Craigslist slaying suspect’s former med school lab partner says he was “strange in a dark way”

BOSTON — A former medical school lab partner of accused Craigslist killer Philip Markoff says she’s not surprised that he’s a suspect in the case because he had profound mood swings and often appeared “disturbed.”

Despite millions in donations, Afghan students still waiting for their textbooks

KABUL — Day laborer Sayed Sekander spent more than half a day’s pay on textbooks for his third-grade son, stuffing them into a dirty rice sack to take home. He will wait before buying any for his two daughters.

Fiancee of Boston med student accused of killing woman he met on Craigslist says he’s innocent

BOSTON — The fiancee of accused Craigslist killer Philip Markoff stood by her man and swore he couldn’t hurt a fly.

High school dropout crisis persists, but some big cities are making gains

WASHINGTON — The high school dropout problem is getting better in some big cities where it’s most severe, a national study found, but the overall situation remains dismal, as more than one in four kids drops out of high school nationwide.

Breakdown of graduation rates in select cities

A breakdown of the 2005 graduation rates in the 50 largest cities, along with the percentage point changes in this rate between 1995 and 2005.

Eighth-graders in Alaska punished for taunting moose that panicked, suffered fatal injury

PALMER, Alaska — Eighth-graders at an Alaska school have been disciplined for taunting and frightening a moose so severely it suffered a fatal injury.

Study: More undergrads take out pricey private student loans to pay for college

BERKELEY, Calif. — A study finds the number of college students taking out private student loans has risen sharply in recent years.

Puff, puff, ponder: Marijuana advocates celebrate unofficial 4/20 holiday, reflect on movement

OAKLAND, Calif. — Cannabis advocates weren’t just using their high holiday of April 20 to light up — they were throwing fundraisers for medical marijuana clubs and planning their next steps to legalize the herb for medicinal use.

Supreme Court to hear arguments over school strip search of 13-year-old girl

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed worried Tuesday about tying the hands of school officials looking for drugs and weapons on campus as they wrestled with the appropriateness of a strip-search of a 13-year-old girl accused of having prescription-strength ibuprofen.

Police: Boston med student held in masseuse’s death targeted women he met on Craigslist

BOSTON — Philip Markoff seemed to have a good life: The handsome, clean-cut, 23-year-old medical student was planning a lavish beachfront wedding this summer to a beautiful woman. But authorities say his computer and surveillance video paint a picture of a suspected serial criminal who targeted women offering erotic services through Craigslist. Now he’s accused of killing one and suspected of robbing and tying up another.

Mystery donor keeps handing checks to colleges; only common denominator is a woman president

The mystery college donor has struck again — this time at Binghamton University in New York, whose financial aid office phone started ringing off the hook as word of an anonymous $6 million contribution spread across campus.

Boston medical student ordered held without bail in masseuse’s Craigslist death

BOSTON — A Boston medical student has been ordered held without bail on charges that he fatally shot a masseuse he had lured to his hotel through Craigslist.

Group of colleges urges Congress to offer tuition aid, citizenship to many illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON — Wading into the politically charged immigration debate, a group of colleges and universities is urging Congress to give illegal immigrants tuition aid and a path to citizenship in light of efforts in several states to block them.

Survivor of Oklahoma City bombing: If time heals all wounds, why does it still hurt?

OKALAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum brought together those who survived the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, family members of the victims and rescue workers for a program called “First Person: Stories of Hope.”