The nation in brief

— QUOTE OF THE DAY “He’s endorsed by them.You can’t get any cozier than that.”

Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma,

who said those who suggested that Chuck Hagel was “cozy” with terrorist states had a basis for their claims because Iran has expressed support for his nomination as defense secretary Article, 1AEx-in-law was gunman at courthouse

WILMINGTON, Del. - Police said Tuesday that a 68-year-old man who opened fire in a Delaware courthouse lobby, killing his former daughter-in-law and another woman, fatally shot himself after exchanging gunfire with officers.

State police spokesman Sgt. Paul Shavack said Tuesday that Thomas Matusiewicz of Edcouch, Texas, shot himself in the head after killing Christine Belford, 39, and her friend Laura Mulford, 47, on Monday. Two police officers also were hit by gunfire but were protected by their armored vests.

Authorities said Belford and Mulford were at the courthouse for a child support hearing for Belford’s ex-husband, David Matusiewicz, after a bitter custody dispute.

David Matusiewicz, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to fraud and kidnapping charges for taking his children to Central America in 2007, was being detained by federal authorities Tuesday on charges that he violated his probation in that case.

Sandy 2nd-costliest U.S. hurricane

NEWARK, N.J. - Hurricane Sandy, which turned into a winter superstorm over the northeastern United States, was the deadliest hurricane to hit the northeastern U.S. in 40 years and the second-costliest in the nation’s history, according to a report released Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center attributed 72 U.S. deaths directly to Sandy. That is more than any hurricane to hit the northeastern U.S. since Hurricane Agnes killed 122 people in 1972, according to the center’s records covering 1851 to 2010. The report counted at least 87 other deaths that were indirectly tied to Sandy, including from such causes as hypothermia because of power failures, carbon monoxide poisoning and accidents during cleanup efforts.

The deadliest hurricane in U.S. history hit Galveston, Texas, in 1900 and killed 8,000 to 12,000 people.

The report estimated damage caused by Sandy at $50 billion, greater than any U.S. hurricane except Katrina, which in 2005 caused $108 billion in damage, or $128 billion adjusted to 2012 dollars.

No bail for 2 in Chicago girl’s slaying

CHICAGO - Two men charged in the death of a 15-year-old Chicago honor student were ordered held without bail Tuesday at a hearing where prosecutors contended the shooting happened while they were hunting for members of a rival gang.

Hadiya Pendleton died after being shot in a park about a mile from the Chicago home of President Barack Obama on Jan. 29, just days after she performed during Obama’s inauguration festivities in Washington.

Cook County Judge Israel Desierto ordered Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, held without bail.

Prosecutors said Ward and Williams were in a vehicle circling the park when they spotted Pendleton and her group and thought they were rival gang members. Williams handed Ward a gun, and Ward sneaked up on the group and opened fire, shooting at least six times, prosecutors said.

Ward and Williams were charged Monday with firstdegree murder, two counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.

Ex-Navy SEAL honored, laid to rest

AUSTIN, Texas - After a 200-mile journey, former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle was buried Tuesday in Austin as his family members and fellow SEALs looked on amid the sounds of drums and bagpipes.

A giant Texas flag flew at half-staff over the Texas State Cemetery as Kyle was laid to rest. Kyle, considered to be the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history, was killed along with a friend earlier this month while at a North Texas gun range.

A white hearse carrying Kyle’s flag-draped coffin was among 200 vehicles in a procession that left Tuesday morning from Kyle’s hometown of Midlothian, about 25 miles southwest of Dallas, to travel to Austin.

It halted briefly when three motorcycles in the procession went down just north of Austin, sending two people to the hospital with injuries, said Belton police Sgt. Larry Berg.

An Iraq War veteran, Eddie Ray Routh, 25, has been charged in the killings of Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield.

On Monday, some 7,000 people attended a two-hour memorial service for Kyle at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 02/13/2013

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