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In the Nation

WASHINGTON

Obama announces $240M in STEM education pledges

President Obama is highlighting private-sector efforts to encourage more students from underrepresented groups to pursue education in science, technology, engineering, and math.

At the White House Science Fair on Monday, Obama announced more than $240 million in pledges to boost the study of those fields, known as STEM. This year's fair is focused on diversity.

Obama said the new commitments bring total financial and material support for these programs to $1 billion.

The pledges the president announced include a $150 million philanthropic effort to encourage promising early-career scientists to stay on track and a $90 million campaign to expand STEM opportunities to underrepresented youth, such as minorities and girls.

Obama launched "Educate to Innovate," his effort to encourage the study of science, technology, engineering, and math, in 2009. More than 35 student teams showed their projects at the White House Science Fair, which Obama said is one of the most fun events at the White House. "Every year I walk out smarter than when I walked in," he said. - AP
ALASKA

Remains may be of family

Authorities investigating the disappearance of an Alaska family missing for nearly a year have discovered four bodies and a handgun about a half a mile from their home. Kenai Police Lt. Dave Ross said Monday the bodies haven't been identified by a coroner, but police have every indication it's the missing family. Ross provided few details, saying the investigation remains open. But he said there's no reason to believe another person was involved in the deaths. Rebecca Adams, 23; her boyfriend, Brandon Jividen, 38; and her children, Michelle Hundley, 6, and Jaracca Hundley, 3, were last seen in May. - AP
TEXAS

4 from 1? DNA will answer

A cow has apparently defied great odds and given birth this month to four calves that have been named Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moo. Jimmy Barling, whose wife, Dora, owns the 20 or so cattle in northeast Texas, said Monday that DNA tests will be done on tissue samples from the three bull calves and one heifer calf to satisfy those who question the births. "We knew she was pregnant, but we didn't know she was going to do this," said Barling, 76. Veterinarian Mike Baird said the odds of four live births from one cow are 1 in 11.2 million. - AP