Indian agency accused of fraud

Washington

The Indian Health Service has lost at least $15.8 million worth of equipment and later falsified documents to cover up some of those losses, according to congressional investigators.

The 5,000 pieces of lost or stolen equipment included a computer that contained more than 800 Social Security numbers and sensitive health information. Also missing are trucks, tractors, all-terrain vehicles and about a third of information-technology items — including computers, video projectors and digital cameras — from the agency's headquarters in Rockville, Md.

The Government Accountability Office estimated losses between the 2004 and 2007 budget years in a report released Monday. Investigators blamed mismanagement at the top of the embattled agency, which often runs out of money to provide adequate health care to the American Indians it serves.

Maplewood, Mo.

Gunman kills rookie firefighter

A rookie firefighter was killed and two police officers were wounded when a gunman opened fire Monday in a St. Louis suburb. The ambush led to a standoff that lasted several hours.

It was unclear what happened to the gunman, as the house he was holed up in was burned to the ground.

The slain firefighter has been identified as Ryan Hummert, 22, the son of a former Maplewood mayor. Hummert was fatally shot as he got out of a Maplewood fire truck that came to fight a vehicle fire about 5:45 a.m.

The gunman — believed to be hiding in a home — then shot two Maplewood police officers. One of those officers was critically wounded.

Miami

Tropical storm heading for Texas

Tropical Storm Dolly headed toward South Texas early today as forecasters predicted it would be the first Atlantic hurricane to hit the U.S. this year.

The National Hurricane Center said Dolly will hit parts of the Texas and Mexico coasts by tonight as a Category 1 hurricane, the lowest of five hurricane classifications with maximum winds of 95 mph.

"This is going to be a horrific rain maker," said Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman for the Miami-based center. "This could be a very significant flooding event."

Honolulu

B-52 crash: 3 dead, 3 others still missing

Military officials say at least three crew members are dead after the crash of an Air Force B-52 bomber off Guam.

Rescue teams continue to search for the three airmen still missing after the Monday morning crash. They have covered roughly 3,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.

The Coast Guard says aircraft from as far away as Japan were brought into assist in the search-and-rescue operation.

The military says the B-52 was en route to a flyover in a parade when it crashed about 30 miles northwest of Apra Harbor.

Also

A Mexican citizen accused of driving more than 20 illegal immigrants in a vehicle that plunged into a canal, killing six of them, has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling, federal authorities said Monday. The crash happened Friday night shortly after the driver fled police in Westmorland, 125 miles east of San Diego. The vehicle, a Suburban, overturned into the canal and was submerged after the driver failed to maneuver a curve in the road.

Seattle Times news services