In brief: Marine vet ordered released in Mexico

A Mexican judge on Friday ordered the immediate release of a jailed U.S. Marine veteran who spent eight months behind bars for crossing the border with loaded guns.

Family spokesman Jonathan Franks told the Associated Press on Friday that the judge decided to release retired Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, an Afghanistan veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder whose detention brought calls for his freedom from U.S. politicians, veterans groups and social media campaigns.

Tahmooressi said he took a wrong turn on a California freeway that funneled him into a Tijuana port of entry with no way to turn back.

In Mexico, possession of weapons restricted for use by the army is a federal crime.

Four die when SUV skirts crossing gate

VANDALIA, Ill. – A mother and three of her children headed for a southern Illinois Halloween parade were killed and a fourth child injured when their SUV went around safety gates into the path of a freight train, authorities said Friday.

Crystal Anna, 35, died Friday at St. Louis University Hospital from injuries suffered in the Vandalia accident late Thursday, said Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen. Two daughters, 18-year-old Alyssa Sewell and 10-year-old Anna Wisnasky, and 13-year-old son Drake Wisnasky were pronounced dead at the scene.

Dylan Wisnasky, 9, was being treated at a St. Louis hospital. His condition was not available. All of the victims were residents of Greenville, Illinois.

Medicare might pay for end-of-life talk

WASHINGTON – Medicare said Friday it will consider paying doctors to counsel patients about their options for end-of-life care, the same idea that spurred accusations of “death panels” and fanned a political furor around President Barack Obama’s health care law five years ago.

Such counseling would be voluntary, aiming to make patients aware of their options so they can determine the type of care they want at the end of life.

It’s an idea that has wide support in the medical community, and some private insurance plans already pay for such counseling. Supporters say counseling would give patients more control and free families from tortuous decisions.