American Scene

ALASKA

Company abandons natural gas pipeline project

JUNEAU — One of two companies planning to build major natural gas pipelines in Alaska has dropped its bid, saying Tuesday that it didn’t secure the support necessary to justify going forward with its project.

The Denali-The Alaska Gas Pipeline announcement raised questions about the prospects for building a long-hoped-for line in Alaska. For years, Alaskans have dreamed of a gas line as a way to help shore up revenues as oil production declines, create jobs and provide a more reliable source of energy.

But Denali cited changes in the market — lower natural gas prices, the rise of North American shale — as making it tough to get the commitments they needed to move forward.

ARIZONA

Settlement ends lawsuit in deaths at sweat lodge

FLAGSTAFF — The owners of an Arizona retreat where a self-help author’s sweat lodge ceremony turned deadly have settled a lawsuit brought by the victims’ families and other participants.

An attorney for two of the plaintiffs told the Associated Press that a judge has to sign off on the settlement reached last week, though that’s considered a formality.

The lawsuit say that Michael and Amayra Hamilton’s conduct led to the deaths of three people and caused injury to others.

The settlement includes no admission of liability on the part of the Hamiltons. A confidentiality agreement keeps the parties from discussing the terms.

The man who led the ceremony, James Arthur Ray, is on trial on manslaughter charges in the deaths.

CONNECTICUT

Bushes’ fraternity suspended for sexist chants

NEW HAVEN — A prestigious Yale fraternity that counts both Bush presidents among its alumni is being banned from recruiting and activities on campus for five years after pledges were ordered to chant obscenities against women.

Yale says it also has disciplined several Delta Kappa Epsilon members and asked the fraternity’s national office to suspend the chapter for five years.

The fraternity came under fire in October after pledges marched through campus and chanted phases about sex acts including necrophilia. Chapter leaders later apologized, but the national fraternity office ordered them to stop all pledge activities.

Yale says the discipline was necessary to ensure “an educational environment free from harassment and intimidation.”

MICHIGAN

Hearing ordered for man accused in mosque plot

DETROIT — A judge on Tuesday ordered a competency hearing for a mentally ill Vietnam War veteran accused of planning to attack a prominent Michigan mosque with fireworks.

Roger Stockham, 63, a Muslim convert from Imperial Beach, Calif., was to stand trial in Michigan on terrorism and explosives charges for allegedly plotting to detonate powerful fireworks at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Bruce Morrow ordered a competency hearing for Mr. Stockham after learning that he sent a letter to the center last week.

Defense attorney Matthew Evans said Mr. Stockham’s letter didn’t threaten physical violence, but he declined to divulge its contents.

The hearing is set for July but could be held sooner.

MISSOURI

Schools to use Internet for lessons on snow days

PARKVILLE — Could the Internet mean the end of snow days? Some schools think so, and they are experimenting with ways for students to do lessons online during bad weather, potentially allowing classes to go on during even the worst blizzard.

“Virtual snow days” would help ease pressure on school calendars. Because districts are required to be in session for a certain number of hours or days, losing teaching time to winter weather can mean extending the school day or cutting short spring break or summer vacation.

And canceling school in the winter, when some of the most difficult material of the year is covered, risks leaving students with a learning deficit heading into the spring, when many states administer standardized tests.

Virtual learning, which has been widely used by colleges and universities for years, is becoming more viable for younger students as teachers and administrators grow comfortable with the technology. Online learning also saves money because districts don’t have to pay for transportation, electricity and custodians.

PENNSYLVANIA

Lawsuits: White teachers told they are unfit to teach blacks

PHILADELPHIA — Four white Philadelphia teachers filed federal race-bias lawsuits that accuse a black principal of creating a hostile work environment and suggesting they were unfit to teach black children.

The teachers work at a predominantly black elementary school that has a recent history of racial tension. Their lawsuits say that a former principal had them read an article that said “white teachers do not have the ability to teach African-American students.”

The teachers also say that the principal, Charles Ray III, and others undermined their work by reprimanding them, randomly changing their room assignments and letting black teachers ignore rules that their white counterparts had to follow. Mr. Ray also retaliated when they filed union grievances, they said.

The teachers filed the lawsuits last week, demanding more than $150,000 each. Courthouse News Service first reported on the complaints Tuesday.

The school district had no comment, spokeswoman Shana Kemp told the Associated Press.

From wire dispatches and staff reports