In Brief

TEA PARTY EXPRESS

Tax protest tour stops in Las Vegas today

The Tea Party Express tax protest tour stops in Las Vegas today at 11 a.m.

The cross-country tour, which began in California and is heading east, will stop at the Sports Center of Las Vegas, 121 E. Sunset Road.

The Tea Party Express stopped in Sparks on Friday and drew about 500 people. Speakers there criticized President Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and expressed concern over federal government spending.

Organizers say the Tea Party Express is one of the largest grass-roots efforts in the nation with about 350,000 members.

FREEDOM COMMUNICATIONS

Company expected to file for bankruptcy

Freedom Communications Inc., the owner of the Orange County Register in California, is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, according to a published report.

The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site Sunday that the privately held company has reached agreements with its lenders to restructure its debts. The report cited unnamed people familiar with the situation.

The Journal quoted an unnamed Freedom spokesman who said, "We are continuing to work with our lenders to address our balance sheet."

CAR HIT ROADSIDE BARRIER

High-speed crash kills four teens in Utah

Police say four Utah County teens died in a high-speed wreck in central Utah.

Utah County sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said the four were traveling nearly 100 mph on a backroad when the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo they were in slammed into a roadside barrier along a curve and rolled at least once.

Authorities said the wreck likely happened between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. A passer-by spotted the wreckage Sunday around 7:30 a.m.

Cannon said the wreck killed the 16-year-old male driver, a 16-year-old boy in the passenger seat, a 19-year-old male in the back seat -- all from Orem -- and a 13-year-old girl in the back seat from Payson.

He says everyone except the 13-year-old was wearing a seat belt.