News briefs

Feds step up to curb highway shootings

Federal agents have joined local officers patrolling Southern
California freeways in an effort to stop a string of highway
shootings and track leads on attacks that have left four dead and
several injured in recent weeks.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
has been patrolling over the last week and will supply mobile
laboratories for on-scene forensic testing and canines to find
shell casings if there is another shooting, bureau spokeswoman
Marti McKee said Tuesday.

There have been 11 Southern California freeway shootings in
recent weeks. The latest came Monday on Highway 14 in the Newhall
Pass area, when a bullet pierced a windshield of a sport utility
vehicle. The male driver, the only person in the vehicle, was
uninjured.

USC chaplain suspended due to student
complaint

A Roman Catholic chaplain at USC was temporarily suspended
because a male student complained about inappropriate physical
contact with the pastor.

Rev. William Messenger, 55, was placed on administrative leave
Friday from Our Savior Catholic Center, while USC and the
Archdiocese of Los Angeles investigate the claims, Archdiocese
spokesman Tod Tamberg said. Messenger has served at USC since
1993.

Tamberg declined to describe the nature of the allegation, but
the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that a male student brought
the complaint.

Compiled from Bruin wire reports.