Mississippi

12 Seabees arrested in porn, assault case

Twelve Seabees stationed in Gulfport are accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and videotaping the acts.

The men, ranging in ages from 18 to 25, face charges of sexual battery and child pornography. Most were arrested Wednesday at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.

The alleged assault occurred over several days at an apartment complex, police said. The girl’s mother told authorities on Monday that her daughter had run away and was believed to be staying at the apartments, where she was later found, said Gulfport Police spokesman Sgt. Alfred Sexton.

Investigators later found a videotape there that “showed things had occurred that should not have happened,” Sexton said.

Seven of the men arrested Wednesday live on the military base, authorities said. Others live in the apartment complex.

Tennessee

Day-care van crashes, adult, 4 children dead

A day-care van went out of control Thursday on an interstate and crashed into an overpass embankment, killing the driver and four children and critically injuring two others.

The van, which belongs to Tippy Toes Learning Academy, was four miles away from the state-subsidized facility on its way to an elementary school. Police said they believe the driver was speeding.

The driver and two girls, both age 6, died at the scene; two boys, ages 9 and 8, died at LeBonheur Children’s Center, hospital spokeswoman Janet Phillips said.

Two other boys, ages 10 and 11, were listed in critical condition at the hospital, Phillips said. Among the dead and injured were two sets of siblings.

Virginia

Falwell files complaint over namesake Web site

The Rev. Jerry Falwell claims a Web site that spoofs his views on the Bible and his fund-raising methods violates a trademark of his name.

Falwell filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization against the owner of the site which can be accessed at www.jerry falwell.com and www.jerryfallwell.com.

Falwell and The Liberty Alliance a nonprofit organization affiliated with Jerry Falwell Ministries own the site www.falwell.com.

A section of the Web site called “How to follow the Bible” has an open letter to Falwell, referring to his citation of biblical passages that speak against homosexuality.

It asks Falwell to explain how other passages from the Bible should be followed: “I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?”

The site’s owner, Gary Cohn of Highland Park, Ill., says Falwell’s name isn’t entitled to trademark protection since he hasn’t used it “to identify certain goods and services.”

Florida

Fuel leak delays Atlantis’ launch

A leak of highly flammable hydrogen fuel at the launch pad forced NASA to postpone space shuttle Atlantis’ liftoff Thursday for at least three days.

The fuel spewed from a broken pipe for a minute, but the white cloud dissipated and did not pose any danger, said launch director Mike Leinbach.

The pad had already had been evacuated for the hazardous fueling operation, and the shuttle was dozens of feet from the leak. The seven astronauts were hours away from boarding Atlantis and had not even begun to suit up.

Atlantis’ liftoff on a space station construction mission was postponed until at least Sunday so that the leak 37 feet above the pad can be repaired. Atlantis had been scheduled to lift off in late afternoon with the newest piece of the space station, an elaborate 44-foot girder.