Ex-policeman fires shots at playground in NYC

NEW YORK -- A former police officer shooting from his apartment window wounded a preschool teacher taking children to a playground during a three-hour spree in a sprawling housing complex.

Brian Berrigan, 33, was found sitting at a table inside his fourth-floor apartment at Stuyvesant Town, police commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Bullets crashed through windows and into parked cars, hitting the shoulder of the 22-year-old teacher, whose name was not released. There was no indication that the shooter knew the teacher.

None of the six or seven children from the Manhattan Kids Club preschool was injured, and the teacher was expected to be released from Bellevue Hospital, Kelly said.

At least 20 shots were fired, including one at a police car.

Three more youth held in Milwaukee beating death

MILWAUKEE -- Three more boys were ordered held Wednesday for their alleged roles in the death of a man who was beaten with bats, sticks, shovels and rakes Sunday night.

Authorities have detained 15 youths ages 10 to 18 who they believe took part in the beating of Charlie Young Jr. Young, 36, was pronounced dead after being taken off life support Tuesday.

Police said the youths beat Young after he chased a 10-year-old boy who hit him with an egg and punched a 14-year-old boy who intervened.

Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann said a 16-year-old boy arrested in the case was released because there was not enough evidence against him.

That left 13 children and two adults facing possible charges.

Court rules Democrats can replace Torricelli

TRENTON, N.J. -- The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Democrats can replace Sen. Robert Torricelli on the November ballot with former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, even though the deadline for making such a change has passed. Republicans vowed to take the case to federal court.

The 7-0 decision cited previous rulings that said election law should be broadly interpreted to "allow parties to put their candidates on the ballot, and most importantly, to allow the voters a choice."

It was a crucial victory for Democrats, who saw Torricelli as a potential loser next month and are fighting to keep the seat in their hands as they try to retain or add to their single-seat majority in the Senate.

Tour bus crashes in Utah killing five, patrol says

NEPHI, Utah -- A bus carrying elderly sightseers on a fall foliage tour overturned on a remote forest road Wednesday, killing five and injuring 20, the Utah Highway Patrol said.

The bus's brakes apparently failed as the vehicle turned a corner in Juab County, about 70 miles south of Salt Lake City, said highway patrol spokesman Chris Kramer.

Kramer said five passengers were confirmed dead and another 20 were injured, some seriously. Details of the crash were sketchy because of a lack of phone service in the area, he added.

Chicago council tells firms to show slavery ties

CHICAGO -- The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to require companies that do business with the city to disclose past ties to slavery, a measure lawmakers say could help descendants of slaves win reparations.

In a 44-0 vote, the council approved the ordinance requiring disclosure from companies that held or issued insurance policies covering slaves.

The proposal initially targeted only insurance companies. Tillman amended it on Wednesday before the vote to cover all companies that do business with the city.

--From wire reports