National news briefs

Man in weird suicide controlled scenario

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky census worker found naked, bound and hanging from a tree had told a friend he intended to kill himself and that he had chosen the time, place and method to do it, police records show.

Those records about the death of Bill Sparkman were released Friday to The Associated Press by the Kentucky State Police.

Sparkman, 51, was found strangled with a rope around his neck near a rural cemetery in September with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest. It triggered a state and federal investigation that ultimately determined he had committed suicide.

The records show that Sparkman's friend Lowell Adams, who had worked for Sparkman as a part-time security guard since 2007, told investigators that the federal employee wanted his suicide to look like a murder.

Notre Dame paper apologizes for joke

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The independent student newspaper for the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College has published a staff editorial apologizing for a cartoon that made a joke about violence against gays.

The editorial Friday says The Observer newspaper created an "egregious" error in judgment when it published the cartoon Wednesday.

The cartoon depicts a conversation that says the "easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable" is with "a baseball bat."

Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins issued a statement condemning the cartoon.

Drug recall expands 2nd time in a month

NEW YORK (AP) — Johnson & Johnson expanded a recall of over-the-counter medications Friday, the second time it has done so in less than a month because of a moldy smell that has made users sick.

The broadening recall now includes some batches of regular and extra-strength Tylenol, children's Tylenol, eight-hour Tylenol, Tylenol arthritis, Tylenol PM, children's Motrin, Motrin IB, Benadryl Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph's aspirin. Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products recalled some Tylenol Arthritis Caplets in November due to the smell, which caused nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Almost three weeks ago, the company again expanded its recall to include Tylenol Arthritis Caplets. Federal regulators say the company did not act fast enough.

Mom indicated in baby disappearance

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities say an Arizona woman has been indicted in the disappearance of her baby.

Maricopa County prosecutors say 23-year-old Elizabeth Johnson was indicted Thursday on charges of kidnapping, child abuse and custodial interference. She remains jailed in Phoenix.

Authorities say Johnson fled the state with her 8-month-old son Gabriel during the week of Dec. 22 in an apparent custody battle. The boy was last seen in San Antonio Dec. 22 to 27.