Nation in brief: Alabama man kills wife, three others

A man facing a divorce trial shot and killed his estranged wife, their teenage daughter and two other relatives in rural north Alabama before returning to his home in a nearby town and killing himself, authorities said Tuesday.

Kevin Garner’s body was found Tuesday afternoon near his Priceville home, which burned to the ground overnight. His divorce trial was to start today.

It was one of eight mass shootings around the country – and the third in Alabama – in the last month, that have left grief-stricken communities in shock.

Washington

Gay groups invited to Easter Egg Roll

The White House is allocating tickets for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll to gay and lesbian parents as part of the Obama administration’s outreach to diverse communities.

Families say the gesture shows that the new Democratic administration values them as equal to other families. For many, being included in the annual tradition renews hope that they will have more support in their quest for equal rights in matters such as marriage and adoption than under the previous administration.

White House officials said that tickets for Monday’s Easter Egg Roll event were distributed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations, but did not specify how many or to which ones. Representatives from Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other groups confirmed they were invited.

From wire reports