INTERNATIONAL
 
Two killed and 50 injured in earthquake in Serbia on Wednesday
 
KRALJEVO, Serbia (AP) — A state of emergency was declared Wednesday in central Serbia after an earthquake rattled the region, killing at least two people and injuring 50.
 
The U.S. Geological Survey said the moderate quake with a 5.3 magnitude struck 125 kilometers south of the Serbian capital, Belgrade, at 1:56 a.m Wednesday.
 
Octopus oracle’s successor Paul II makes public debut in Germany
 
OBERHAUSEN, Germany (AP) — Paul the Octopus’ successor has made his public debut, but his keepers aren’t yet promising deep soccer insight from the youngster.
 
The 5-month-old, also named Paul, tentatively explored his new tank at the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen on Wednesday. Paul hails from near Montpellier in southern France and weighs nearly 10.5 ounces (300 grams). He made his debut after two months in quarantine.
 
NATIONAL
 
Schoolchildren spot mountain lion in field 200 feet from bus stop
 
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A group of children waiting for their school bus got a shock Wednesday when they spotted a mountain lion in a field just 200 feet away.
 
Beach Transportation General Manager Robert Mitchell said his driver and the children saw the wild animal at about the same time Wednesday morning just as the bus was pulling up to the stop on a rural route south of Missoula. The driver quickly loaded the children and used his two-way radio to inform the company, which called 911.
 
Gay-rights groups view Tuesday’s national election as major setback
 
NEW YORK (AP) — Gay-rights activists celebrated a few bright spots on Election Day, but they also suffered some major setbacks — including losses by key supporters in Congress and the ouster of three Iowa Supreme Court judges who had ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.
 
On both sides of the marriage debate, the Iowa vote was seen as a signal that judges in other states could face similar punitive challenges.
 
The congressional results further clouded the prospects for repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy so gays could serve openly in the military.
 
Twenty tons of marijuana found near tunnel by California border
 
SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. authorities have discovered 20 tons of pot near a tunnel connecting warehouses on either side of California’s border with Mexico.
 
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack said Wednesday that the tunnel ran 600 yards under the border near San Diego. It had lighting, ventilation and a rail system for sending carts of drugs into the U.S.
 
Mack said the tunnel ended near California’s Otay Mesa port of entry.
 
STATE/LOCAL
 
Louisiana courthouse escapee sentenced Tuesday to life in prison
 
(AP) — A 34-year-old man who was on his way to a habitual offender hearing last month when he escaped from deputies outside the Baton Rouge state courthouse was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison.
 
Demond Cook, shackled and dressed in an East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Lockdown jumpsuit, offered no resistance during his brief appearance before state District Judge Don Johnson.
 
Cook, of Baton Rouge, was convicted by Johnson in September on two counts each of armed robbery and second-degree kidnapping.
 
Cook stipulated Tuesday to the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office’s contention that those convictions made him a fourth felony offender for habitual offender purposes.
 
Prosecutor Will Morris told the judge that Cook had prior convictions in 1996, 1999 and 2008.
 
Pedestrian killed in Baton Rouge by drunk driver in pickup truck
 
(AP) — A 54-year-old man was killed when he tried to cross Airline Highway in Baton Rouge and was hit by a truck.
 
Baton Rouge police say the accident occurred around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday. Police say the driver of the pickup, 35-year-old Shawn Sterling of Baton Rouge, was issued a driving while intoxicated citation and released at the scene.
 
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin.
 
La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries rescues missing father, two sons
FARMERVILLE (AP) — State wildlife agents searched through nighttime rain and fog to find a man and his two sons who got lost while scouting for deer in D’Arbonne National Refuge.
 
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it was called about 9 p.m. Tuesday because 36-year-old Timothy Thomas and his sons, aged 7 and 10, had not returned home.
 
 
 
 
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