by AMY FORLITI Associated Press Writer

OWATONNA, Minn. (AP) - A small jet crashed Thursday while preparing to land at a regional airport in Minnesota, killing eight people, including casino and construction executives. Authorities initially thought nine people may have been aboard the Raytheon Hawker 800, which went down about 9:30 a. (0) comments

by KATHY MATHESON Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Four social workers were among nine people charged Thursday in the death of a disabled 14-year-old girl who authorities say wasted away from neglect before dying at 42 pounds. Danieal Kelly's mother was charged with murder; counts against other defendants range from involuntary manslaughter to perjury. (0) comments

by GARRY MITCHELL Associated Press Writer

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A judge denied bond Thursday for a part-time evangelist charged with murder in the death of his wife, a mother of eight whose body was kept in a freezer for at least three years. Arletha Hopkins, 36, apparently was killed in 2004, but the cause of death remains under investigation, Assistant District Attorney Ashley Rich said. (0) comments

by MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Writer

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Fire crews were shoring up defenses around a Montana ski hill on Thursday, taking advantage of a lull in winds that had pushed a large wildfire to within a half-mile of the resort's summit. The nearly 15-square-mile fire burning through a canyon in the Beartooth Mountains near the town of Red Lodge has forced people to evacuate the ski hill and 90 nearby homes. (0) comments

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Phoenix spacecraft has tasted Martian water for the first time. The robot heated up ice in one of its instruments earlier this week. Scientists say the chemical test confirms the presence of ice near the Martian north pole. Until now, the evidence for ice has been circumstantial. (0) comments