FORDYCE – A dozen students and a driver where hurt when three buses carrying members of the renowned Grambling State University marching band were involved in a pileup on a highway in southern Arkansas.

Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said four buses from the school in north Louisiana were near Fordyce on Friday afternoon when the second bus slowed, resulting in the two trailing buses each hitting the bus ahead.

Sadler said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. In all, 126 students were aboard. The injured were taken to a Fordyce hospital.

Grambling is scheduled to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m. Saturday in Little Rock.

Fordyce is about 65 miles south of Little Rock.

1 dead in Fulton County plane crash

The Associated Press

ASH FLAT – Authorities say one person died in the crash of a single-engine airplane in Fulton County.

Arkansas State Police said the aircraft had only one person aboard. Jonesboro television station KAIT reported Friday that the crash was about 1 1/2 miles south of Highway 62 between Salem and Ash Flat.

Woman arrested in East Camden slaying

The Associated Press

EAST CAMDEN – Police arrested a 24-year-old woman for the slaying of a 71-year-old man in East Camden.

Tracy Pettit of East Camden is accused in the death of Benjamin Venable. Pettit was being held Friday pending a court appearance.

Sheriff David Norwood says Venable had lived in East Camden for two years, having moved from Iowa City, Iowa, and Petit was his next-door neighbor.

The sheriff says Pettit confessed to the killing and told investigators she took money from Venable.

Pettit was arrested Thursday. Venable’s decomposed body was found Oct. 29.

Phillips County man charged with forgery

The Associated Press

HELENA-WEST HELENA – Authorities say a man in Helena-West Helena is charged with forgery after a search of his home turned up phony cash and money orders.

Police say they aren’t sure if any of the fake currency allegedly created by 33-year-old Andrew Hairl made it into circulation. A tip led authorities to Hairl, whose home was raided Tuesday.

Police seized computer equipment, counterfeit bills and money orders. Investigators say they may have prevented thousands of counterfeit dollars from going into circulation.

The Phillips County Sheriff Department says it appears no one else was involved in the counterfeiting.

Deputies found fake bills in $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.

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Information from: The Daily World, http://www.helena-arkansas.com/