Arizona

Jet carrying bombs crashes in neighborhood

A Marine Harrier jet carrying four 500-pound bombs crashed Wednesday in a residential neighborhood, forcing the evacuation of 1,300 people. There were no reports of injuries, and the pilot ejected safely, authorities said.

The jet was coming in for a landing at Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma when it crashed in the backyard of a home about a mile from the base, said Marine Cpl. Michael Nease. It was also carrying 300 rounds of 25-millimeter ammunition, he said.

The Marines were investigating the accident and did not report a cause Wednesday night.

Boston

Hundreds of illegal immigrants arrested

Nearly 200 illegal immigrants who were ordered deported for committing crimes were arrested during a six-day undercover sweep across New England, federal authorities said.

Dozens of federal, state and local law-enforcement officers began a search Friday for the roughly 200 people targeted in the sweep; by Wednesday afternoon, they had arrested at least 187 illegal immigrants.

Authorities planned a news conference today to discuss the operation, said Bruce Chadbourne, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New England field director.

Oklahoma City

Report: Nichols declines to testify before jury

Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols was called before a federal grand jury in Denver last week but declined to testify, his ex-wife and sister said.

Nichols is serving a life sentence without parole for his role in the 1995 bombing that killed 168 people, but a new investigation is ongoing after FBI agents discovered explosives underneath his former house in Herington, Kan.

It was unclear why grand jurors were meeting.

“It was very hush-hush,” Nichols’ ex-wife, Lana Padilla of Las Vegas, told The Oklahoman in a story published Wednesday.