The Dow Jones industrial average fell 21 points and closed the week just under 16,392.

By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks inched lower Friday as the price of oil slipped and investors worried again about the health of the global economy. Chemicals companies fell the most. Despite the loss, the market still had its best week of the year.

Stocks declined as the price of oil slipped 4 percent, giving back some of its gains from the last week, and agricultural equipment giant Deere cut its sales projections. That helped touch off a wider slump that hurt chemicals, materials and mining companies. Consumer stocks like home improvement retailers and travel companies rose after the government said consumer prices are rising, a sign the U.S. economy is in good shape.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 21.44 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,391.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dipped 0.05 points to 1,917.78. The Nasdaq composite index rose 16.89 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,504.43.

Stocks made big gains Tuesday and Wednesday. Then the rally stalled and indexes took small losses over the last two days. Still, the Nasdaq, which is still down 10 percent this year, logged its biggest weekly gain since July and the S&P 500 had its best week in two months.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.13, or 3.7 percent, to $29.64 a barrel in New York. It climbed 17 percent over the previous week. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, slid $1.27, or 3.7 percent, to $33.01.

That sent oil and gas stocks tumbling. Southwestern Energy dropped $1.40, or 16.5 percent, to $7.09 and Murphy Oil fell $1.24, or 7.3 percent, to $15.76.

Agricultural equipment company Deere lowered its sales forecast for the year as sales of farm and construction remain weak. That canceled out first-quarter results that were better than analysts expected. Deere lost $3.33, or 4.1 percent, to $77. Elsewhere, chemicals maker LyondellBassell Industries dipped $2.06, or 2.6 percent, to $78.14 and agricultural chemicals maker Monsanto fell $1.40, or 1.6 percent, to $88.52.

The government reported that consumer goods prices are still rising, and consumer stocks traded higher. Online retailer Amazon gained $9.90, or 1.9 percent, to $534.90, while home improvement retailer Home Depot added $1.72, or 1.4 percent, to $121.69 and online travel company Priceline rose $31.79, or 2.5 percent, to $1,283.74.

The Labor Department said prices for consumer goods have risen 1.4 percent over the last year, a sign that the pace of inflation is picking up and the economy is improving. The combination of a strong dollar and cheaper oil has suppressed inflation across much of the economy, but prices of other goods have been rising.

Michael Scanlon, managing director and portfolio manager for John Hancock Asset Management, said consumers are still spending plenty of money on cars, homes and travel. He thinks that spending is going to grow.

"People feel more stable in their jobs with increasing wages (and) home prices continue to rise," he said.

Gas prices are also very low, and while consumers have mostly put their gas savings in the bank instead of spending it, Scanlon thinks that's going to change. Gas prices have stayed low for more than a year, and he thinks shoppers will start to trust that pump prices are going to stay low.

For the moment, retailers are continuing to struggle. Department store operator Nordstrom disappointed Wall Street with its holiday-season results. The company said its sales were weaker than it expected and its profits were hurt because it had to match discounts offered by competitors.

Nordstrom gave up $3.55, or 6.7 percent, to $49.17 while Macy's fell 90 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $40.23 and JC Penney lost 31 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $7.32. Retail stocks also stumbled Thursday after Walmart reported weak quarterly sales and cut its forecasts for the year. Several other major retailers will report their quarterly results next week.

Department stores have struggled since they disclosed weak third-quarter results in November. Nordstrom is down 23 percent since its previous report a little more than three months ago.

Chipmaking equipment company Applied Materials climbed after it reported stronger-than-expected profit and sales. Its stock gained $1.21, or 7 percent, to $18.38. That was its biggest increase in almost two years.

Yahoo rose 62 cents, or 2 percent, to $30.04 after the Internet company said it has created a committee of independent directors and hired advisers as part of an effort to redefine itself. Big shareholders are pushing Yahoo to sell its main Internet business. The company eliminated 15 percent of its staff earlier this month.

European stocks fell as the leaders of Britain and the rest of the 28-country European Union entered a second day of talks on how to reform the country's membership in the bloc. The talks are stalled over a series of issues, including immigration rights.

Germany's DAX fell 0.8 percent, while France's CAC 40 and Britain's FTSE 100 both declined 0.4 percent. Asian stocks were mixed, as Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.4 percent and South Korea's Kospi added 0.4 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.4 percent and the Shanghai Composite in mainland China inched down 0.1 percent.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 1.3 cents to 95.9 cents a gallon. Heating oil lost 5.4 cents, or 5 percent, to $1.026 a gallon. Natural gas slid 4.8 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $1.804 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The price of gold increased $4.50 to $1,230.80 an ounce and silver fell 5.9 cents to $15.373 an ounce. Copper held steady at $2.068 a pound.

Bond prices ticked lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.76 percent from 1.74 percent. The euro rose to $1.1135 from $1.1094 Thursday. The dollar fell to 112.56 yen from 113.57 yen.

Sanders continues to ride a surge of momentum after his landslide victory in New Hampshire.

AMHERST — Continuing to ride a surge of momentum after his landslide victory in New Hampshire, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, is holding a free public rally at the William D. Mullins Memorial Center at UMass Amherst on Monday, Feb. 22.

Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for president, is expected to discuss a range of issues including climate change, affordable higher education and "getting big money out of politics," his campaign said in a press release Friday.

Doors to the Mullins Center, located at 200 Commonwealth Ave., open at 4:30 p.m. and the rally starts at 7 p.m. Admission is on a first come, first served basis.

For security reasons, the Sanders campaign is asking people to leave any bags at home and to limit personal items such as keys and cellphones. Signs or banners on sticks will not be allowed into the arena. On-site parking is available.

According to an NBC News / Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday, roughly 53 percent of Democrats who took part in the survey said they are supporting Hillary Clinton, while 42 percent are backing Sanders.

However, Clinton holds a commanding lead heading into next week's Democratic primary in South Carolina, with 60 percent of Democrats showing support for the former first lady and 32 percent backing Sanders.

Police records show that "Yes, alcohol (was) used" by an off-duty Northampton policeman who caused a vehicle smashup last year after getting behind the wheel of his 2008 Audi, but full details about the incident have not been made public.

NORTHAMPTON — An off-duty Northampton police officer used alcohol before getting behind the wheel of his black 2008 Audi and striking another vehicle last year, causing extensive damage to both cars, police records show.

Police officer Andrew Carney, while not on duty, crashed his car into another vehicle after running a stop sign at the intersection of Island Road and Route 5, causing extensive damage, on May 17 at about 6:15 p.m. Police records show that Carney was determined to be at fault.

"Yes, alcohol (was) used" by Carney prior to the crash, according to the records. He was not arrested or charged with any crime.

Information provided by Mayor David Narkewicz' office on Friday shows Carney was suspended for 22 workings days. He was on unpaid administrative leave from May 21 to June 19. His current base pay is $47,218.34. In fiscal 2015, Carney's total gross salary was $64,882.17

Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper provided a vehicle crash report, a copy of the $105 civil citation issued to Carney for failing to stop, the dispatch log and photos of the damaged automobiles.

The Republican also requested documents that could ascertain whether Carney was impaired, and what sort of tests to determine that, if any, were completed, and the results of any internal affairs investigation undertaken by the Northampton Police Department. Despite a court decision that requires public disclosure of internal affairs investigations, the city has declined to provide those, saying the Carney incident involves confidential personnel materials the city insists are exempt from disclosure.

The records that have been provided reveal Carney told police the other vehicle "came out of nowhere and collided with the front end of his vehicle," the official motor vehicle crash police report completed by Northampton Sgt. Brian D. Letzeisen states.

Carney had been attempting to negotiate a right turn; the report says he "failed to stop at the stop sign on Island Road."

"No injuries were observed by the officers on scene or reported by the operators. Both vehicles sustained heavy front end damage," the Letzeisen narrative states.

The narrative, however, does not mention alcohol as a factor in the collision. Disclosure that Carney used alcohol prior to the crash was instead gleaned from numerical coding in another section of the report.

The crash report, officially known as Form CRA-65, in addition to the narrative uses the codes to describe information. There is a section of the crash report, at Block 31, for an officer to respond to the query: "Suspected alcohol" – where police enter a number to indicate whether there was alcohol use.

Northampton police inserted the numeral 1, inside that block, indicating: "Yes, alcohol used" by Carney prior to the crash.

Messages left for Carney at his personal phone number were not returned.

Kasper was asked whether Letzeisen had inserted the correct Block 31 code indicating Carney had been using alcohol, and if any additional reports should have been completed, besides the crash report.

In an email statement, she said: "Standard procedure for responding to an accident that causes over $1,000 in damages or that involves personal injury is to complete the state crash form and to issue any citations, if it can be determined who is at fault. In this case Sgt. Letzeisen responded, conducted the accident investigation, completed the state crash report, and issued the citation. It would not have been standard procedure to complete an offense report."

Some police departments in the state, such as Boston, as a matter of policy require an additional report.

Belchertown's former police chief, Francis Fox, was apprehended by Granby police a year ago while driving an unmarked cruiser. He was not involved in a crash, although he was pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road.

The Granby police report on the incident stated, "As I spoke with Chief Fox I observed his eyes to be red, extremely bloodshot and glassy. A strong smell of alcohol emitted from his breath as he spoke with me and he was slurring his words." Fox was not charged with any crime and was driven home by a Granby officer.

Former Northampton police chief Russell Sienkiewicz, who retired in June, was the chief when the Carney incident happened back in May. Sienkiewicz has an unpublished telephone number, and could not be reached for comment.

Some materials involving police officers are public records, the state appeals court ruled in a decision more than a decade ago. The case had been brought by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette against the Worcester Chief of Police.

"There is no 'blanket exemption' to public disclosure for records kept by police departments or for investigatory materials," the Mass. Appeals court wrote in their 2003 opinion, when the Superior Court had already ordered release of internal affairs material.

"An internal affairs investigation is ... separate and independent from ordinary employment evaluation and assessment. Unlike other evaluations and assessments, the internal affairs process exists specifically to address complaints of police corruption," the decision says.

"The internal affairs procedure fosters the public's trust and confidence in the integrity of the police department, its employees, and its processes for investigating complaints because the department has the integrity to discipline itself. A citizenry's full and fair assessment of a police department's internal investigation of its officer's actions promotes the core value of trust between citizens and police essential to law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights."

The 2003 Massachusetts Appeals Court decision also states: "Disciplinary action is but one possible outcome; exoneration and protection of the officer and the department from unwarranted criticism is another."

It says: "We reject the city's contention that, viewed as a whole, the entire internal affairs file is exempt 'personnel (file) or information' because it is a 'disciplinary report' relative to a specific complaint about a specific police officer's actions."

Because of those rulings, the state supervisor of public records, issued a special "police advisory."

Alan N. Cote, supervisor of records for the state, said in a March 2004 advisory that the appeals court "ruling clearly narrows the definition of personnel records and this narrowing will be followed by this office."

A man and his teen grandson were conscious upon removal, treated for hypothermia, and transported to Saint Francis Hospital.

GRANBY - A grandfather and his teen grandson were pulled from an icy Manitook Lake in Granby, Connecticut, Saturday after having fallen through the ice.

Granby Police Fire and EMS unites responded to the lake at about 12:10 in the afternoon after receiving reports that two anglers had fallen through the ice about 50 feet from shore, according to a news release from Police Capt. William Tyler.

Police and residents were able to haul the anglers from the water using a rope. They'd been in the water for19 minutes, Tyler said.

The anglers ere hauled out via rope by police officers and residents; they were in the water about 19 minutes.

They were reportedly visiting a Lakeside Drive resident and do not reside in Granby. Both were conscious upon removal, treated for hypothermia, and transported to Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford.

Temperature were in the upper 50s Saturday.

The events are the third nominating contests in the race for the GOP and Democratic nominations for the White House.

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Ben Carson faced off in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary Saturday night, with businessman Trump winning big.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has beaten Bernie Sanders in the Nevada Democratic caucus.

The events are the third nominating contests in the race for the GOP and Democratic nominations for the White House. 

Trump entered South Carolina with a double-digit lead in the polls in the state. He seemingly has withstood a series of attacks in the GOP last Saturday and a newsy week that has seen him spar with Pope Francis, among others.

Experts had said a win would give Trump strong momentum heading into the Republicans' Nevada caucus and then Super Tuesday, when 12 states hold their voting March 1. But there's also the chance Cruz, his closest competitor, could attract the sizable bloc of evangelical voters in South Carolina.

Also looking to make inroads is Kasich, won came in second in New Hampshire; Rubio, who is considered the top Republican establishment pick; and Bush, who finished better in New Hampshire than expected.

Follow our live coverage below, complete with updates, tweets, video, exit polls, results, speech highlights, and more.

Both kayakers were unhurt when found by firefighters.

CHICOPEE - A father out Saturday afternoon for a kayak trip with his son ended up swimming in the ice-cold fast-moving Connecticut River when he capsized  about 500 yards upstream of the Willimansett Bridge.

The incident occurred at about 1 p.m.

The man was able to make it to a nearby island thanks to having worn a personal flotation device or PFD life jacket, said Chicopee Fire Lt. Mark Pirog.

"The river is cold, there are ice chunks in it and it would not have taken long for hypothermia to set in," Pirog said. "Even with a life jacket, he was in a very dangerous situation."

The pair had set off from South Hadley and were apparently unprepared for the river to be moving as fast as it is.

The father was able to make it to an island in the river. The son, who stayed in his kayak, was able to paddle to shore a few hundred yards away.

Chicopee firefighters located both of them and found them in good health. Firefighters took them to the Medina Street Boat Ramp in Chicopee to get checked out by medical personnel.

Bedford, New Hampshire, police had already released a description in connection with the robbery. Brasley is accused of entering the TD Bank branch at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. Bank employees told police that a woman walked into the bank and demanded money from a teller saying she had a weapon but not showing one.

BEDFORD, N.H. -- Police in Bedford, N.H., reported Saturday the Feb. 18 arrest of Stacey Brasley, 25, of Manchester in connection with the Jan. 19 robbery of aTD Bank branch in that city.

A warrant for her arrest was issued by Bedford Police after an investigation had zeroed in on her as the suspect in the robbery last month, according to a news release. Bradley was arraigned on Friday and is currently being held on $10,000 cash/surety bail by the Valley Street Jail until her probable cause hearing on March 1.

Bedford, New Hampshire, police had already released a description in connection with the robbery. Brasley is accused of entering the TD Bank branch at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. Bank employees told police that a woman walked into the bank and demanded money from a teller saying she had a weapon but not showing one.

The wreck occurred at 2:55 p.m.

GRANBY - Two cars crashed head-on in the area of 275 East State Street, also known as Route 202,  at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, Granby police said.

Emergency responders tended to the occupants of both vehicles. But information on those occupants has been withheld pending notification of their families, police said.

Route 202 between Taylor Street and North Street is expected to be closed to traffic while officers investigate the cause of the crash

Granby Police said the two cars involved were a a 1997 Jeep Wrangler and a 2015 Toyota Camry.

Responding agencies included: Granby Ambulance, Ludlow Fire, Belchertown Fire and South Hadley Fire District 1  and troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Belchertown, the Granby police said.

Clinton captured the backing of voters who said electability and experience were important in their vote. But in a continuing sign of her vulnerability, Sanders did best with voters looking for a candidate who is caring and honest.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Hillary Clinton pulled out a crucial victory in Nevada's Democratic caucuses Saturday, overcoming an unexpectedly strong surge by Bernie Sanders and potentially easing the anxiety of some of her supporters.

"To everyone who turned out in every corner of Nevada with determination and heart: This is your win," Clinton said on Twitter.

Clinton captured the backing of voters who said electability and experience were important in their vote. But in a continuing sign of her vulnerability, Sanders did best with voters looking for a candidate who is caring and honest.

The polling of voters was voters conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 25 randomly selected caucus sites.

The contest in Nevada was the first of two presidential primary contests being held Saturday. Republicans were battling in South Carolina, a state seen as billionaire Donald Trump's to lose and one that could start to clarify who, if any, of the more mainstream candidates might emerge to challenge him.

For both parties, the 2016 election has laid bare voters' frustration with Washington and the influence of big money in the political system. The public mood has upended the usual political order, giving Sanders and Trump openings while leaving more traditional candidates scrambling to find their footing.

Clinton's victory in Nevada could be crucial in holding off a challenge from Sanders that has been tougher than almost anyone expected. Clinton and Sanders split the first two voting contests, revealing the Vermont senator's appeal with young people drawn to his impassioned calls for breaking up Wall Street banks and providing free tuition at public colleges and universities.

According to the entrance polls of voters, Clinton was backed by a majority of women, college-educated voters, those with annual incomes over $100,000, moderates, voters aged 45 and older and non-white voters. Sanders did best with men, voters under 45 and those less affluent and educated.

Republicans were voting in South Carolina, the first Southern state in the 2016 presidential election. Trump spent the week threatening one rival with a lawsuit, accusing former President George W. Bush of lying, and even tangling with Pope Francis on immigration, yet he still entered the primary contest in strong position.

The prospect of a Trump win alarmed rival Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor trying mightily for a strong showing in the first Southern state to vote.

"Trump can't win, plain and simple," Bush told reporters outside a polling place in Greenville. "A ton of people would be very uncomfortable with his divisive language and with his inexperience in so many ways."

South Carolina voters were split on whether the next president should be an outsider or a member of the political establishment. Nearly half said they prefer someone who has experience in politics and about the same numbers would rather see someone from outside the political system.

A Trump victory could foreshadow a solid performance in the collection of Southern states that vote on March 1. Victories in those Super Tuesday contests could put the billionaire in a commanding position in the delegate count, which determines the nomination.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz banked on a well-regarded get-out-the-vote operation and 10,000 volunteers to help overtake Trump on Saturday, as well as in the Southern states that follow.

A failure to top Trump in South Carolina could puncture that strategy, though Cruz, who sidetracked briefly to Washington to attend the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's funeral Mass, will still have more than enough money to run a long campaign.

Marco Rubio and Bush were fighting to establish themselves as credible alternatives to Trump and Cruz, candidates some GOP leaders believe are unelectable in November.

Neither Bush nor Rubio expected to win South Carolina. But they wanted to finish ahead of one another; otherwise, there would be tough questions about long-term viability.

Rubio scored the endorsements of several prominent South Carolina politicians, including Gov. Nikki Haley, and seemed to have rebounded after a dismal debate performance two weeks ago. Bush hoped his deep family ties to South Carolina -- his brother and father each won two primaries here -- would be a lifeline for his struggling campaign.

Also in the mix was Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who had low expectations in South Carolina. He was looking toward more moderate states that vote later in March. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson had a small but loyal cadre of followers.

Democrats and Republicans will swap locations in the coming days. The GOP holds its caucus in Nevada on Tuesday, while Democrats face off in South Carolina on Feb. 27.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Alex Sanz in Greenville wand Ken Thomas in Elko, Nevada, contributed to this report.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey say 73-year-old Carol McCarthy was found unresponsive inside the burning home around 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

NATICK (AP) -- Authorities say a woman has died in a morning fire at a Natick home.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey say 73-year-old Carol McCarthy was found unresponsive inside the burning home around 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

McCarthy was taken to Leonard Morse Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities say she was the only person inside the home.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials say it appears the smoke alarms in the home weren't working.

Authorities say this is the 12th fire-related death in the state this year. They say many of the cases have involved a lack of working smoke alarms.

The hikers had difficulty making their way back to their car Saturday.

SOUTH DEERFIELD - Rescuers at Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation were able to make contact with lost hikers at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to dispatchers in the area.

Searches had been called to the 533-acre state park a few hours earlier after a hiking party was unable to make it back to the parking area. Warm weather Saturday had many people out enjoying the outdoors.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation was on the scene long with police and fire from the area a helicopter and a crew from Greenfield in a all-terrain vehicle.

There was no word on the number of hikers or on their condition, only that they were foudn and that everyone was on the way  back out of the woods.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio finished in close race for second.

SPARTANBURG, S.C.  -- Donald Trump rolled to a win in South Carolina's Republican primary on Saturday as voters seething about Washington and politicians lifted the billionaire businessman to his second straight victory in the presidential race.

The two freshmen senators -- Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida -- were battling for second place, which would give them bragging rights but might not get them any delegates in the march to the nomination.

Trump won a majority of the delegates in the South Carolina primary -- and he has a chance to take them all. Trump will win at least 38 of the 50 delegates at stake.

South Carolina Republicans award delegates for being the statewide winner as well as for winning individual congressional districts. More votes are needed in individual congressional districts to award the final 12 delegates.

The outcome could also have serious implications for more establishment-friendly candidates who are hoping for strong finishes to stave off questions about their viability.

Exit polls showed 4 in 10 voters angry about how Washington is working, and more than half saying they felt betrayed by politicians in the Republican Party.

"I don't like politicians," said Jim Jaruszewicz, a 37-year-old radiology technician who voted for Trump. "I don't trust politicians."

The survey also found that three-quarters of voters supported a temporary ban on Muslims who are not U.S. citizens from entering the country, one of Trump's policies.

Nevada caucus: Hillary Clinton beats Bernie Sanders; here's why she won

Trump's supporters erupted into cheers as they learned their candidate had won the primary. Supporters gave each other high-fives and held Trump signs high above their heads as they celebrated. Some chanted "USA! USA!"

Hundreds of people were gathered in a ballroom at the Spartanburg Marriott for Trump's watch party, where they were snacking on cubed cheese and crudite, and sipping beers from plastic cups.

Trump was expected to deliver a victory speech later Saturday night.

Trump appeared confident as he's traveled the state this week, holding rallies and town halls that have drawn thousands.

"I actually think I know your state now better than you do. I have been all over the place for the last four days. I know every blade of grass I've flown over from here to there," he told a rally crowd in Sumter as he implored his supporters to get out and vote.

While the billionaire businessman scored a decisive win in New Hampshire, his second-place finish in Iowa to Cruz illustrated gaps in his less-than-robust ground operation, and questions remain about the extent to which he can translate leads in preference polls and large rally crowds into votes.

Trump's win could answer some of those questions, adding momentum going into the collection of Southern states that will vote March 1, giving him the chance to build an even bigger lead in the delegate count that will determine the nomination.

Trump leads the overall race for delegates with 55. Cruz has 11 delegates, Rubio has 10, John Kasich has five, Jeb Bush has 4 and Ben Carson has three.

It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

The election followed days of hostility between the campaigns and their allies at events and in television ads, automatic calls and mailers that have been flooding voters' mailboxes.

Trump added to the drama, spending the week threatening to sue Cruz, accusing former President George W. Bush of lying and sparring with Pope Francis over immigration.

At his final election-eve rally Friday night in North Charleston, Trump told the widely discredited story of Gen. John Pershing, who was said to have halted Muslim attacks in the Philippines in the early 1900s by shooting the rebels with bullets dipped in pigs' blood.

The outcome will also have high stakes for Trump's rivals, who are hoping to halt his momentum and establish themselves as the best-positioned alternatives to his unorthodox candidacy. Cruz and Rubio were battling for second place.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's finish below the top three could raise serious new questions about his campaign and increase pressure on him to drop out. Bush has deep family ties in the state and campaigned alongside his mother, the former first lady, and his brother, former President George W. Bush.

The exit polling of voters was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research.

A few dozen people who comprised Lee's intimate circle gathered at a church in the small Alabama town of Monroeville, Alabama.

MONROEVILLE, Ala. -- On a day when mockingbirds sang outside the courthouse that inspired her classic American novel, author Harper Lee was laid to rest Saturday in a private ceremony, a reflection of how she had lived.

A few dozen people who comprised Lee's intimate circle gathered at a church in the small Alabama town of Monroeville, which the author used as a model for the imaginary town of Maycomb, the setting of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." Lee died Friday at age 89.

Lee's longtime friend, history professor Wayne Flynt, eulogized her in a ceremony at First United Methodist Church. Afterward, her casket was taken by silver hearse to an adjacent cemetery where her parents, A.C. Lee and Frances Finch Lee, and sister, Alice Lee, are buried. A spray of red and white roses covered the family headstone at the cemetery

Flynt said he delivered a eulogy that Lee specifically requested years ago. Entitled "Atticus Inside Ourselves," it was a tribute Flynt gave in 2006 when she won the Birmingham Pledge Foundation Award for racial justice. Flynt said Lee liked the speech so much that she wanted him to give it as her eulogy.

"I want you to say exactly that," Flynt quoted Lee as saying at the time. "Not one thing more, and not one thing less."

"If I deviated one degree, I would hear this great booming voice from heaven, and it wouldn't be God," Flynt said in an earlier interview.

Details of the service were fiercely guarded. The author, who for decades had declined media interviews, had wanted a quick and quiet funeral without pomp or fanfare, family members said.

"We obeyed her wishes," said Jackie Stovall, Lee's second cousin.

The town was appropriately somber a day after their native daughter's death. Black bows adorned the doors of the old courthouse in Monroeville where Lee as a child, like her literary creation Scout Finch, would peer down from the balcony as her lawyer father tried his cases in the courtroom.

Mockingbirds chirped and frolicked among blooming camellia bushes outside the courthouse on a warm Alabama morning that teased the early arrival of spring.

Jared Anton, of Hollywood, Florida, sat outside the old courthouse during part of a planned vacation through the South that coincided with Lee's death.

Anton said reading the book -- in which attorney Atticus Finch defends a wrongly accused African-American man -- was one of the reasons he decided to become a lawyer.

"It had an impact on me when I was younger. I wanted to do the right thing, to stand up to people, to defend the innocent, if you will," Anton said. "It is the greatest American novel. Name one that really has had more of an impact on Americans than that book."

Handwritten rejection letter from Harper Lee speaks volumes

The Southern town was home to childhood friends Truman Capote and Lee, giving rise to its self-given nickname of the literary capital of the South. Ann Mote, owner of the Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe in Monroeville, said she thinks the town will always be linked to Lee.

"She's a part of it and always will be," Mote said.

Tributes to Lee's novel dot the town. The courthouse is a museum that pays homage to her creation. There's the Mockingbird Inn on the edge of town and a statute of children reading "Mockingbird" in the courthouse square. Tickets go on sale in a week for the city's annual "To Kill A Mockingbird" play, Mote said. A black mourning bow donned the top of the sign at the bookstore, where a stack of hardcopy "Mockingbird" books sat the counter along with a DVD of the movie.

The town this summer had a celebration for the release of "Go Set a Watchman" -- Lee's initial draft of the story that would become "Mockingbird" -- even though many residents had ambivalent feelings about its release.

"She was an Alabama treasure. She was an international treasure. We were all blessed by her life and her work as we are diminished by her passing," said Cathy Randall, a friend of Lee's for the past 30 years.

Flynt and Randall said they had recently visited Lee at the Monroeville assisted living facility where she had lived for several years because of declining health. Flynt said Lee was "savagely witty."

"She was still the most brilliant person in any room," Randall said.

A teary-eyed Bush says he's proud of the campaign he ran to unify the country and advocate conservative solutions.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Republican Jeb Bush ended his campaign for the presidency Saturday after a disappointing finish in South Carolina, acknowledging his failure to harness the hopes of Republican voters angry at the political establishment.

The former Florida governor and political scion told supporters in Columbia that he'd tried to stay true to what he believes. Still, he was lagging far behind in the primary in South Carolina, where his well-organized campaign was outmatched by insurgent billionaire Donald Trump, and Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

"I'm proud of the campaign that we've run to unify our country and to advocate conservative solutions," a visibly emotional Bush said. "The presidency is bigger than any one person. It's certainly bigger than any one candidate."

"I firmly believe the American people must entrust this office to someone who understands that whoever holds it is a servant not the master," Bush said.

The son of George H. W. Bush and brother of George W. Bush entered the race to huge expectations in June, and quickly fueled them with fundraising. Working with a super PAC that has supported his candidacy, Bush and allies raised more than $150 million by the end of 2015 -- far more than any of his GOP rivals.

However, Bush's presence in the race and fundraising potential wasn't enough to dissuade more than a dozen other Republicans from entering the race, including fellow Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio.

Bush's failure to ignite was not simply a factor of the size of the GOP field. Bush, like others, was caught off-guard by the durable popularity of political outsiders -- particularly Trump.

The final stage of Bush's campaign became an all-out bout with the outspoken real estate mogul -- the two frequently referring to each other as a "loser." Bush took shots at Trump's lack of experience while Trump attacked Bush's family legacy, particularly the unpopular Iraq war waged by his brother George W. Bush.

Bush, meanwhile, offered himself as an experienced public executive and potential world statesman informed in part by his father's and brother's wartime presidencies. But it wasn't a case strong enough to translate into votes.

"I just don't see a third Bush presidency," Julie Michau of Beaufort, South Carolina, said Wednesday after attending a Bush event.

There were other problems as well. The policy-oriented Bush was overshadowed in early debates by Trump and Rubio, which dramatically slowed his early autumn fundraising.

Bush went on to finish sixth in the Iowa caucuses, but barely squeezed ahead of Rubio in New Hampshire for a fourth place finish.

South Carolina was viewed as a last early voting state for Bush to make a mark.

Having previously kept his family at arm's length, Bush brought all family ties to the forefront ahead of South Carolina. His father and brother both won the South Carolina primary when they were seeking the presidency, and he had set his hopes high there for a campaign revival.

Despite support for the Bush family among a segment of devoted South Carolina Republicans, Bush himself had a halting final week of campaigning. At a Wednesday town hall meeting in Summerville he was offered more advice than policy questions, the same day he learned South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley had endorsed Rubio.

Still, Bush amassed crowds growing crowds in the primary campaign's final days.

The coronation of the Grand Colleen is part of the festivity that leads to the annual Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade, the 65th straight of which will be March 20.

HOLYOKE -- Meghan Ryan was chosen Grand Colleen of the 2016 Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade at the Coronation Ball Saturday at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road.

The five finalists chosen in a pageant on Jan. 2 to participate in the Grand Colleen Coronation Ball were Angela Foley, Lauren Picard, Grace Lavelle, Rebecca Brunelle and Meghan Ryan.

The coronation of the Grand Colleen is part of the annual festivity organized by the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee and leading to the annual parade, which this year will be March 20. It will be the 65th straight parade.

"For over sixty years, young women have vied for the honor and title of Grand Colleen of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade. The Grand Colleen and her court reigns over the parade from her float down the 3-mile parade route through the streets of Holyoke," Parade Committee spokeswoman Hayley M. Dunn said.

Originally chosen by popular ballots published in the former Holyoke Transcript Telegram, colleen finalists now are selected by judges at the pageant. The Grand Colleen is selected by another set of judges at the black-tie coronation ball, she said.,

"Colleens are chosen based on their personality, intelligence, poise and interview skills. The Grand Colleen is awarded a trip to Ireland, a tiara, a scholarship and other numerous gifts for her and her court," she said.

"The Grand Colleen and her court become Parade Committee ambassadors throughout 'Parade Season,' making public appearances at schools, nursing homes, businesses, social events and before the media.

"Former colleens have said that the 'Colleen Experience' is very rewarding and one that has helped young women build their resume, prepare for college and develop necessary public-speaking skills that have helped them in their future careers," she said.

Here are the winning numbers in Saturday's Powerball drawing.

Ready to find out if that $2 you spent for a Powerball ticket in Saturday's drawing made you very rich?

Here are Saturday's winning numbers:

11-12-15-16-54, Powerball: 25, PowerPlay: 5X

The estimated jackpot is $214.8 million. The lump sum payment before taxes will be more than $141 million.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gave you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

On Oct. 7, the Powerball Lottery altered the number of red and white balls to try and increase the number of secondary prize winners while making it harder to win the top prize.The previous odds were 1 in 175 million.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

HUNTINGTON— A 22-year-old Montgomery man was killed Saturday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a pickup truck on Route 20 in Huntington. Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Jody Greene said troopers from the Russell barracks responded to the 1:48 p.m. crash near the Gateway Farm and Pet store. According to a statement issued by the State Police...

Don Treeger / The Republican file 

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Jody Greene said troopers from the Russell barracks responded to the 1:48 p.m. crash near the Gateway Farm and Pet store.

According to a statement issued by the State Police headquarters in Framingham, the motorcyclist died at the scene of the crash. Police are not releasing the victim's name pending notification of next of kin.

The State Police Collision and Accident Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services, along with detectives attached to the Hampshire District Attorney's Office are continuing to investigate the incident. The exact circumstances of the accident have yet to be determined.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Huntington Police and Fire departments

LEOMINSTER— A 68-year-old woman died as the result of a three-car crash on I-190 in Leominster Saturday afternoon, the Massachusetts State Police said. According to a written statement issued by State Police headquarters in Framingham, Linda Brandenburg of Groton died at the scene of the 1:30 p.m. crash. An unidentified 40-year-old woman, who was operating one of the vehicles,...

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

According to a written statement issued by State Police headquarters in Framingham, Linda Brandenburg of Groton died at the scene of the 1:30 p.m. crash. An unidentified 40-year-old woman, who was operating one of the vehicles, was transported to Leominster Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The operator of the third car, a 78-year-old man from Northborough, was not injured.

Police said the crash occurred in the southbound lane near Exit 8 of I-190 and the left lane of the highway was closed down as troopers investigated the incident. The highway was fully reopened at about 4:45 p.m.

Leominster Fire Department assisted at the scene.

The 45-year-old man authorities said went on a killing spree Saturday night in Kalamazoo, Michigan was calm when he was arrested by police roughly seven hours after the shootings first began, according to Michigan officials.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The 45-year-old man authorities said went on a killing spree Saturday night in Kalamazoo, Michigan was calm when he was arrested by police roughly seven hours after the shootings first began, according to Michigan officials.

The suspect in the shootings has been identified as Jason Brian Dalton. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said on Facebook that Dalton has no known criminal record.

Dalton was even-tempered during his arrest Sunday morning, according to the department. He was arrested sometime around 12:40 a.m. Authorities said Dalton had a semi-automatic handgun in his vehicle.

"He was cooperative," the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety wrote. "Acts committed were intentional."

Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting held a press conference Sunday after the three shooting incidents that began at 6 p.m. Saturday. He said a total of six people were fatally shot and another two people were injured.

A 14-year-old girl who was shot during the mayhem was still alive at the time of the press conference, the department of public safety said.

Officials said the shootings began around 6 p.m. at the Meadows Townhomes. MLive.com reports a woman was shot in the parking lot. The second shooting occurred at Seelye Automotive. Two men, believed to be a father and son, were fatally shot in the parking lot, MLive.com reports.

The final shooting incident took place at the Cracker Barrel around 10:15 p.m.

Video at area businesses helped authorities track down Dalton, officials said.

 

Founders Day will feature a new Williston-themed ice cream flavor and words of inspiration from a Paralympic ski racing champion.

EASTHAMPTON -- It was 1841 when wealthy button manufacturer Samuel Williston founded Williston Seminary in Easthampton, and now the Williston Northampton School is readying to honor its 175th anniversary with a festive Founders Day celebration.

The school community will gather for morning assembly on Monday, Feb. 22 where Paralympic ski racing champion Chris Waddell will speak. Events are planned throughout the day for students and faculty. At dinner, a new Williston-themed ice cream, created for the occasion by Mt. Tom's Homemade Ice Cream on Cottage Street, will make its debut.

In 1924 Williston Seminary was renamed Williston Academy, and in 1971 it merged with the Northampton School for Girls to become the Williston Northampton School. The school now has 80 day students in the middle school and 450 boarding and day upper school students from 25 states and 27 countries, with 90 faculty members who act as dorm parents, advisors, and coaches.

Williston is hoping that alumni, parents and friend will make Founders Day gifts on Feb. 22. If 175 people pledge support within a 24-hour period, an anonymous donor will make a challenge gift of $25,000.

On Sunday evening, Feb. 1, the film "One Revolution" about Waddell, a former Middlebury College ski racer paralyzed in a 1998 fall who went on to win 13 Paralympic medals, will be shown on campus.