NATION BRIEFS

IOWA/Teens find body during Easter hunt

Police say two teenagers who wandered away from their younger siblings at an Easter egg hunt found a body at a park in Des Moines. Police Sgt. Chris Scott says the teens came across the man's body in a wooded area at Beaverdale Park Saturday morning. He says the teens had accompanied their siblings to the park's egg hunt but wandered away. The body was found at least 300 yards from where the egg hunt took place. He didn't know how old the teens were. About 100 children participated in the annual event. Police say they don't suspect any foul play, and an autopsy is planned. The man's name hasn't been released pending notification of his family.

WASHINGTON/Probe of deadly refinery blast starts

Investigators launched an inquiry into a deadly oil refinery blast as families hoped for the best Saturday for two employees who suffered severe burns over most of their bodies. It could take months to find out what caused the explosion and fire that killed five employees early Friday morning. Inspectors got permission from structural engineers late Friday night to enter the affected areas of the Tesoro Corp. refinery in Anacortes and begin their investigation, said Hector Castro, a spokesman for the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. They had no immediate indications about what caused blast - or whether recent safety violations at the plant were contributing factors. Company spokesman Lynn Westfall said much of the investigative work being done this weekend is planning - determining what data are needed from the company and with whom investigators need to speak. Killed were Matthew C. Bowen, 31, of Arlington; Darrin J. Hoines, 43, of Ferndale; Daniel J. Aldridge, 50, of Anacortes; Kathryn Powell, 29, of Burlington; and Donna Van Dreumel, 36, of Oak Harbor.

CALIFORNIA/Captured linguist coming home

After more than two months in captivity in Baghdad, a U.S. Army linguist is set to return home to San Diego, authorities said. Issa Salomi, 60, was expected to arrive by Sunday, said Maj. Kimberly Holman, a spokeswoman for the California National Guard. Salomi arrived in San Antonio on Tuesday for medical tests and debriefings with Army officials at Fort Sam Houston. Salomi has not made a public appearance since the Pentagon announced his release March 27, but issued a statement saying he was "safe, healthy and unharmed." He said it was one of the most satisfying moments of his life when his plane touched down on U.S. soil. The family asked for privacy.