Airman rescues two from car in river
TULSA -- An airman home on leave from basic training jumped into the frigid water of the Arkansas River to save a mother and her 2-year-old son after their car lost control and crashed. The car driven by Detura Bills, 34, on Thursday swerved to avoid hitting a pickup that allegedly had cut in front of her, police said. The car then ran off the road and landed in the water. Joshua Johnson, 18, who saw the accident from his car, jumped in after her. After he got her out of the car, Bills screamed that her son was still inside. Johnson went under water at least two more times to pull the boy to safety, police said. (AP)
COLORADO
Man gives out cash at homeless shelter
DENVER -- Residents of Samaritan House did not know what to expect when the bearded, middle-aged man parked his sport utility vehicle in front of the downtown homeless shelter on Christmas Eve. He man walked into the building, pulled out a thick roll of $100 bills, and began passing them out to each of the 300 residents. When he was finished, he had given out $35,000. ''It was like seeing Santa Claus and God all at once," said William Chengelis, a shelter resident. The man would not identify himself and said only that he also had distributed money in Las Vegas. (AP)
CALIFORNIA
Visitor shoots nurse inside care center
PERRIS -- An 87-year-old man visiting a family member at a convalescent home allegedly shot a nurse Friday after he became angry about the care the relative was receiving, authorities said. The nurse, who was shot at close range, was listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital, the Riverside County sheriff's office said. Minutes after the afternoon shooting at the Ember Care Health Center in Perris, authorities arrested Norman Larson of Sun City for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon. (AP)
NEW JERSEY
High waters thwart history reenactors
WASHINGTON CROSSING -- Thousands of spectators along the Delaware River were disappointed yesterday when high, fast-flowing waters forced the reenactment of General George Washington's historic crossing to be canceled for the third straight year. The rush of water, caused by recent heavy rains, was too much for reenactors to replicate the 1776 feat by Washington and his Continental troops that set the stage for key Revolutionary War victories. Instead, reenactors, dressed in period uniforms and clothing, marched with weapons and drums. (AP)
ILLINOIS
Blaze kills children; woman found dead
CHICAGO -- A woman found dead in her apartment after a fire that killed two of her children Friday had been strangled before the fire spread, officials said yesterday. The county medical examiner ruled the 37-year-old woman's death a homicide. Her 5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son died in a local hospital after they were taken from a room that had filled with smoke. No one else in the building was injured, officials said. Police and fire officials were investigating. (AP)
