercer became suspicious when an inmate appeared to swallow something after a…

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:10 pm

CA man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face

A 39-year-old Southern California man has been arrested for misdemeanor child annoyance after allegedly paying a teenager $31 to spit in his face. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department says Charles Hersel was arrested Wednesday in a sting operation at a mall in Thousand Oaks. He's free …

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:10 pm

Eye doc may lose license after calling patient fat

A North Carolina doctor could lose his medical license after a patient complained he made cutting criticisms, including telling her she was fat. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported the North Carolina Medical Board will decide if Dr. Earl Sunderhaus of Asheville overstepped the bou…

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:10 pm

Man who claimed disability spotted on TV show

California tax officials say an interior designer's false disability claim was uncovered when he was spotted on a home improvement television show.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:10 pm

Mich. police nab wrong-way driver twice in 3 days

Authorities in western Michigan arrested a person twice in three days for driving the wrong way down the highway Kalamazoo County deputies said they were alerted about 1:30 a.m. Friday after several people called 911 when they passed the unidentified driver traveling south on northbound U…

New Nov 20, 2009 | 5:10 pm

Oregon court says teacher can't take gun to class

The Oregon Court of Appeals has rejected a request by a high school English teacher to carry a handgun at school, the latest legal setback for the teacher who says she needs the gun for protection from her former husband.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 4:55 pm

Resort island reels after deadly attack by gunman

By GEMMA CASAS

After going on a shooting rampage that left a trail of victims on the Pacific resort island of Saipan, the gunman drove to a scenic, rocky cliff where untold numbers of Japanese men, women and children plunged to their deaths to avoid capture during World War II, according to police and w…

Nov 20, 2009 | 4:25 pm

Colo. billboard links Obama with jihadists

By KRISTEN WYATT

A billboard showing President Barack Obama wearing a turban has sparked a lot of attention at the suburban Denver used car dealership that put it up.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm

Calif. launches probe into scam targeting churches

By ROBERT JABLON

California is investigating several companies suspected of bilking churches nationwide of hundreds of thousands of dollars through fraudulent computer leasing schemes, authorities said Friday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm

Atty seeks psych care for Mo. teen murder suspect

By DAVID A. LIEB

A teenager accused of killing a 9-year-old neighbor should be sent to a psychiatric hospital because she shows signs of severe depression and anxiety, her attorney said.

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm

Former Marine charged in 'Cathouse' star's death

By ROCHELLE HINES

A former Marine was charged Friday with six counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of four people whose bodies were found in a burning home, including a prostitute featured on the HBO reality series "Cathouse."

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:10 pm

AP News in Brief

Three Democratic moderates to decide fate of health bill _ for now _ in crucial Saturday vote

Nov 20, 2009 | 3:10 pm