Chicago: Judge asked to lower Philip Morris bond

Attorneys general from 37 states and U.S. territories on Monday asked an Illinois judge to reduce the $12 billion bond Philip Morris must pay before appealing a lawsuit, saying it could jeopardize their payments under a national settlement with tobacco companies.

The world’s biggest cigarette maker lost an Illinois class-action lawsuit last month in which the judge ordered the company to pay $10.1 billion for tricking smokers into believing light cigarettes are less harmful than regular brands.

Philip Morris has said it will appeal, but first state law requires it put up a bond. The judge gave the company until April 21 to post $12 billion to cover the verdict and court costs.

Philip Morris has said the bond will drive it to bankruptcy, and certainly does not leave room to pay 46 states its share of the $206 billion national tobacco settlement reached in 1998. Philip Morris owes a $2.6 billion payment by April 15.

Louisiana: Gunman kills one at trade school

A gunman opened fire in a classroom at a Louisiana trade school on Monday, killing one student and wounding another, police said.

Calvin Joseph Coleman, 22, was arrested about an hour after the shootings, said Assistant Police Chief Chris Stanfield. Police said he had registered at Louisiana Technical College, but had not attended classes for several weeks.

Coleman will be charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and bringing a firearm on campus, said Police Chief Ralph Peters.

The shootings happened about 11:30 a.m. in an electronics class at the vocational-technical school’s Natchitoches campus, Stanfield said.

Police were not sure of a motive in the shooting, Stanfield said.

Colorado: Families plan memorial for Columbine victims

Families of the 13 people gunned down in the Columbine High School massacre unveiled plans for a memorial Monday that will be built not far from the school itself.

The $3 million memorial will be in Clement Park in Littleton, next to the school, and each parent is helping to design an individual memorial to their child, the families said during a news conference.

Parents hope construction can be completed in time for the fifth anniversary of the attack next year.

The circular memorial will stand between two hills, both to keep it private and avoid interfering with school activities. It will have 12-foot-high stone walls and an inside ring of remembrance, which will feature tributes written by the victims’ families.

Teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold gunned down a teacher and 12 fellow students before killing themselves in April 1999.