Marines starting final Osprey tests

Jacksonville, N.C. The U.S. Marine Corps said final tests began Monday on the military’s Osprey aircraft, a helicopter-airplane hybrid that has been plagued by deadly crashes and design problems.

The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft can land and take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. Commanders say the Osprey can haul more troops and equipment farther than existing helicopters. It was designed to replace the aging helicopters in the Marine Corps fleet.

The program has been threatened since 23 Marines died in a pair of crashes during testing in 2000. The manufacturers made design changes following an investigation.

The Osprey was also grounded for a few weeks this year because the coating on a part in the gearbox was wearing off faster than expected.

Arson suspect dies in apartment blaze

Aspen, Colo. A suspected arson fire erupted before dawn Monday at an apartment complex for elderly retirees, killing a man authorities said was facing eviction and is now the focus of their investigation.

The fire forced dozens of residents in bathrobes and pajamas to flee the low-slung brick buildings into subfreezing temperatures. A transit system bus was sent to give evacuees a heated place to sit.

No injuries were reported, and the heaviest damage was in the victim’s apartment.

Police said the victim was a man in his 60s who had a criminal record, but had no other details and did not release the man’s name.

Fires were started in the victim’s apartment, an office in the same building and in the basement of a second building in the complex owned by the Aspen Housing Authority. Authorities said they believe an accelerant was used and that natural gas lines had been tampered with.

Man, teen arrested over obscene tattoo

Norwich, N.Y. A man and a teenager have been charged with forcibly tattooing an obscenity on the forehead of a 17-year-old boy, police said Monday.

Officer Craig Berry declined to describe the tattoo, except to say it was a phrase.

Kenneth D. Peer, 23, and a 17-year-old boy were charged with assault and unlawful imprisonment. Police were withholding the name of the 17-year-old, who was charged as a youthful offender, Berry said.

The two were in jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. A court hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

The victim walked into the police station Friday to file a complaint against his attackers. The victim told officers he’d been held down by a man and another teen at a residence while they tattooed the vulgarity. Police said the three men knew each other, but have not established a motive for the attack.

Mom sues over new lower-sugar cereals

San Diego A lawsuit by a San Diego mother claims that lower-sugar versions of Cocoa Puffs and Froot Loops may seem healthier, but they’re really a bunch of Trix.

Jennifer Hardee has sued three big cereal companies, accusing them of misleading advertising through prominent “low sugar” packaging. She was surprised to learn from an Associated Press story last week that the new cereals have no significant nutritional advantage to regular versions of the popular kids’ breakfast cereals.

Hardee, a Navy wife and homemaker with two young daughters who eat cereal, is suing Kraft Foods Co., General Mills Cereals, and Kellogg USA Inc., saying they intentionally misrepresent their products.

General Mills “never made specific health claims” for its reduced sugar cereals, said spokeswoman Marybeth Thorsgaard.