The nation in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If the president believes these modest entitlement savings are needed to help shore up these programs, there’s no reason they should be held hostage for more tax hikes. That’s no way to lead and move the country forward.”

House Speaker John Boehner, on reports that President Barack Obama would seek a new budget compromise next week Article, 1A

1 killed, dozens hurt in school bus crash

WADSWORTH, Ill. - A school bus carrying children to their elementary school Friday morning crashed into a Jeep, killing its driver, spun around and then hit another vehicle before flipping onto its side, and sending dozens of children to hospitals, authorities said.

All 35 people aboard the bus survived the crash that happened about 8 a.m. in Wadsworth, 45 miles north of Chicago, said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran Jr. Authorities said the driver of a Jeep Wrangler that collided with the bus died of traumatic injuries. He was identified as Philip Smith, 62, of Beach Park, Ill.

No charges had been filed as of late Friday afternoon.

Schools Superintendent Bob DiVirgilio said 34 pupils were on the bus.

At Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, spokesman John Griffin said an 11-year-old girl who was in fair condition with a skull fracture was transferred to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Five other students were treated and released.

Sarah Toomey, a spokesman for Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, said 25 children were taken to the hospital and 24 had been released by late afternoon. The remaining child remained in observation in good condition, she said.

Parents of slain Florida teen settle suit

SANFORD, Fla. - The parents of a teenager who was fatally shot by a neighborhood-watch volunteer last year have settled a wrongful-death claim against the homeowners association of the Florida subdivision where their son was killed.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Friday that an attorney for Trayvon Martin’s parents - Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin - filed that paperwork in Seminole County and that parts of it were made available for public review Friday.

According to the newspaper, the settlement amount was marked out in five pages that it reviewed. Lower in the agreement, the parties specify that they will keep the amount confidential.

The 17-year-old Martin was fatally shot in February 2012 by neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman during a confrontation in a subdivision in Sanford, about 30 miles north of Orlando. Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder.

U.S. contractor released in Afghanistan

RICHMOND, Va. - An American contractor detained in a contract dispute in Afghanistan was released Friday, and three U.S. congressmen who complained about his detention said he had been seized without charges and beaten.

U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell and Frank Wolf of Virginia and Duncan Hunter of California sent a letter asking Secretary of State John Kerry to intervene for David Gordon, 38, of Virginia Beach, Va.

The congressmen said Gordon was detained Wednesday in a contract dispute but had not been charged. They said Gordon was injured in a beating but was not taken to an infirmary until the next day. Afghan authorities had asked for $2.4 million to release him, according to the legislators.

John Rhatigan, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, declined to comment on the demands.

Gordon works for northern Virginia’s Tamerlane Global Services Inc.

Man to be queried in prison chief’s death

DENVER - A white-supremacist prison-gang member was arrested and another was still being sought for questioning Friday in the death of Colorado’s chief of prisons as authorities investigated whether the gang had any ties to the killing.

James Lohr was taken into custody early Friday in Colorado Springs. He was wanted for questioning in the slaying of Department of Corrections Director Tom Clements.

Authorities believe Lohr was in contact with gang associate Evan Ebel days before the killings of Clements and pizza deliveryman Nate Leon.

Lohr was booked on felony evading charges and also held on three separate outstanding arrest warrants unrelated to the Clements case. He is to appear in court Monday.

Lohr, 47, and Thomas Guolee, 31, are not being called suspects in Clements’ death, but their names surfaced during the investigation, El Paso County sheriff’s spokesman Jeff Kramer said. Both were wanted on warrants unrelated to the Clements investigation.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 04/06/2013

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