Man, 7 kids found dead in Md. home

Man, 7 kids found dead in Md. home

PRINCESS ANNE, Md.

A man and his seven children found dead in their Maryland home Monday were poisoned by carbon monoxide from a generator they were using after the power company cut off their electricity, a couple who identified themselves as the man’s mother and stepfather said.

Police found the bodies at the home in Princess Anne after being contacted by a concerned co-worker of the father, who had not been seen for days, Princess Anne police said in a news release. They identified the deceased only as an adult and seven young people age 6 to the teens. They said the cause of the deaths still was under investigation.

GM death toll at 80

DETROIT

Eighty deaths have been caused by General Motors’ defective ignition switches, three more than reported the prior week, according to the weekly update by the compensation fund determining eligibility of victims’ claims.

An additional 1,246 cases remain under review out of the 4,342 filed since the fund was created last August.

IS, Palestinians fight in refugee camp

BEIRUT

Palestinian fighters clashed with Islamic State militants in a heavily contested Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital Monday as a United Nations official described the situation in the embattled camp as “beyond inhumane.”

The fighting in Yarmouk began Wednesday after the Islamic State group muscled into the camp, marking the extremists’ deepest foray yet into Damascus.

Lower gas prices

COLUMBUS

Ohio motorists are seeing lower gas prices to start the workweek.

The state average for a gallon of regular gas was $2.25 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s 13 cents less than a week ago and $1.36 cheaper than this time last year.

The national average was $2.39 per gallon Monday. That’s down 3 cents from last week and $1.19 less than a year ago at this time.

Among Ohio’s metropolitan areas, the Columbus area had the lowest average to begin the week at $2.21 per gallon.

Tenn. Quaker Steak

SHARON, PA.

The franchise Quaker Steak & Lube, based in Sharon and known for its wings and more than 25 sauces, announced Monday it signed a franchise-development agreement with Tri C Inc. to launch the brand into the Tennessee market by developing a new restaurant in the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area.

The restaurant is the first Quaker Steak & Lube location in Tennessee and will create close to 150 jobs for the area. The new restaurant is scheduled to open in June.

Vindicator staff/wire reports