Driver accused of forcing black kids to back of bus

COUSHATTA, Louisiana (AP) -- A Louisiana school district suspended a white bus driver while it investigates complaints that she ordered nine black children to sit at the back of the bus.

Haunted house dare gets cheerleader shot

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (AP) -- Someone shot at a carload of teenage girls, critically wounding one of them, after some of them had stepped near a house that had been rumored by fellow students to be haunted, police said.

JonBenet suspect flying to Colorado

BOULDER, Colorado (CNN) -- JonBenet Ramsey slaying suspect John Mark Karr was on his way to Colorado on Thursday afternoon.

Army studies accuracy of casualty reports

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- The Army has begun a review of casualty reports on American soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere since 2001, a response to complaints that it has not always given families accurate information.

Police: 2 dead after school, other shootings

(CNN) -- Two people died and at least two others were injured in shootings Thursday at three locations in Essex, Vermont, including an elementary school, police said.

Cult leader gets date with executioner

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A religious cult leader convicted of killing a family of five in 1989 will be executed in October, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Police: Teacher shot; shooter missing

ESSEX, Vermont (AP) -- A teacher preparing for the start of classes next week was shot Thursday at an elementary school, police said.

Former Iraq POW Jessica Lynch is pregnant

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (AP) -- Jessica Lynch, the former prisoner of war whose 2003 rescue in Iraq made her an instant celebrity, is pregnant.

Squalls may become 'Ernesto'

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- Tropical Storm Debby steered over the open Atlantic well away from land Thursday while a band of squalls in the southeastern Caribbean threatened to coalesce into a new tropical storm.

Blast rocks bomb recycling plant

DOYLINE, Louisiana (AP) -- An explosion Thursday rocked a plant where military bombs are disassembled and recycled, forcing the evacuation of at least 600 students from two schools, authorities said.

Washington state declares wildfire emergency

CONCONULLY, Washington (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a statewide wildfire emergency as several large fires burned in Washington state and forecasters predicted more storms with high winds.

JonBenet suspect ran daycare center

HAMILTON, Alabama (AP) -- The man suspected of killing of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, kept children at a home day-care center he operated in northwest Alabama, the state welfare agency said Thursday.

Morning-after pill to be available without prescription

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription -- but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials ruled Thursday, capping a contentious 3-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive.

Sen. Allen apologizes for 'Macaca' remark

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- Sen. George Allen personally called an opponent's aide and apologized for singling the man out almost two weeks ago with an obscure comment that has cast a shadow over the senator's White House ambitions, his campaign said.

Midwestern wind, hail leave thousands in the dark

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana (AP) -- A severe thunderstorm swept in from Lake Michigan with high winds and large hail, moving docks, scattering lumber across railroad tracks and leaving thousands of homes and businesses without power.

Adoption 'miracle': Twins reunite via Internet

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- A pair of 3-year-old twins from China who were adopted separately by American families have found their way into each others' arms.

Pluto faces possible planetary pink slip

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- The ninth rock from the sun faces the prospect of being demoted to a "dwarf planet" on Thursday if the International Astronomical Union approves new planetary definitions.

Jill Carroll: Captivity turns to desperation

The Christian Science Monitor) -- Abu Qarrar was young, rotund, and seemed new to the mujahedeen lifestyle. He hadn't memorized much of the Quran, unlike his more senior counterparts. He sometimes sneaked glances at the women on the music-video channels when he thought no one was looking.