US

• Trooper: Irate driver hit man with sledge hammer
  

  The Washington State Patrol says an irate driver apparently whacked a man in the shoulder with a small sledge hammer in a road rage dispute.

  
  
  
• San Francisco expands plastic-bag ban
  

  Shoppers in San Francisco will have to pay 10 cents per bag and more retailers are now banned from handing out plastic bags under a proposal approved Tuesday by the city's Board of Supervisors.

  
  
  
• Santorum's gamble pays off
  

  Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum made a calculated decision a few weeks ago.

  
  
  
• Romney says he still expects to be GOP nominee
  

  Mitt Romney says it's been a good night for Rick Santorum, but that he still expects to become the Republican nominee for president.

  
  
  
• CA man accused of killing Chihuahua with golf club
  

  A California man has been charged with felony animal cruelty after authorities say he killed a Chihuahua by teeing off on the 6-pound dog with a golf club.

  
  
  
• Alaska man accused of trying to extort gov't
  

  Authorities in Alaska say a man threatened to teach "crackheads" how to make "electromagnetic distortion devices" unless the state paid him $85,000.

  
  
  
• Paul says results help him rack up delegates
  

  Ron Paul is emphasizing his ability to collect GOP delegates as the presidential nominating contest continues.

  
  
  
• Organizers: Fighting Sioux nickname is back
  

  Supporters of the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname say they have enough petition signatures to force the university to start using the name again.

  
  
  
• Santorum picks up Missouri, Minnesota wins
  

  Rick Santorum says his victories in Minnesota's caucuses and Missouri's non-binding primary are triumphs for conservatism and the tea party movement.

  
  
  
• Paul says GOP result 'opens up the door'
  

  Republican Ron Paul said front-runner Mitt Romney's inability to brush back challenges in votes Tuesday "opens up the door" to him and others looking to deny the former Massachusetts governor the party's presidential nomination.