Nation in brief

Va. quake felt from N.C. to Maryland

RICHMOND, Va. - Residents from North Carolina to Maryland were shaken Tuesday by a moderate earthquake that caused minor damage along the East Coast.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 4.5, was centered about 28 miles west of Richmond. There were numerous reports from people who felt the quake in three states and the District of Columbia.

Virginia's Department of Emergency Management received some reports of minor damage, mainly from areas west of the epicenter, said Robert Spieldenner, director of public affairs. He said the damage mostly amounted to items falling off walls. It could take a few days before any structural damage appears, he said.

Geological Survey spokeswoman Carolyn Bell said there were no immediate reports of damage in other areas.

The quake occurred at 3:59 p.m. EST and was shallow, about 3 miles below the Earth's surface.

ALBANY, N.Y. - A Dutch cargo ship tipped over at a 45-degree angle in the frigid Hudson River while being loaded with steel turbines Tuesday, apparently trapping three crew members. Fifteen others were rescued, with some suffering hypothermia.

The missing were believed to be inside the hull of the listing ship, Detective James Miller said.

Divers were brought in. But officials said they did not immediately know if the vessel had filled with water.

The ship had loaded 661 tons of steel turbines bound for Italy and Romania when the cargo apparently shifted, causing the ship to turn partly on its side, Mayor Gerald Jennings said.

Out of the crew of 18, eight were thrown into the partly frozen water. All were pulled out. One was in critical condition and another was in serious condition, hospital officials said. Seven others were rescued from the ship, some by helicopter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A bullet hole found in a van has been linked to a string of shootings along a stretch of interstate, bringing the total number of cases under investigation to 15, authorities said Tuesday.

The shooting at a used car lot on U.S. 23 was noticed Nov. 15, 10 days before a woman was killed while driving on nearby Interstate 270, where most of the shootings happened. Many of the victims called law enforcement agencies for the first time after hearing of the fatal shooting Nov. 25.

The van incident was the sixth shooting police have connected through ballistic tests, said sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Martin. Although the rest of the shootings could not be linked through bullet testing, police believe they, too, are related.

On Monday, workers put up cameras on I-270 in an attempt to find who is behind the shootings.

At least two shootings along I-270 have happened since Nov. 25, when Gail Knisley, 62, was killed as she was being driven to a doctor's appointment. She is the only person hit in the shootings.

VISALIA, Calif. - A former employee at a printing plant slipped in through a side door Tuesday and shot one worker to death before setting two fires and killing himself, police said.

The man fired at least six shots inside Print-Xcel, a company that prints payroll checks and mailers, Sgt. Michelle Figueroa said.

Police identified the gunman as John Gardner, 45, but said they had not yet determined a motive. The victim was identified as 31-year-old Jose Manriquez.

The company's general manager, Jeff Trump, said the ex-employee left several years ago.

His body was found at the threshold of an exit, and police found a revolver and a semiautomatic handgun nearby. He had shot himself in the head.

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