Playoff in place for ’2014 Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:00 pm By RALPH D. RUSSOCollege Football WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — The best way to determine a major college football champion seemed so obvious to so many for so long. Just have a playoff.Now the people in charge of making that decision are on board, too.Come…

Petrino’s trooper did wrong Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:00 pm By JEANNIE NUSSAssociated PressLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The state police captain who provided security for former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino may have broken the law when he accepted tickets and a Sugar Bowl ring from the football program, according to the Arkansas Ethics…

Brees feels good about Saints’ long-term marriage pact Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:00 pm RACHEL COHENAP Sports WriterNEW YORK (AP) — New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is confident that he and the Saints will agree on a long-term contract.With the start of training camp about a month off, the two sides still have “a…

Woman fights man with cup Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a Kentucky woman used a coffee cup to stop a 23-year-old man who was allegedly raping her 13-year-old daughter. The Pulaski County sheriff’s office says the woman found the man engaged in a sexual encounter with her…

Truck, nearly 20 cars crash on freeway north of LA Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — A big-rig truck and nearly 20 cars collided Tuesday on a freeway in the mountains north of Los Angeles, leaving at least 17 people injured, including two critically, authorities said.Television news footage showed…

Record heat hampers efforts to fight Colorado wildfires Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (AP) — Searing, record-setting heat in the interior West kept its grip on firefighters struggling to contain blazes in Colorado, Utah and other Rocky Mountain states on Tuesday.Colorado has endured nearly a week of 100-plus-degree days and…

NY man to be sentenced for rare document thefts Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm BALTIMORE (AP) — A presidential memorabilia collector who has acknowledged stealing thousands of rare and valuable documents from historical societies and archives nationwide was set to be sentenced Wednesday in federal court. Barry Landau was caught stealing documents from…

Jonesborough considering displaying historical documents Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm JOHNSON CITY (AP) — The City of Jonesborough is considering utilizing a law that allows public buildings to display “historically significant documents,” such as the Ten Commandments.The Johnson City Press (http://bit.ly/KB1zKp) reports that Washington County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Monday that…

Hardin school superintendent on trial for having a gun in school Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm SAVANNAH (AP) — The superintendent of the Hardin County Schools is on trial, charged with bringing a handgun into a school.The criminal trial of John Thomas began Monday.The Jackson Sun (http://bit.ly/M04PF2) reported special prosecutor Mike Bottoms told…

Former Ky. teacher changes plea to guilty in teen sex case Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:00 pm NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — A woman who previously taught school in northern Kentucky has changed her plea to guilty in a teen sex case. According to The Kentucky Enquirer, 34-year-old Andrea Conners of Cleves, Ohio, entered a…