THROOP, Pa. (AP) — Police say a Pennsylvania man decorating a relative’s grave for Easter with his wife has been killed after a headstone fell on him.

Police say 74-year-old Stephan Woytack was struck in the head Monday at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in nearby Throop.

A cemetery caretaker tells WNEP-TV (http://bit.ly/1GHfbnF) that the Scranton couple visits the grave several times a year and ties a cross to it each year.

Caretaker Ed Kubilus says the bases of headstones often sink when the ground thaws, making them susceptible to tipping over.

Throop is about 5 miles northeast of downtown Scranton.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A 4-year-old Philadelphia girl has been returned safely to her parents after slipping out of her house at 3 a.m. and getting on a transit bus in search of a snack.

Bus driver Harlan Jenifer said the girl swung her legs as she chanted, “All I want is a slushie.”

Surveillance video showed the preschooler sitting on the bus early Friday, chatting to other passengers. Jenifer stopped the bus and called police.

The police took the girl to a hospital, where she was reunited with her mother.

The girl’s father, Timothy Ridgeway, says, “Thank God for the bus driver stopping.”

Authorities say the girl’s family didn’t know she woke up and unlocked the back door before starting her trek through a downpour early Friday.

Officials don’t plan to file charges.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has turned away an appeal from a Wisconsin pastor convicted of conspiracy to commit child abuse for advocating the use of wooden rods to spank children.

The justices had no comment on their order Monday rejecting Philip Caminiti’s appeal of his 2012 conviction for urging church members to use so-called “rod discipline” on babies and toddlers.

Caminiti argued that prosecutors violated his religious freedom and the rights of parents to decide how to discipline their children.

The Wisconsin state appeals court ruled last year that a jury could have reasonably inferred that Caminiti’s teachings produced lawless action. The lower court said the state has a compelling interest in preventing child abuse.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After nearly 100 years, the National Park Service holds some of the most beautiful and historic places in the country. But there’s also an $11 billion backlog of unfunded maintenance and a visitor base that’s aging and mostly white.

Now the park service is preparing for its centennial in 2016 by launching a major campaign Thursday to raise support and introduce a new, more diverse generation of millennials and children to the national parks.

Michelle Obama and Laura Bush will co-chair the campaign, calling on Americans to “Find Your Park” to enjoy their public lands. Behind the scenes, officials are also working to expand their fundraising and congressional support to improve the nation’s parks.

The push to “Find Your Park” is the third major campaign in the national parks’ history.

BARTOW, Fla. (AP) — A medical examiner says a baby who was found dead in her car seat in a Florida restaurant parking lot had lost more than one-third of her body weight in the 22 days since she was born.

The testimony Friday from Polk County’s assistant medical examiner came in a bond hearing for Roy Stephens of Tennyson, Indiana. He and the baby’s mother, Ruby Stephens, are charged with first-degree murder.

Dr. Vera Volnikh testified that the baby died Dec. 23 of malnutrition as a result of starvation. Roy Stephens’ attorney questioned that claim, saying the medical examiner only did a cursory examination and tests.

According to records, the baby wasn’t Stephens’ daughter, but he had assumed parental responsibilities.

The couple had two other children and both were in good health.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Barney, the Tacoma police narcotics dog that became sick after ingesting methamphetamine during a drug investigation, has died.

The 11-year-old black Labrador mix died Wednesday night.

His handler, Officer Henry Betts, rushed him to a veterinary hospital on Tuesday after the dog touched his nose to meth at a Puyallup storage unit. He was with officers who were serving a search warrant.

Narcotics dogs are trained to alert their handlers to drugs by placing their nose on them. In this case, Barney accidentally inhaled residue from the meth.

He suffered seizures and his body temperature reached 109 degrees.

Vets said Barney was more responsive Wednesday morning but he passed away that evening.

Pierce County prosecutors say they haven’t decided whether they’ll amend charges against the three defendants to include Barney’s death.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the safety Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring made in China.

Chairman Elliot F. Kaye said Wednesday the agency is taking the issue seriously and is working to get answers for consumers.

The move comes after a report on CBS’ “60 Minutes” earlier this month that said that Lumber Liquidators’ Chinese-made laminate flooring contains high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen.

The Toano, Virginia-based discount hardwood flooring retailer has said it complies with applicable regulations for its products and has reassured consumers that its flooring is safe.

Two senators have since called for investigations following the broadcast.

Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. has more than 350 locations in North America.

BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has been accused of blowing pot smoke into the mouth of his year-old child.

Officers said they responded to a report of a domestic argument at the Beaverton home of 22-year-old Christopher Robert Kling on Sunday night when a family friend gave them a smartphone video of Kling drawing smoke from a glass pipe and blowing it into the child’s mouth.

Kling is accused of endangering the welfare of a minor and other crimes. He made an initial court appearance Monday and asked for a court-appointed attorney. The public defender’s office in Washington County didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

The police said the video had been turned over to child welfare authorities and wouldn’t be made public.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is adding a new case to decide whether its 3-year-old ruling throwing out mandatory life in prison without parole for juveniles should apply to older cases.

The court was scheduled to hear arguments in a case from Louisiana in late March, but the state released inmate George Toca after 30 years in prison.

The justices on Monday said they would consider a new Louisiana case involving a man who has been held since 1963 for killing a sheriff’s deputy in Baton Rouge.

Henry Montgomery was a 17-year-old 10th grader who was playing hooky from school when he shot Deputy Charles Hurt at a park near the city’s airport. The officer and his partner were looking to round up truants.

The case will be argued in the fall.

FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) — A 77-year-old Utah man charged with lewdness after sunbathing nude in his backyard has agreed to a plea deal that keeps his record clean as long as he wears a swimsuit.

Myron Lee Kipp pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges Tuesday in Farmington. But under the terms of the deal with prosecutors, the pleas won’t be recorded if Kipp stays covered over the next year.

Attorney Bill Albright says Kipp has been taking in the sun nude for 30 years, and it wasn’t a problem until new neighbors moved in.

Last year, police said children could see the nude Kipp from a church parking lot behind his house.

Kipp appeared in court Tuesday and said he was ready to put the case behind him.