Tornado rips through N. Colorado; 1 killed
(AP)
AP - A large tornado tore through several northern Colorado towns on Thursday, flipping over tractor-trailers, ripping roofs off buildings and killing at least one person.

Texas seizure of polygamist-sect kids thrown out
(AP)
AP - A Texas appeals court said Thursday that the state had no right to take more than 400 children from a polygamist sect's ranch, a ruling that could unravel one of the biggest child-custody cases in U.S. history.

Obama to stand in for Kennedy at Wesleyan
(AP)
AP - Barack Obama has agreed to deliver the commencement address at Wesleyan University in place of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who pulled out Thursday after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

U.S. forecasters predict up to 9 Atlantic hurricanes in '08
(AP)
AP - The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season could be slightly busier than average, with a good chance of six to nine hurricanes forming, federal forecasters said Thursday in a new way of making predictions.

Monitors urged for all with high blood pressure
(AP)
AP - Everyone with high blood pressure — some 72 million Americans — should own a home monitor and do regular pressure checks, the American Heart Association and other groups urged Thursday in an unprecedented endorsement of a medical device for consumers.

High gas prices force cops to walk the beat more
(AP)
AP - With gasoline climbing toward $4 a gallon, police officers around the country are losing the right to take their patrol cars home and are being forced to double up in cruisers and walk the beat more.

400 jurors could be screened for Simpson trial
(AP)
AP - Court officials preparing for O.J. Simpson's armed robbery trial say lengthy questionnaires will be given to a jury pool that could number 400 or more.

Wildfire threatens homes in rural area of Calif.
(AP)
AP - A wind-whipped wildfire burning out of control in central California mountains destroyed buildings and threatened many rural homes Thursday morning, closing schools and forcing hundreds of evacuations.

Calif. rewriting 'bride' and 'groom' after gay marriage ruling
(AP)
AP - You have to figure "bride" and "groom" are out.

Professor calls Caladesi Island US's best beach
(AP)
AP - Kaylee Sturm sat in the low surf, the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico lapping around her.
