DES MOINES, Iowa - A Republican leader in the Iowa Legislature plans to try a rarely-used parliamentary rule to force debate on same-sex marriage, a published report said.House Minority Leader Christopher Rants wants lawmakers to consider House Resolution 8, which would begin a process to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, The Des Moines (Iowa) Register reported Monday. "We have to do it now or this issue is ... [full story]

AKRON, Ohio - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has a narrow lead over rival Barack Obama going into Tuesday's primary in Ohio, a poll indicated.A new Quinnipiac University poll found that the double-digit lead the New York senator had over Obama has narrowed to four points -- 49 percent to 45 percent -- the Akron (Ohio) Beacon-Journal reported Monday. The newspaper said Clinton's 11-point lead over Obama narrowed amid a flood of campaign advertising and a ... [full story]

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court is set to consider whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry in the Golden State.The state's seven justices will hear three hours of oral arguments on the issue Tuesday, The Sacramento Bee reported Monday."This will be one of the -- if not the -- legal landmarks in the struggle for equal rights," said Geoffrey Kors of Equality California, which supports gay marriage. "It will have a ripple ... [full story]

RIGOLET, Newfoundland - Owners of two models of Bombardier Skandic Ski-Doos across Canada were advised Monday to park them until it's determined why they're prone to explode.Transport Canada initially issued a safety advisory just for Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Rigolet in Labrador not to drive the 2007 and 2008 models of the Skandic SWT or sport utility vehicle sleds following a series of fires and explosions in recent weeks, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. But ... [full story]

LEBANON, Conn. - Three elementary school children in Connecticut face prosecution for allegedly plotting to knife their bus driver, a report said.The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Monday that two 7-year-olds and an 8-year-old were arrested for the plot Friday and released to their parents.The children were charged with reckless endangerment, possession of a dangerous weapon and threatening and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, police said.The three children have been suspended from Lebanon Elementary School. © ... [full story]

NEWARK, N.J. - A woman on trial with former Newark Mayor Sharpe James had an affair with James but did not profit from any city land deals, her attorney said.The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported that Gerald Krovatin, the attorney for Tamika Riley, said the affair lasted about six months in 2002. The two became involved after Riley, a 38-year-old Jersey City publicist, purchased city property at discounted prices. "These things happen sometimes between people," he said. ... [full story]

CRESCENT LAKE, Ore. -- A semi-truck and trailer driver from California was cited for careless driving after he lost control on Highway 58 near Crescent Lake Sunday night, crashed into a snow bank, jack-knifed, overturned, then slid down the highway before it stopped, blocking all lanes of traffic for near six hours.   The driver of this semi-truck and trailer was cited when he allegedly was traveling too fast for road conditions and crashed, blocking Highway 58 ... [full story]

Six people were injured Saturday morning in a crash on icy Highway 97 about 13 miles south of Chemult, Oregon, when an out-of-control car spun into the path of a semi-truck and trailer, which then jack-knifed and crashed into another semi-truck, police reported.   All five occupants of the car were injured, as was the driver of one of the two semi-trucks involved in a crash on Highway 97 south of Chemult, Oregon on Sat. - ... [full story]

Two teenaged boys, 16 and 17, were arrested Saturday and lodged in the county juvenile detention facility for allegedly burglarizing a manufactured home in Romaine Village last month, police reported. Bend Police recovered the various items that were taken February 21 from the home in Romaine Village, a community located in the southern part of Bend, Oregon, Lt. Ken Mannix said. Both boys are charged with second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit burglary. The 16-year-old also faces ... [full story]

A Prineville husband and wife were injured Saturday afternoon when their car drifted across the centerline and hit an oncoming pickup head-on, deputies reported. Crook County Sheriff’s deputies, Prineville Police officers and Fire & Rescue personnel responded to milepost 14 on Highway 126 about 5:45 p.m., March 1, Sgt. Jim Chapman and Deputy Dave Dethman stated in a news release. Upon arrival, they found the injured couple’s car, a 2001 Toyota 4-door, about 50-feet off ... [full story]