Vandalism closes 31 schools in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A vandal flattened the tires on at least 47 buses serving a large school district outside Anchorage, forcing most of the schools to close Tuesday.
The closings affected about 14,700 students.
The damage was discovered at First Student, a bus contractor serving 31 of the 36 schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.
Someone flattened the tires by removing valve stems, said Dave Dickerson, contract manager for First Student.
The vandal also unplugged engine block heaters that aid in cold-weather starts, he said.
Dickerson said the tires can be repaired and buses should be ready in time for school today.
He put the cost of the vandalism at $10,000.