Puerto Rico vote delay raises uncertainty over next governor
Puerto Rico’s next governor remained up in the air on Thursday, just 24 hours before Governor Ricardo Rosselló was due to resign, as the U.S. territory’s Senate pushed a vote on his successor to Monday.
Kentucky gas line erupts in ball of flames, killing one and igniting homes
A natural gas line erupted in a ball of flames that could be seen for miles over a residential community in rural Kentucky on Thursday, killing one person and setting several houses on fire, a local sheriff said.
Former Philadelphia sheriff gets five years in prison in bribery scheme
The longest-serving sheriff of Philadelphia, who this year admitted taking some $675,000 in bribes and kickbacks from a local businessman, was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison, prosecutors said.
Texas county sues Exxon over air pollution from petrochemical fire: official
Harris County, Texas sued Exxon Mobil Corp on Thursday over pollution from a fire a day earlier at the company’s Baytown Olefins Plant, according to an attorney for the county.
Jeffrey Epstein’s bid for bail suffers apparent setback
Financier Jeffrey Epstein’s effort to win bail while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking in underage girls appeared to suffer a setback on Thursday, as the appeals court weighing his request refused to grant bail to another wealthy defendant i…
Florida appeals court sends abortion challenge back to lower court
A Florida appeals court on Thursday sent a lawsuit challenging a state measure requiring a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions back to the lower court after a judge ruled last year that the law was unconstitutional.
Lurching left in toss-up Wisconsin, a Democrat weighs her choices
Kim Mahoney listened from her reclining living room couch as Democratic presidential candidates debated economic, trade and environmental policies this week, needing only to look to her backyard to see how lofty political pledges can really play out.
Maker of gun used in Sandy Hook massacre asks Supreme Court to block lawsuit
The maker of the assault-style rifle used in the 2012 mass shooting at a Newtown, Connecticut, school asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to overturn a court ruling that allowed families of the victims to sue the company over its marketing practic…
Puerto Rico Senate leader rejects lawyer Pierluisi as next governor
Puerto Rico’s Senate leader on Thursday said the lawyer tapped by the island’s disgraced governor to succeed him did not have the support of his majority party, making it likely his nomination would be rejected by the territory’s legislature.
Exxon says Baytown, Texas refinery reduced after olefins plant fire
Exxon Mobil Corp said on Thursday that production at its 560,500-barrel-per-day (bpd) Baytown, Texas, refinery has been reduced following a fire on Wednesday in the company’s adjoining olefins plant.
