MINNESOTA

4 students die in bus accident

A school bus and several other vehicles crashed near Cottonwood, killing four students.

The bus was hit by a van. The bus then hit a pickup and tipped on its side, State Patrol Lt. Mark Peterson said. At least 14 people were hurt, two critically. The first motorists at the scene took some of the injured to nearby hospitals before ambulances arrived.

The bus was on its regular route, carrying children from kindergarten through 12th grade.

MARYLAND

Driver in 8 deaths reportedly braked

A man who drove his car into a crowd of street-racing fans tried to stop by slamming on the brakes and is traumatized by the tragedy that left eight people dead, his guardian said in Waldorf.

Darren Bullock, 20, has been “like a zombie” ever since the crash along an isolated stretch of highway early Saturday, said James Walls, who raised Bullock from childhood.

Bullock was driving his brother home from a band practice session shortly before 4 a.m. when he ran into spectators standing in the road, Walls said. No charges have been filed.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Top general plans shorter war tours

Soldiers heading to war this summer are likely to see their tours shortened from 15 months to 12 months, even if troop cuts in Iraq are suspended in July as expected, the Army’s top general said.

Gen. George W. Casey Jr. said that while his forces are strained by nearly seven years at war, the Army can maintain 15 combat brigades in battle for at least a couple of months after July while military commanders assess the situation in Iraq.

Casey said that his goal is to eventually shorten war deployments to nine months.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Teacher gets jail; had sex with boys

A former middle school teacher was sentenced in Laurens to six years in prison for having sexual encounters with five teenage boys.

Authorities said Allenna W. Ward, 24, met 14- and 15-year-old boys at the school where she taught, as well as at a motel and a park and behind a restaurant.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Reporter held in contempt

A federal judge held a former USA Today reporter in contempt of court as she continued refusing to identify sources for stories about a former Army scientist under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said reporter Toni Locy defied his order in August that she cooperate with Steven J. Hatfill in his lawsuit against the government. Walton indicated that he would impose escalating daily fines until she divulged her sources, but that he would take a few more days to decide whether to postpone the penalty as she pursues an appeal.

“I will order she provide the sources of information,” Walton said during a hearing, as Locy looked grim and slowly shook her head in disagreement.

“I don’t like to have to hold anyone in contempt,” the judge added, but “the media has to be responsible.”

NORTH CAROLINA

Graham mending after surgery

Evangelist Billy Graham, 89, returned to his mountainside home in Montreat to continue his recovery from surgery to update a shunt that controls excess fluid on his brain, officials said.

Graham underwent the elective surgery Feb. 13.

From Times Wire Reports