Combined briefs package

Former state Rep. Robin Kelly won the special election Tuesday for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s vacated Illinois congressional seat. The Matteson Democrat was widely expected to win the contest over Republican community activist Paul McKinley. Kelly easily won the special primary in February. The main issue in that race became gun control. Kelly is in favor of an assault weapons ban and has vowed to be a leader in the federal fight for gun control. Jackson resigned in November. In February, he pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of misspending campaign funds.

PENNSYLVANIA

Judge rules against Penn State defendants

Three former Penn State administrators accused of covering up complaints about Jerry Sandusky lost a set of rulings Tuesday, allowing their criminal cases to move forward. Judge Barry Feudale denied an attempt to throw out the grand jury report backing up the accusations and ruled against two other defense requests. Defendants Gary Schultz, Tim Curley and Graham Spanier are charged with perjury, obstruction, endangering the welfare of children, failure to properly report suspected abuse and conspiracy. Sandusky, 69, a retired Penn State assistant football coach, was convicted in June of 45 sexual abuse counts and is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence.

IRAN

Quake strikes near nuclear plant

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake killed at least 37 and injured hundreds more in a sparsely populated area in southern Iran on Tuesday, Iranian officials said, adding that it did not damage a nuclear plant in the region. The report said the earthquake struck the town of Kaki about 60 miles southeast of Bushehr, a town on the Persian Gulf that is home of Iran’s first nuclear power plant, built with Russian help. “No damage was done to Bushehr power plant,” Bushehr provincial governor Fereidoun Hasanvand told state TV. The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency said on its website that it was satisfied the nuclear plant was safe.

MISSISSIPPI

Circus elephant hit in drive-by shooting

Authorities say a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephant was hit by a bullet in a drive-by shooting Tuesday in Tupelo. Circus spokeswoman Melinda Hartline said the elephant was not seriously hurt. No other animals were harmed. The elephant, Carol, is part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus that is in town for a series of performances. The Asian elephant was in an area outside where the circus keeps animals at the Tupelo BancorpSouth Arena. Police said a vehicle drove past the arena about 2 a.m. and fired into the area. A $250 reward has been offered.

CALIFORNIA

Tax bill would penalize Boy Scouts

California lawmakers are considering taking some tax exemptions away from youth groups that do not accept gay, transgender or atheist members — a move intended to pressure the Boy Scouts of America to lift its ban on gay Scouts and troop leaders. Some cities have withdrawn free rent and other subsidies from the Boy Scouts over the years, but legislation introduced by state Sen. Ricardo Lara would make California the first state to target the Scouts for its anti-gay policy. The Long Beach Democrat’s bill is scheduled for its first committee hearing today.

MEXICO

Japanese firm to build U.S.-Mexico pipeline

A Japanese firm has been tapped to build a pipeline to import U.S. natural gas through Arizona, President Enrique Pena Nieto said Tuesday. Pena Nieto is visiting Japan, where he made the announcement about the $460 million project. Japan’s Mitsui Corporation will build the pipeline, which will run from Tucson Arizona to the Pacific coast port of Mazatlan. The president’s office said in a statement the pipeline will be able to carry 770 million cubic feet of gas per day. The statement did not say who would build the U.S. end of the pipeline.

ISRAEL

Kerry lauds West Bank economic initiative

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that an initiative to promote economic development in the West Bank to support renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts would aim to create jobs and economic security and would “begin to take hold immediately.” He said that more details would be forthcoming next week and that corporate entities would be involved. He emphasized that business expansion in the West Bank was not a substitute for the political track, but was meant to enhance it. Kerry made the remarks at a news conference at Ben-Gurion Airport as he completed three days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

IRAN

Leader touts uranium production expansion

Iran announced an enlargement of its uranium production and claimed other atomic energy advances on Tuesday, striking a defiant tone in the aftermath of diplomatic talks this past weekend in Kazakhstan that ended in an impasse. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad coupled the expansions with harsh criticism of what he called “hegemonic powers” that have sought to damage Iran’s dignity through pressures — a clear reference to economic sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union over the nuclear dispute.