DALE CITY, Va.

Teens charged with beating 2 kids for Halloween candy

Police in Virginia say five teenagers have been charged with beating two youngsters who wouldn’t hand over their Halloween candy.

Prince William County police report one robber implied he had a handgun when the group confronted a pair of trick-or-treaters Monday night in Dale City.

Four of the teenagers are juveniles, ages 16 and 17, and their names have not been released. The fifth alleged robber, 19-year-old Andre Diggs, is being held without bond. The suspects have been charged with robbery and assault by a mob.

WASHINGTON

Biden urges radio listeners to press GOP on jobs bill

Vice President Joe Biden says the White House will keep acting on its own to find ways to help the economy if congressional Republicans don’t pass the administration’s jobs bill.

Filling in for President Obama in the weekly radio and Internet address, Biden asked listeners to press Republicans “to step up” and approve the plan.

“Tell them to stop worrying about their jobs and start worrying about yours because we’re all in this together, and together is the way we’re going to bring America back even stronger than it was before,” Biden said. Obama returned to Washington late Friday after attending an economic summit in France.

Biden said as opposition from Republicans continues, the president has used his executive authority to help veterans find jobs, homeowners refinance mortgages, and reduce the cost of student loans. He said those efforts would continue so long as Republicans oppose the president’s plans.

“If the Republican Congress won’t join us, we’re going to continue to act on our own to make the changes that we can to bring relief to middle-class families and those aspiring to get in the middle class,” Biden said.

OKLAHOMA CITY

Moderate quake rattles residents of five states

A moderate earthquake early Saturday in central Oklahoma knocked pictures off walls and woke people and pets as it shook an area that stretched into Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas.

The U.S. Geological Survey said on its website Saturday that a 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck at 2:12 a.m., with an epicenter about six miles north of Prague in Lincoln County. A 3.4 magnitude aftershock was reported at 2:27 a.m. from the same location, as well as a 2.7 magnitude aftershock at 2:44 a.m.