News briefs

Philadelphia transit workers go on strike

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia transit system's largest union went on strike early Tuesday over wage, pension and health-care issues, stalling the city's bus, subway and trolley operations and forcing thousands of commuters to find other ways to get to work — and to Election Day polls.

"I think they have a lot of nerve to ask for more money in this economy," said Robert Washington, of west Philadelphia, who relied on his bicycle to get to his office job downtown. "There are people who don't have jobs who would love to have one of their jobs. It's arrogant."

The sudden strike by Transport Workers Union Local 234 all but crippled the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which averages more than 928,000 trips each weekday. No new negotiations were scheduled Tuesday.

Boy, 11, will face murder charge

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An 11-year-old New Mexico boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the August shooting death of his father.

District Attorney Lemuel Martinez says his office filed the charge Tuesday.

Belen Police Sgt. Joe Portio says evidence supports the murder charge but declined to elaborate, citing a request by the boy's attorney, Jeff Buckels.

Police say the boy shot 42-year-old Bryon Hilburn with a rifle while the boy's 6-year-old sister was in the room, then flagged down officers outside the family's home in Belen, about 30 miles south of Albuquerque. The boy was 10 at the time.

N.C. businessman kills family, self

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina businessman who coached basketball at the religious school where his teenagers attended classes fatally shot his family in their upscale home before turning the gun on himself, police said Tuesday.

Authorities would not hint at what might have driven William Maxwell to kill his wife and two children Monday night.

Justice of peace hands in resignation

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry a couple because the bride was white and groom was black resigned Tuesday, after weeks of refusing to step down despite calls for his ouster from officials, including the governor.

Keith Bardwell quit with a one-sentence statement to Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and no explanation of his decision: "I do hereby resign the office of Justice of the Peace for the Eighth Ward of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, effective November 3, 2009."

Gov. Bobby Jindal called Bardwell's resignation "long overdue."