National news briefs

Illinois police arrest man in 3 killings

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Police say a suspect has been arrested in a weekend East St. Louis shooting that killed three women as they sat in a car with kids who managed to escape unharmed.

Illinois State Police Lt. James Morrisey says police in nearby St. Louis arrested the suspect Sunday at an apartment. His name was not released because no charges had been filed in Saturday's deadly shooting.

Morrisey says the women were in a car with at least two children at a gas station Saturday night when the suspect drove up, exchanged words with one of the women and opened fire.

Canikia Harvey and Raykel Gathing, both 26, and 24-year-old Jaimaca McDaniel died later at a hospital.

Deal to end strike in Philadelphia fails

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Commuters in the City of Brotherly Love have been told to gear up to begin a second week of finding other ways to work following the collapse of a proposed deal to end a six-day-old strike by about 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolley conductors and mechanics.

The largest union representing workers of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority wants an independent forensic audit of pension funds. The union is also rejecting language that could reopen the contract if SEPTA's costs increase due to national health care reform.

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said the ball is in the union's court "to come back to the table and sign the contract."

Obama to meet with Netanyahu Monday night

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House announced Sunday that President Barack Obama would be meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israeli prime minister's trip to Washington to address Jewish groups, ending days of uncertainty.

Netanyahu was to arrive in the U.S. capital Sunday night for a speaking engagement at the three-day 2009 General Assembly of The Jewish Federations of North America. He will meet with Obama on Monday evening.

U.S.-Israeli relations have been strained since Netanyahu rejected Obama's demand that the Israeli government stop building or expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinians say Israel has deeply encroached into land the Palestinians claim for a future state.

Not long after taking office, Obama announced his determination to facilitate peace between Israel and the Palestinians and said an end to settlements was a necessary condition for a resumption of negotiations.

Netanyahu has rejected that demand, but last week visiting Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton floated an Israeli proposal that would restrain — but not stop — more West Bank housing. She played it as a major conciliatory move from the Israelis.

Vail man arrested in fatal bar shooting