IN BRIEF

MISSING MOM, SON

Officials focus search on California, Mexico

Authorities in Minnesota say the search for a woman and her sick 13-year-old son remains focused in Southern California and Mexico.

The Brown County sheriff's department said Sunday it is continuing to look for Daniel Hauser, who has Hodgkin's lymphoma, and his mother Colleen, who is refusing to allow chemotherapy treatment for her son.

They were expected in court Tuesday. But the FBI says they left their home in Sleepy Eye, Minn., that day for Los Angeles.

Doctors say Daniel has a cancerous tumor growing in his chest that's likely to kill him without chemotherapy, but his family prefers natural healing methods.

The American Cancer Society estimates there are 35 to 50 clinics in Mexican border towns that attract cancer patients looking for alternative remedies.

PROPOSITION 8

California court set to rule on gay marriage

California's Supreme Court will issue a ruling Tuesday that will either uphold Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban, or overturn it as illegal and unconstitutional.

The much anticipated 10 a.m. announcement will open a new chapter in the struggle over gay marriage.

Several states have legalized gay marriage since last November, when 52 percent of California voters approved amending the state constitution to define marriage as between only a man and woman.

GRADUATION PARTY

Two killed, six injured in Arizona shooting

Two people were killed and six others, two of them children, were wounded in a shooting at a high school graduation party, police said Sunday.

Brent Matthew Banks, 37, was arrested after a four-hour standoff with police at a house in Mesa, Ariz., east of Phoenix, Mesa Police Sgt. Ed Wessing said. Preliminary information indicated that Banks was an invited guest at the party who got into a physical fight with his ex-wife late Saturday, Wessing said.

It is alleged that he went to his vehicle, got a gun, returned to the party and opened fire, killing his 38-year-old ex-wife and a 32-year-old man, Wessing said.

FATAL FALL FROM BRIDGE

Oregon mom had history of violence

A mother accused in the death of her 4-year-old son, who fell 75 feet into the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., along with his older sister, has a history of domestic violence and recently filed for separation from the children's father, police said.

Amanda Jo Stott-Smith, 31, was taken into custody Saturday. She had threatened to jump off a ledge when officers arrived, police said.

A state medical examiner determined that Stott-Smith's son, Eldon Jay Rebhan Smith, drowned. Her 7-year-old daughter was hospitalized after surviving more than a half-hour in the cold water. Police said Sunday that the girl's condition was improving.