– WASHINGTON

U.S. gay population said to exceed 9 million

In an attempt to encourage more research into the health and well-being of gay people, a California demographer has estimated that more than 9 million Americans are gay, lesbian or bisexual, a number equivalent to the population of New Jersey.

Gary Gates, who studies the demographics of the gay community for the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, said in a report released Thursday that about 3.5 percent of Americans identify themselves in surveys as being gay, lesbian or bisexual.

But those who said they have had same-sex encounters are almost evenly divided between gay people and bisexuals, leaving just 1.7 percent who say they are gay or lesbian.

Gates arrived at the estimates by averaging the results of five surveys conducted in the United States between 2004 and 2009. In the survey results, the range of people who say they are lesbian, gay or bisexual varied widely, from a low of 1.7 percent to a high of 5.6 percent.

OPELIKA, Ala.

Suspect in college shooting surrenders to reporters

A man was arrested in a deadly east Alabama community college shooting Wednesday after he walked up to reporters and told them he was the person police were seeking.

The shooting at Southern Union Community College in Opelika killed a 63-year-old woman, wounded two women, ages 36 and 94, and injured a 4-year-old who was hit with flying glass.

Afterward, Opelika police said they were looking for 34-year-old Thomas Franklin May III.

The man who surrendered to the media was driving a white Jeep Liberty with the same tag number police had been seeking. Police arrived after reporters called 911.

HONOLULU

Obama golfing buddy arrested for soliciting

One of President Obama’s close friends has been arrested in Honolulu on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute.

Honolulu police say Robert “Bobby” Titcomb was one of four men arrested in an undercover sting operation late Monday and released on $500 bail.

The 49-year-old Titcomb attended Punahou School in Honolulu with Obama. The two often golf, play basketball, go to the beach and dine together when the president returns home to Hawaii for vacation.

Obama’s family has also attended barbeques at Titcomb’s beachside home in Waialua, located on Oahu’s North Shore.

Titcomb and Obama last spent time together in Hawaii during Obama’s most recent vacation over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Titcomb has not publicly responded to the charges.

LAKELAND, Fla.

‘Pedophile’s Guide’ author sentenced to probation

A Colorado man who wrote “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure” has been sentenced to two years’ probation in Florida.

As part of a deal with Polk County prosecutors, 48-year-old Phillip R. Greaves II pleaded no contest Wednesday to distributing obscene material depicting minors engaged in harmful conduct. He will serve his probation in Colorado and won’t have to register as a sex offender.

Greaves’ self-published book caused a flap when it showed up on Amazon in November. It was later removed from the site.

Florida deputies were able to arrest Greaves in December, because they ordered a copy of the book and had it mailed to a Lakeland address. A Polk County judge issued a warrant for Greaves’ arrest, and he was extradited to Florida.

— From news service reports