Protester hurt in N.D. faces surgeriesBISMARCK, N.D. — A New York woman seriously hurt protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline faces multiple surgeries and could lose an arm, her father said Tuesday, and protesters and law enforcement gave conflicting accounts about what might have caused the explosion that injured her.Sophia Wilansky, 21, was listed in serious condition and was undergoing surgery at a Minneapolis hospital.Wilansky’s father, Wayne Wilansky, said his daughter was hurt when law enforcement threw a grenade.The Morton County Sheriff’s Office maintains authorities did not use concussion grenades or any devices that produce a flash or bang during a clash late Sunday and early Monday near the camp along the pipeline route in southern North Dakota where protesters have gathered for months.The sheriff’s office suggested in a statement Monday that an explosion heard during the skirmish might have been caused by small propane tanks that authorities said protesters had rigged to explode.

Driver jailed in fatal school bus crashCHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A school bus driver was behind bars Tuesday after a crash killed five youngsters and plunged Chattanooga into mourning over what the mayor called the “most unnatural thing in the world” — a parent losing a child.Police said Johnthony Walker, 24, was speeding along a narrow, winding road Monday afternoon with 35 elementary school students aboard when he wrapped the bus around a tree. Walker was arrested and charged with five counts of vehicular homicide.Police said Walker was driving well over the posted 30 mph limit when he lost control of the bus, which was not equipped with seat belts. He was jailed on $107,500 bail for a court appearance Nov. 29 on charges that included reckless driving and reckless endangerment. It was not immediately known whether he had a lawyer.The hospital said 12 children remained hospitalized Tuesday: six in critical condition and six stable.

Ky. man sues over ‘GOD’ license plateLOUISVILLE, Ky. — An atheist’s request for a personalized license plate saying “IM GOD” was denied by the state of Kentucky, which said it might distract other drivers, and would be in bad taste.Bennie Hart said that by announcing “IM GOD” on his license plate, he simply wants to show the impossibility of disproving anyone’s claim to being “God.”Hart said he had the same plate for a dozen years when he lived in Ohio, without causing any problems.Hart sued state Transportation Secretary Greg Thomas on Tuesday on free speech grounds, asking a federal judge in Frankfort to strike down some Kentucky laws and rules for personalized plates.Transportation spokesman Ryan Watts said the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Ride where boy died will be demolishedKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Operators of a Kansas water park where a state lawmaker’s 10-year-old son was killed on a waterslide last summer say that ride will be demolished.Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and the family that runs it said in a statement Tuesday that the 168-foot “Verruckt” at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kan., will eventually be torn down.The ride has been closed since authorities say Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed Aug. 7 while on the Verruckt, which is German for “insane.” Two other riders in Caleb’s raft, both women, were injured.Attorneys for Caleb and the women are investigating the accident. No charges or lawsuits had been filed as of Tuesday.

R.I. Christmas tree deemed too punyPROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Christmas tree selected for the Rhode Island Statehouse rotunda has been removed after staff decided it was too puny.The 14-foot tree was donated by a tree farm. Workers put it up Tuesday but then realized it was too small and didn’t fill the rotunda.The governor’s office said the little tree was moved outside to the statehouse steps and will be decorated and displayed there. The office has gotten a 20-foot-tall tree to replace it.There have been a few mishaps with Rhode Island’s Statehouse tree in recent years. In 2005, the tree shed all its needles after it was doused in fire retardant.Former Gov. Lincoln Chafee refused to call it a Christmas tree, calling it a holiday tree instead. That led to angry protests.