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7 astronauts reunite with their families

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 24, 2007

HOUSTON

Atlantis' seven astronauts reunited with their families in Texas on Saturday, a day after the space shuttle capped a two-week mission with a perfect landing in the Mohave Desert. Sunita "Suni" Williams was especially happy to return to Earth after spending more than six months at the international space station. "This gravity thing takes a bit getting used to, " she said moments after landing with the rest of the crew on a NASA Gulfstream jet around 2:45 p.m. at Ellington Field. The crew assembled for a 20-minute ceremony on a stage in an open hangar with a giant American flag as the backdrop. Along with Williams were shuttle commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Patrick Forrester, James Reilly, Steven Swanson and Danny Olivas. Each offered thanks to family, ground crew and others in brief remarks. Their homecoming was delayed by a day when NASA rerouted the shuttle from Florida to California because of bad weather. NASA hopes to have three more launches this year.

THREE MILE BAY, N.Y.

3 children killed in police chase

A car being chased by police crashed into a utility pole, killing three young children and critically injuring their mother, who was at the wheel, authorities said. The car broke in half, with the rear part continuing 50 feet past the shattered pole, Jefferson County sheriff's Sgt. Joseph Cullen said Saturday. The children were trapped in the wreckage, part of which caught fire, he said. It was not immediately clear which half of the car the children were in. Lisa Parker had been stopped for erratic driving near the village of Chaumont late Friday but drove off as a deputy was about to question her, Cullen said Saturday. The deputy followed and tried to stop her again, but Parker continued speeding away until her car smashed into the pole, he said.

CHICAGO

Police say man kills wife, children

Murder charges were filed Saturday against Christopher Vaughn, whose wife and three children were found shot to death in their SUV nine days ago along Interstate Highway 55 in the southwest suburbs, the Will County state's attorney's office said. Vaughn was arrested without incident about 7 a.m. as he arrived at a funeral home in Missouri, where the services for his wife Kimberly and three young children were being held. The Oswego man was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder and authorities are preparing to bring him back to Illinois.

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Former first lady is well, hospital says

Lady Bird Johnson remained hospitalized Saturday but is doing well while undergoing tests and is with her two daughters, a family spokeswoman said. The former first lady, 94, was hospitalized Thursday night at Seton Medical Center because of a slight fever. She is expected to return home in the next couple of days.

[Last modified June 24, 2007, 00:38:40]