Snake-bitten student may lose her arm

A 14-year-old girl may lose her arm after being bitten by a poisonous copperhead snake at school, authorities said.

The snake was caught in Valley Forge, Pa., by a 17-year-old male student, who took it in a shoebox to a drama-club gathering at St. Pius X High School on Friday, Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Ray Bechtel said. No regular classes were held that day, which was designated for staff development.

The boy was showing the reptile to other students when it bit the girl's finger, Bechtel said.

The girl, whose name was not released, was treated at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center about 45 minutes after being bitten, Bechtel said. "The doctors said if it had been a half-hour longer she would likely have been dead," he said.

Copperhead-snake bites are typically not fatal but are extremely painful and may cause extensive scarring and loss of limb use, according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension of North Carolina State University.

Alcohol odor leads to pilot's removal

A United Airlines pilot was removed from the cockpit and questioned by police after security screeners at Miami International Airport reported smelling alcohol, police said.

The pilot was not arrested and no breath test was done, but he was suspended pending an internal investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.

"United's alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have absolutely no tolerance for abuse or violation of this well-established policy," airline spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said.

The flight had been scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. with 76 passengers. According to United's Web site, it took off at 3:40 p.m. after a crew change.

Three years ago at the same airport, two American West pilots were arrested after screeners smelled alcohol on their breath before they boarded a plane. Both pilots were fired and are serving prison sentences.

Times endorses mayor's re-election

The New York Times enthusiastically endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg for re-election, saying he was on course to be one of the best mayors the city has ever had.

The overwhelmingly positive editorial published in yesterday's editions said the Republican mayor has not been as entertaining as his predecessors but "has been better at running the city."

"If he continues his record of accomplishment over the next four years, he may be remembered as one of the greatest mayors in New York history," the editorial said.

Recent opinion polls put Bloomberg well ahead of his Democratic challenger, Fernando Ferrer.

Compiled from The Associated Press