NEWS LITE\Boy takes school bus, literally.

A 13-year-old boy took off in a Tabor City, N.C., school bus and led police on a chase, trying to run patrol cars off the road as he drove 90 miles through parts of two states.

The youth drove as fast as the bus would go, which isn't very fast because North Carolina school buses have mechanical speed limiters.

"We went 46 mph the whole time," said Tabor City police Officer L.D. James. "But I'll tell you, that boy could drive that thing. He was crazy."

At some points during the middle-of-the-night chase, the youth tried to run patrol cars off the road, driving from side to side, and drove with the bus lights off, police Chief R.V. Wooster said.

He took the bus from South Columbus High School, near his home in Tabor City, about 1 a.m. Saturday. The keys apparently were left in the bus.

Police followed the bus into South Carolina and down to Myrtle Beach, where it turned back toward North Carolina.

The bus eventually turned into a driveway at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, about 30 miles southeast of Tabor City. The gate was closed, so the driver parked, set the emergency brake and stepped out of the bus.

"When he came off that bus, he was smiling and laughing," James said.

The youth was turned over to his parents. Charges weren't filed, but he will be accused of several traffic violations in a petition to be given to juvenile court, said highway patrol Sgt. W.D. Ussery.

The ride could have lasted longer, said Bill Gore, the school bus garage director.

"I filled the bus up with diesel fuel Friday afternoon," Gore said. "He could have gone another 400 miles, at least."

Campus set to cut a rug

It's time to boogie at Baylor.

The nation's largest Baptist university, in Waco, Texas, is lifting a ban on dancing beginning in the spring. Some of the school's 12,000 students already are talking about holding an campus street party.

"We have aerobic dancing in Baptist churches and dance routines at athletic events," Baylor President Robert Sloan said. "Dancing can be, and is, when properly done, a very wholesome activity."

Holy, but not too solemn

He may be only 4 years old, but his devout followers have waited nine years for his return.

On Sunday, he arrived - a spirited American boy believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist monk.

A cluster of overjoyed monks gathered around the boy at the Katmandu, Nepal, airport, hoisting him onto their shoulders and presenting him with a beautiful beige silk scarf, in keeping with an ancient Tibetan custom.

The boy, whose name at birth was Sonam Wangdu, is called Trulku-la (pronounced Tu'-ka-la), and is recognized by Tibetan Buddhists as Deshung Rinpoche IV - the reincarnation of a high lama who died in Seattle in 1987.

Deshung Rinpoche III moved to Seattle in 1960 after China's military took over Tibet, and taught at the University of Washington. He was said to be a reincarnation of the original Deshung Rinpoche, who lived in Tibet in the 19th century.

Before he died, Rinpoche III told his students he would be reborn in the Seattle area.

While pregnant with Trulku-la, Carolyn Lama had dreams and received other signs that she and her Buddhist teacher saw as evidence that the child would turn out to be the reincarnation.

During Sunday's brief religious ceremony at the monastery outside Katmandu, Trulku-la lived up to his reputation as a high-energy bundle who prefers playing outdoors over worshiping.

At one point, Trulku-la leaned over toward his mother, who sat below the throne, and said: "I'm tired of doing this."

'Couple knows best'?

Tired of being kept apart by their work, newlyweds Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen are looking for a sitcom to star in together.

"Ted and I are cautiously interested in the idea, completely dependent upon the material and the people involved," Steenburgen said in the Feb. 3 issue of TV Guide.

Danson, who spent 11 years on "Cheers," said the decision to return to television is a difficult one for him.

"I used to say no to the idea of doing a series, because I had done one that was quite wonderful," he said. "But this year, Mary and I have been trying to find each other across continents and halfway around the world."

Dino's death hurt

Jerry Lewis says he was devastated by former partner Dean Martin's death, and he's just starting to get over it.

"Dean was my brother, my hero. I worshiped him," said Lewis, who's on tour with the theater production of "Damn Yankees."

He said he fought off the grief by focusing on his family.

"I had to snap out of it and acknowledge my young daughter's need for my time and energy," Lewis told hosts Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase for their new syndicated television program that airs today.

Lewis adopted Danielle, 3, with his wife, SanDee. He has five sons from his first marriage.

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Trulku-la, declared a reincarnated lama, receives a silk scarf Sunday in Nepal. Associated Press