Father returns from work to find wife and two young sons murdered

By Calvin Palmer
A father returned from work this morning to find his wife and two sons dead in their southwest Illinois home.
Christopher Coleman found the bodies around 7:00 a.m. in his house in the Columbia Lakes subdivision of Columbia, Illinois.
A neighbor saw Coleman looking distraught and flailing his arms. Two police officers had to restrain [...]

First U.S. citizen dies from swine flu

By Calvin Palmer
A Texas woman has become the first U.S. resident to die from swine flu.
Judy Trunnell, a 33-year-old schoolteacher, who had just given birth to a healthy baby girl, died early yesterday after being hospitalized since April 19.
The Department of State Health Services said Trunnell, of Cameron County, “had chronic underlying health conditions”.
No further details were released.
Trunnell’s [...]

Man charged with murder in death of baby thrown from car

By Calvin Palmer
A Florida man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a three-month-old child whose body was found near an interstate highway this morning.
Richard A. McTear, Jr, 21, of Tampa, was taken into custody several hours after the body of his ex-girlfriend’s son was found near Interstate 275 north [...]

Billy Elliot sweeps nominations for Tony Awards

By Calvin Palmer
The musical hit Billy Elliot dominated the 2009 Tony Award nominations announced today, picking up 15, more than any other show.
Based on the British movie about a coal miner’s son who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, will compete for best musical against Next to Normal, Rock of Ages and Shrek The Musical.
Elton [...]

Georgia man recovering after first double hand transplant in U.S.

By Calvin Palmer
The first double hand transplant in the United States has been successfully completed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on a 57-year-old man from Georgia.
Jeff Kepner, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who lives in Augusta is in a stable condition after surgery yesterday that lasted several hours.
Ten years ago Kepner lost his [...]

Inquiry into Lady Mary sinking told skipper and crewman used marijuana

By Calvin Palmer
The captain and a crew member of the scallop boat that sank off the coast of New Jersey in March had traces of marijuana in their blood, the inquiry into the sinking heard yesterday.
Timothy Smith had high levels of the drug, said Dr Anthony Costantino who analyzed the blood samples on behalf of [...]