Fiery plane crash kills 50

CLARENCE, N.Y. (AP) — A Continental commuter plane coming in for a landing nose-dived into a house in suburban Buffalo, sparking a fiery explosion that killed all 49 people aboard and a person in the home. It was the nation's first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in 2½ years.

Witnesses heard the twin turboprop aircraft sputtering before it went down in light snow and fog around 10:20 p.m. Thursday about five miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Continental Connection Flight 3407 from Newark, N.J., came in squarely through the roof of the house, its tail section visible through flames shooting at least 50 feet high.

"The whole sky was lit up orange," said Bob Dworak, who lives less than a mile away. "All the sudden, there was a big bang, and the house shook."

Two others in the house escaped with minor injuries. The plane was carrying a four-member crew and an off-duty pilot. Among the 44 passengers killed was a woman whose husband died in the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

By morning, with the rubble still smoking, the task of retrieving remains had not yet begun.

Erie County Emergency Coordinator David Bissonette said it appeared the plane "dove directly on top of the house."

"It was a direct hit," Bissonette said. "It's remarkable that it only took one house. As devastating as that is, it could have wiped out the entire neighborhood."

President Barack Obama voiced condolences, saying "our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones."

Report: British boy becomes father at 13

LONDON (AP) — A British newspaper is reporting that a 13-year-old boy has become one of the country's youngest fathers. The mother is reportedly 15.

The front page of The Sun shows a picture of a baby-faced boy holding the hand of a newborn girl.

The Associated Press could not immediately reach the boy or his family for comment.

Britain has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and Friday's report sparked a debate over the issue.

The most recent government figures show that about 39,000 girls under age 18 became pregnant in 2006. More than 7,000 of those girls were younger than 16.

Teens sought in highway gunplay

NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) — New Castle County Police are looking for two cars loaded with teenaged boys who were shooting at each other as they drove in the New Castle area.

Police say the shots rang out as the cars drove toward Route 9 from Llangollen Estates Wednesday afternoon.

One car was described as black with heavily-tinted windows, and the other was a champagne-colored sedan.

SC lawyers say cops making arrests in Phelps case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Police in the South Carolina county where Michael Phelps was photographed smoking from a marijuana pipe have been arresting people as they seek to make a case against the superstar swimmer, lawyers for two arrested people said Thursday.

Attorneys Joseph McCulloch and Dick Harpootlian told The Associated Press they each represent a client charged with possession of marijuana who were questioned about the party Phelps attended near the University of South Carolina campus in November.

The lawyers said the two clients were renters at the house where the party apparently took place, although they were not at the party. The two have since moved and were arrested after police executed a search warrant at their new home and accused them of having a small amount of marijuana there.

"After they arrested him, they didn't ask him, 'Where did you get the marijuana?' or 'Who sold it to you?' Almost all the questions they asked him were about Michael Phelps," Harpootlian said.

The lawyers would not name their clients, who each face up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine if convicted on the pending charges.

The Richland County Sheriff's Office would not comment on the lawyers' remarks.

"As soon as we're ready to release information on this case we will and we're still in the middle of this investigation," said Lt. Chris Cowan.

After the photo was published Feb. 1, Sheriff Leon Lott said his office would investigate and possibly charge Phelps, though officials have not specified what the offense might be.

Chris Brown, Rihanna in running for Image Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Despite his recently tarnished image, crooner Chris Brown may win an NAACP Image Award.

The 19-year-old singer, who's accused in a domestic dispute that reportedly involves pop superstar Rihanna, is in the running for outstanding male artist at the 40th annual awards. The awards are being presented Thursday night at the Shrine Auditorium and airing on Fox.

Brown won the outstanding male artist trophy last year.

Rihanna, his longtime girlfriend, is up for outstanding female artist.

It's unclear if either Brown or Rihanna will attend. Both canceled their appearances and performances at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

Other nominees for outstanding male artist are Common, Jamie Foxx, John Legend and will.i.am. Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Mariah Carey are also nominated for outstanding female artist.

Over 30 awards honoring television, film, music and literature are to be handed out in categories such as outstanding reality series, literary work, jazz artist, music video and documentary.

Television shows including "The Game," ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne," ''Ugly Betty," ''Everybody Hates Chris" and "Grey's Anatomy" are nominated for multiple awards. "Cadillac Records," ''Miracle at St. Anna," ''The Secret Life of Bees," ''Seven Pounds" and "The Family That Preys" are nominated for outstanding motion picture.

The 40th annual Image Awards coincide with the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and will kick off a yearlong centennial celebration.

Two more DeSoto students chosen HOBY leaders

DESOTO COUNTY-DeSoto County School sophomores Vivi Ding, Hernando High, and Jessica Correia, Olive Branch High, have been selected to represent their schools at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar May 29-31 at Millsaps College in Jackson.

The students were nominated for the honor by teachers and staff and selected with a scoring system based on communication and decision-making skills, creative thinking, sensitivity to the needs of others, courage to speak out for their beliefs, and community service involvement and leadership ability.

The HOBY Leadership seminars bring together a select group of high school sophomores from public and private high schools throughout each state in the nation to interact with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education and other sectors to discuss present and future issues.

OB Malco cinema could be another year away

OLIVE BRANCH - It could be another year before Olive Branch gets a new cinema.

Malco Theaters Inc. president Stephen Lightman said Wednesday that Malco hopes to break ground on its new cinema approved for construction on about 10.8 acres at the intersection of Goodman Road and North Hamilton Circle in Olive Branch some time within a year.

Lightman said Malco’s original plans to break ground this summer on the $6- to $8-million theater changed with the economy.
“We would have broken ground this summer if the economy was in better shape,” Lightman said. “We have decided to wait until the local economy improves; growth in Olive Branch picks up again and people are back into a good spending mood, before we make that kind of investment.

“If the economy looks like it is improving and can support a theater, then we will certainly break ground within a year.”

Olive Branch residents have waited years to see the construction of a new theater become a reality.

Amite teen charged with aiding fugitive

CROSBY, Miss. (AP) — A teenager who allegedly helped Samuel "Sambo" Robinson flee authorities faces misdemeanor charges in the case.

Amite County Chief Deputy Ray Austin said on Wednesday that Oljuwan Tobias, 17, was charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive and resisting arrest by flight.

Tobias allegedly helped Robinson, 27, of Houston, Texas, flee police.

Robinson got into a car driven by Tobias. The car was later found abandoned.

Robinson is wanted on a Texas warrant charging him with murder, and two warrants from Gloster police charging him with aggravated assault in an Aug. 16 incident in which he allegedly shot into a car occupied by two men.

Copiah County authorities are investigating Robinson about the Friday afternoon shooting death of an 18-year-old store clerk from Brookhaven who was working at a Stuckey's in Gallman.

Favre's agent: NY Jets QB retiring

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Favre's agent says the New York Jets quarterback will retire.

The 39-year-old Favre instructed agent James "Bus" Cook to tell the team Wednesday that he won't return for a 19th NFL season — and second with the Jets.

In an e-mail to ESPN, Favre says he has no regrets about ending his career in New York and praises the team's owner, front office and fired coach Eric Mangini.

Favre wrote he enjoyed his time with the Jets, despite a late-season slump that saw New York go from 8-3 to missing the playoffs. Favre threw nine interceptions as the Jets went 1-4 down the stretch, and a torn right biceps might have contributed.

First lady Michelle Obama is Vogue cover model

NEW YORK (AP) — It's official: Michelle Obama is the first lady of American fashion, appearing on the cover of the March issue of Vogue.

Every first lady since Lou Hoover — save Bess Truman — has been featured in the high-fashion magazine, but Mrs. Obama is only the second to grace the cover. She appears wearing a magenta silk sheath dress by Jason Wu, who also designed her inaugural gown.

Vogue's editor at large Andre Leon Talley called his interviews with Mrs. Obama ahead of President Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony "one of the best experiences of my life."

"She's so accessible, natural and normal. There's nothing affected about her," he said.

Much of the eight-page feature inside is devoted to Mrs. Obama's self-described role as "mom in chief" to 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.

"I'm going to try to take them to school every morning, as much as I can," she said. "But there's also a measure of independence. And obviously there will be times I won't be able to drop them off at all. I like to be a presence in my kids' school. I want to know the teachers; I want to know the other parents."

Being Vogue, though, the conversation eventually turns to clothes.

Mrs. Obama said she is aware of how her wardrobe is being scrutinized, but she makes no apologies for her choices — even the Election Night combination of ripped-from-the-runway, fashion-forward dress and plain-Jane cardigan.

Academy of Country Music announces nominees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brad Paisley leads all finalists for the Academy of Country Music Awards with six nominations.

The finalists were announced in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday morning and Paisley garnered nods for entertainer of the year and male vocalist. He is also a finalist for record, song and video of the year for "Waitin' on a Woman." Paisley is also up for vocal event of the year for "Start a Band" with Keith Urban.

Heidi Newfield is a strong contender, picking up nominations in five categories, including song of the year and video of the year for "Johnny & June."

The winners will be announced during the Academy of Country Music Awards show on CBS from Las Vegas on April 5.

Teen knifed at Santa Cruz high school

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A teenager has been stabbed on a Santa Cruz high school campus and a fellow student is in juvenile hall for the attack.

The 18-year-old victim was taken to Dominican Hospital, then flown to Valley Medical Center in San Jose, for treatment of a knife wound in the back. He's expected to recover.

Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend says a 17-year-old student at the Costanoa High School alternative school was arrested as he tried to flee the campus after the 11:20 a.m. Tuesday attack. The knife was also found.

The teenager was booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon.

Freestyle motocross racer Jeremy Lusk dies

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross racer, died of head injuries on Tuesday after crashing while trying to land a backflip in competition. He was 24.

Jorge Ramirez, chief of the intensive care unit at Calderon Hospital where Lusk was put into a medicine-induced coma, said the motocross racer suffered severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury.

Lusk won a gold medal at the 2008 X Games. He was injured on Saturday when he failed to complete a full rotation while attempting a Hart Attack backflip and slammed headfirst into the dirt. Lusk crashed in almost identical fashion in the freestyle semifinals at the 2007 X Games but was not hurt.

He had a successful 2008 season, winning freestyle gold at the X Games and silver in best trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip. He won a bronze helmet in freestyle at the Moto X World Championships in his hometown of San Diego.

Ramirez said Lusk died with his parents and his wife, Lauren, at his side.

Lusk lived in Temecula, California.

High School Musical 2 tickets on sale

High School Musical 2 tickets are on sale now at the DeSoto Civic Center Box Office.

From Tuesday until Thursday, tickets can be purchased at the box office in a private sale. On Friday, tickets will be released for sale by Ticketmaster.

Call the box office at 662-470-2131 for more info.

9-year-old creates iPhone hit

This prodigy's iPhone application already has 4,000 downloads in less than two weeks. Click for full story

Ohio teen charged with fraud for huge candy order

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Police say an Ohio teenager tried to pull off a sweet deal, ordering more than $37,000 of candy online and charging it to his former high school.

Police say 18-year-old Jad Holmes used a purchasing number from Middletown High School to order thousands of lollipops and candy bars from Michigan-based The Goodies Factory. It wasn't clear how he accessed the number.

The candy company became suspicious, contacted the school and was told by detectives to send an empty box.

Police say Holmes was arrested after the fake delivery to his home.

Holmes faces two counts of felony telecommunications fraud. He was being held in Middletown City Jail on more than $30,000 bond.

A message seeking comment from Holmes' attorney, Melinda Cook, was left Tuesday at her office.

Entries being taken for Miss Olive Branch

Entries for the 27th annual Miss Olive Branch Pageant are now being accepted.

The pageant, sponsored by the Olive Twig Humanitarian Group, will take place at 7 p.m. March 28 at Olive Branch High School.

Entry forms can be picked up at Old Style Barbecue in Olive Branch, the Olive Branch High School counselor’s office, or Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce office located at 9123 Pigeon Roost Road.
Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Feb. 23. Pageant rehearsals are scheduled for March 9, 11, 23, 25 and 27. Entry forms can be obtained on line at www.olivebranchms.com or www.goolivebranch.com. Visit the new Facebook for the Miss Olive Branch Pageant on line for information also.

The pageant entry fee is $40. Contestants must be ages 14-18, single, a resident of Olive Branch, with a GPA of 80 or above.

Maine teen loses license for crash while texting

WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — A Maine teenager who told police she dozed off when she slammed into another car on Interstate 95 has lost her license — for texting while driving.

Trooper Jeff Beach checked the girl's cell phone after her car crashed into the rear of a second vehicle, causing minor injuries, last August in Sidney. He discovered that the 16-year-old girl had been trading text messages at the time of the crash.

The teen was fined $137 last week and her license was suspended for six months.

Maine law prohibits any driver under the age of 18 from using a cell phone or other hand-held electronic device while driving.

Teens with pellet guns allegedly fired on cars

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — Four teenagers have been arrested for allegedly targeting passing cars with pellet guns and rocks from a San Luis Obispo railroad overpass.

The teens, ages 16 and 17, were arrested after a brief foot chase at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. They were cited for throwing objects at vehicles, a misdemeanor, and trespassing on railroad property.

Police Sgt. Janice Goodwin says neighbors reported seeing men carrying rifles and arriving officers spotted the youths throwing rocks and firing from pellet guns from the Tank Farm Road railroad overpass.

It wasn't clear if any vehicles were damaged. No one was hurt.

The teens were released to their parents.

Miss. and La. get poor marks for teacher quality

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A national nonprofit advocacy group has given Mississippi a D-plus and Louisiana a C-minus in recruiting and retaining quality teachers and getting rid of those who are ineffective in the classroom.

The National Council on Teacher Quality recently released its 2008 State Teacher Policy Yearbook. The report finds that laws and regulations in most states discourage promising new teachers from staying in the classroom while doing little to rid schools of inadequate teachers.

The report gives Louisiana a D-plus in identifying effective new teachers, a C in retaining effective new teachers and a C-minus in getting rid of ineffective new teachers.

Mississippi fared even worse, getting a D-plus in identifying effective new teachers, a D in retaining effective new teachers and a D-plus in getting rid of ineffective new teachers.