Virginia governor spares convicted murderer from execution
(Reuters) – A Virginia death row inmate will spend his life in prison instead of being executed for the 2001 murder of his ex-girlfriend after the state governor commuted the sentence on Thursday, saying it was flawed.
Georgia grants couple’s request to give daughter surname ‘Allah’
(Reuters) – Georgia officials have granted a couple’s request to issue a birth certificate giving their toddler daughter the surname “Allah” after earlier refusing to do so because neither parent has that name, civil liberties advocates said on Thursda…
4/20 pot celebrations marked by arrests at U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Marijuana smoke-ins, street parties and concerts marked the informal 4/20 pot holiday across the country on Thursday, but police spoiled one cannabis event near the U.S. Capitol with arrests and seizure of joints.
Man gets 25-year sentence in shooting death of ex-NFL player
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Cardell Hayes, the 29-year-old tow truck driver convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of retired NFL player Will Smith, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, a Louisiana judge ruled on Thursday.
SeaWorld in Texas welcomes last orca to be born in its parks
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – The last orca to be born at a SeaWorld park, which popularized killer whale shows in the 1960s but faced growing opposition in recent years, has been born in Texas at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush to remain in hospital
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush will remain in a Houston hospital at least through Thursday night as he recovers from his second bout of pneumonia this year, a family spokesman said.
Messaging app said to be used in White House does not work: lawsuit
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Confide, a popular encrypted messaging app said to be used by White House officials, does not keep communications confidential as its maker promises, a proposed class-action lawsuit charges.
Ex-NFL star Hernandez’s brain to be returned to family: state
BOSTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts officials on Thursday were preparing to release the brain of New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez to his family for scientific study the day after he was found hanged in his prison cell, a death investigators for…
California’s ‘weed nuns’ on a mission to heal with cannabis
MERCED, Calif. (Reuters) – The Sisters of the Valley, California’s self-ordained “weed nuns,” are on a mission to heal and empower women with their cannabis products.
Former Tennessee teacher in kidnapping case captured, girl safe
YREKA, Calif. (Reuters) – A former high school teacher and a 15-year-old student he is accused of abducting last month in Tennessee were traced to a cabin in northern California, where police on Thursday arrested him and took the girl into protective c…
