Nation digest 01/26/06

Survivor of W.Va. mine explosion out of coma

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The sole survivor of a mine explosion that killed 12 fellow miners emerged from a light coma Wednesday but still cannot speak, his doctor said. Randal McCloy Jr., who had been in a coma since his Jan. 4 rescue, is able to respond to simple commands and follow movements with his eyes, said Dr. Larry Roberts at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He also is able to chew and swallow soft foods. McCloy, 26, of Simpson, may have suffered brain damage from the carbon monoxide exposure in the mine, but the extent of any damage is not yet known.

Planet may be smallest, most distant yet found

NEW YORK -- Astronomers say they've found what may be the smallest and most distant planet known to be orbiting a star outside our own solar system. The newly found planet is about 5.5 times the mass of Earth, making it much smaller than most of the 160 previous "exoplanet" discoveries. At a distance of more than 20,000 light-years from Earth, it is probably the most distant such planet yet found, although estimates are too uncertain to be highly confident of that, said study co-author David Bennett of the University of Notre Dame. The planet appears to be too cold to sustain life, probably reaching no more than minus 364 degrees.

Seven killed in Florida crash involving school bus

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. -- Seven children alone in a car were killed Wednesday in a fiery crash when their vehicle was crushed between a truck and a stopped school bus in rural northern Florida. At least three children on the bus were seriously injured. The truck hit the car from behind and pushed it into the bus, causing the car to burst into flames, said Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol. All seven riding in the car were killed. Their ages ranged from 15 years to 21 months and all were related, police said. It was unclear why the children were unaccompanied. Evidence from the scene showed that the truck did not brake before hitting the car, Burroughs said.

Gerald Ford goes home from hospital

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Former president Gerald Ford was released from a hospital Wednesday, 12 days after he was admitted for treatment of pneumonia, his chief of staff said. Ford, 92, returned to his nearby home before noon, spokeswoman Penny Circle said. Ford had been admitted on Jan. 14.

-- From wire reports