Fire marshal closes animal park in Branson West to tourists During a surprise inspection on Friday, the fire marshal found several electrical and fire hazards.

Man faces arson charge for fire at home in Springfield A fire marshal says Norman Bennett started the fire after an argument with the home's residents on Thursday afternoon.

Springfield officials say all but six homes near explosion can be occupied Several families in a northwest Springfield neighborhood are trying to find out when or if they'll be able to move back into their homes.

Eureka Springs School Board sets election for new high school The plan would raise property taxes.

Arkansas state senator from Jasper suggests legalizing marijuana Sen. Randy Laverty says it might be a way to curb overcrowding in the state's prisons.

Pulaski County sheriff's deputy receives Medal of Valor Deputy Donald Hayden was shot four times while protecting some citizens from a rampaging attacker.

Critics say UN food summit wasteful, ineffective (AP)
AP - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, blamed for plunging his people into starvation, used his platform as Tuesday's opening speaker at the U.N. anti-hunger summit to decry what he called his neocolonialist foes.

EU rejects Palestinian statehood appeal (AP)
AP - The European Union rejected requests Tuesday that it support a Palestinian plan for gaining recognition as an independent state at the U.N. Security Council without Israeli consent.

US to drop shooting case against Blackwater guard (AP)
AP - The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday.

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster reported in NC (AP)
AP - Four North Carolina patients at a single hospital tested positive for a type of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu, health officials said Friday.

90-year-old charged in Germany for Nazi-era crimes (AP)
AP - A former SS sergeant who worked unnoticed for decades as a train-station manager was charged with 58 counts of murder Tuesday after a student doing undergraduate research uncovered his alleged involvement in a massacre of Jewish forced laborers.