National news briefs

Man charged with triple murder of kin

LYNDON, Kan. (AP) — A former Missouri city official previously accused of assaulting his wife was charged Monday with capital murder in the shootings of her and their two teenage daughters in eastern Kansas.

James Kraig Kahler, 46, also was charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of his estranged wife's 89-year-old grandmother and one count of aggravated burglary. Authorities suspect he broke into the grandmother's home near Topeka, where the shootings occurred.

During Kahler's first appearance in Osage County District Court, Judge Phillip Fromme set bail at $10 million and scheduled another hearing for Dec. 10.

Coin worth $1,000 in charity kettle

YORK, Pa. (AP) — The Salvation Army says someone dropped a gold Krugerrand worth more than $1,000 in a collection kettle in south-central Pennsylvania.

York Salvation Army Maj. Lurlene Mudge says the South African gold coin was wrapped in a $1 bill and later discovered while the collections were being counted.

It was placed Friday in a kettle outside a Kmart store in Springettsbury Township, just outside York.

Mudge says the coin is a morale booster for the people who ring bells by the collection kettles. She says it's been two years since the York Salvation Army got a gold coin as a donation.

Doctor gets prison for groping patients

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A former California plastic surgeon was sentenced Monday to three years and eight months in state prison for groping female patients.

Dr. Scott Takasugi was convicted of sexually exploiting two of his patients by touching their genitals before he operated on them.

His sentencing had been delayed twice, the first time because of the Nov. 19 death of his father, former state Assemblyman Nao Takasugi. Sentencing was delayed again while the 56-year-old former Kaiser surgeon underwent a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation in Ventura.

Man is arrested in disabled man's death

COVINA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California man suspected of fatally punching his disabled relative as he sat in a wheelchair has been arrested for investigation of murder.

Covina police say 55-year-old Richard Basulto died Monday.

His brother-in-law, 52-year-old Martin Silva, remained jailed.

Basulto was a diabetic who used a wheelchair because he had lost part of one leg.

Police Sgt. Dave Foster says the men were arguing over money when Silva hit Basulto several times in the face Sunday evening.

Foster says Basulto died at a hospital, where Silva was treated for injuries to his hand.

Conviction in Iraq killings appealed