Briefs: New probe ordered of Marines with Nazi logo

Washington — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the Marine Corps on Friday to re-investigate and take appropriate action against the Marine snipers who posed with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol.

Park Service to remove inscription on MLK Memorial

Washington— The National Park Service announced plans Friday to remove an inscription from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and replace it with a full quotation from the civil rights leader — a move the memorial project's architect said would "destroy" the monument.

Pa. man’s fake Facebook pages lured teen girls, authorities say

Pittsburgh — A married father used phony Facebook profiles to pose as two different Florida surfers to solicit sexually graphic messages and photos from seven teenage girls in western Pennsylvania, and two of the girls eventually agreed to meet for sex with the surfers' middle-aged "friend" — yet another fake persona he used, the state attorney general said Friday.

Groups push probe of Marine photo with Nazi-like symbol

San Diego— A leading Jewish organization and others outraged by a photo showing Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol are demanding President Barack Obama order an investigation and hold the troops accountable.

Blasts hit security HQs in Syrian city of Aleppo

Beirut — Two explosions struck security compounds in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday, killing 25 people and wounding 175, state media reported, in a major city that has largely stood by President Bashar Assad in the nearly 11-month-old uprising against his rule.

Boy, two men plucked from Pacific in dramatic rescue

Honolulu— West James beamed as he showed off a new entry in his journal: "I survived a dangerous rescue."

Arab Spring shot wins World Press Photo award

Amsterdam— Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda won the 2011 World Press Photo of the Year award Friday for an image of a veiled woman holding a wounded relative in her arms after a demonstration in Yemen.

Michigan to get $790M in foreclosure-abuse settlement

Washington — The Justice Department said Thursday 49 states, including Michigan, struck a $25 billion deal with the nation’s five biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses.

Judge considers easing Sandusky bail terms, sets tentative trial date

Bellefonte, Pa.— Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's request for greater freedom of movement — and visits from his young grandchildren — while he awaits trial on child sex-abuse charges was taken under advisement by a judge Friday, but prosecutors countered that Sandusky's home is not a safe place for children.

Greece on strike as bailout deal in limbo

Athens, Greece— Thousands took to the streets of Athens as Greek unions launched a two-day general strike against planned austerity measures on Friday, a day after the country's crucial international bailout was put in limbo by its partners in the 17-nation eurozone.

Love stinks: Sewage plant to offer Valentine’s Day tours

New York— It may not smell like a rose but a New York City sewage plant is offering tours for lovers on Valentine's Day.

Military roles for women expand

Washington — New orders from the Pentagon: The military on Thursday formally opened thousands of jobs to women in units that are closer to the front lines than ever before.

Officials seek new solution in Syria

Beirut — Diplomats on Thursday were seeking new approaches to remedy the worsening conflict in Syria as opposition activists reported that government shelling and attacks had killed more than 100 more people.

Marines posed with Nazi symbol

Brit wanted in ’93 heist arrested in Missouri

Briefs: NRC OKs nuclear plant in Ga., first in 3 decades

Report: Teacher in L.A. molest case paid to resign

Schoolgirls excluded from Dallas 'Red Tail' movie screening

Fight breaks out at a funeral in Phoenix 'in honor' of deceased

Man gets 3 years in erectile pump Medicare fraud case

'She's not dead!' suspect in lacrosse-player killing sobs in police interview

LA district hopes to restore trust with shake-up at school

Doctors telling more adults to get out, exercise

Heather Mills says McCartney calls were hacked

Gorbachev: Putin has ‘exhausted’ his potential

Hold the mystery meat: Military food gets upgrade

Police issue warrant for ex-Maldives president

California marriage ban path to High Court unclear