LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY “If there’s even one life that can be saved, then we’ve got an obligation to try.” President Barack Obama, who called upon Congress to toughen gun laws to confront mass shootings and everyday gun violence Article, 1A

NYC school-bus drivers union on strike

NEW YORK - More than 8,000 New York City school-bus drivers and aides went on strike Wednesday morning, leaving some 152,000 students, many disabled, to find other ways to get to school.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the strike started at 6 a.m. About 200 bus drivers and bus matrons, who help kids on and off buses, were assembled on picket lines in Queens.

Michael Cordiello, president of Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said at a news conference that the drivers will strike until Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the city agree to put a job-security clause back into their contract.

The city has put its contracts with private bus companies up for bid, aiming to cut costs. Local 1181 wants job protections for current drivers in the new contracts.

Wednesday’s walkout was by the largest bus drivers’ union; some bus routes served by other unions were operating.

Ex-girlfriend, 2 kin slain in college lot

HAZARD, Ky. - A gunman enraged by a domestic dispute bought a gun and fatally shot his former girlfriend, her uncle and her cousin in the parking lot of a small southeastern Kentucky college, police said Wednesday.

The violence near the school Tuesday afternoon locked down the campus for more than an hour as police searched the two buildings of Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard. The campus was closed Wednesday and will reopen today.

Caitlin Cornett, 20, and her uncle Jackie Cornett, 53, were found dead at the scene when police arrived about 6 p.m. Tuesday, Hazard Police Chief Minor Allen said.

Twelve-year-old Taylor Jade Cornett, who police said was shot multiple times, died Wednesday afternoon at University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, said Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn.

Dalton Stidham, 21, was charged Tuesday with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The officer handling the case was not available Wednesday night to say whether the latter charge would be amended.

Allen said the shooting resulted from a dispute between Caitlin Cornett and Stidham.

A semiautomatic pistol that was found at the scene and believed to have been used in the shooting was purchased the same day at a pawnshop, Allen said.

Judge limits leaked-files evidence

FORT MEADE, Md. - A military judge’s ruling Wednesday tightly limited an Army private’s ability to argue that he had good reasons for reportedly sending hundreds of thousands of classified documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Pfc. Bradley Manning can use motive evidence at his June 3 trial only to show that he didn’t know the leaked material would be seen by al-Qaida, or to seek leniency at sentencing, Col. Denise Lind ruled during a pretrial hearing.

Evidence of motive isn’t relevant to the other charges, she said.

Prosecutors say Manning told an online confidantturned-government-informant that he leaked the material because “I want people to see the truth” and “information should be free.” Lind said such material is only relevant as evidence of “whether he knew he was dealing with the enemy.”

She also barred Manning from using at trial any reports compiled by government agencies that concluded that the WikiLeaks revelations didn’t compromise national security. The defense can use such material only during sentencing.

Pastor picked for Obama inauguration

WASHINGTON - The pastor of the Episcopal parish known as “the church of the presidents” will give the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration Monday.

The Rev. Luis Leon of St. John’s Church has been chosen for the honor. He replaces Atlanta megachurch pastor Louie Giglio, who withdrew from the ceremony last week over comments from years ago in which he condemned homosexual relationships.

Every president since James Madison, including Obama, has attended a service at St. John’s Church, which stands across from the White House on Lafayette Square.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 01/17/2013