NEWS OF THE DAY

_1 Four killed: A man has been charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend, her two children and her mother in a home they shared in the St. Louis area. The suspect in the killings was identified Saturday as Richard Darren Emery, 46. Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said investigators do not know the motive for the shootings, which occurred around midnight Friday. The victims were identified as Zoe Kasten, 8, Jonathan Kasten, 10, and Jane Moeckel, 61. The fourth was a 39-year-old woman who died at a hospital. Authorities didn’t name her but said she was the children’s mother and Emery’s girlfriend. _2 Election turmoil: A disputed congressional seat in North Carolina could remain vacant for months after incoming Democratic House leaders in Washington declared that they would not seat the apparent Republican winner because of unresolved allegations of election fraud. Even before Democrats made that vow, the fight for the seat had already plunged deeper into turmoil: North Carolina’s state elections board dissolved at noon Friday under a court order, two weeks before it was to hold a hearing to consider evidence of the fraud. Mark Harris’ apparent victory is clouded by allegations that a contractor for his campaign engaged in illegal activity. _3 Printing plant: A computer virus hit a newspaper printing plant in Los Angeles, preventing it from publishing and delivering Saturday editions of the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune and other papers to some subscribers. The Los Angeles Times, which runs the facility, says the computer virus infected printing process systems. Spokeswoman Hillary Manning said the paper has been working to fix the issues but added that Sunday deliveries could be affected as well. Biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong bought both the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune this year for $500 million. _4 Racial profiling: An Oregon hotel said Saturday that it fired two of its employees for “mistreatment” of a black guest who was talking on his phone in the lobby when he was asked to leave. DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Portland tweeted that the men’s actions “were inconsistent with our standards & values.” Jermaine Massey accused the hotel of racially profiling him after a security guard called police to remove him from the lobby Dec. 22. He was staying at the hotel, and his attorneys say they want a public explanation and intend to pursue legal action, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. On Friday, the hotel apologized to Massey. It’s the latest high-profile incident in which black people have been removed from businesses.

_5 Endangered whales: Conservationists have reported a right whale calf sighting off Florida’s Atlantic coast near Jacksonville. Wildlife officials said the calf and its mother were spotted Friday near the mouth of the St. Johns River. It’s the first calf sighting of the critically endangered whale’s winter calving season. Scientists estimate that only 450 North Atlantic right whales remain.