New York City gives nod to 5-cent charge for store bags
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The New York City Council approved a bill on Thursday to require many merchants to charge 5 cents for each plastic or paper bag taken by consumers at checkout counters, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said he intended to sign it.
Former Texas policeman released after serving 21 years for rape
FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) – A former Fort Worth police officer who had served 21 years of a life sentence after being convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl was released from prison on Thursday after an appeals court order overturned his conviction b…
Convicted child molester Sandusky granted hearing on appeal
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday granted convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky a hearing later this month to press his case for a new trial, four years after the former Penn State University football coach was found guilty…
Lockheed wins $424 million contract for radar emitter simulation products: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lockheed Martin Corp has won a $424 million U.S. defense contract for threat radar emitter simulations products and services, and other simulation equipment, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Cleveland man convicted of murdering three women
CLEVELAND (Reuters) – A Cleveland man was convicted on Thursday of murdering three women and wrapping their bodies in plastic to disguise them as trash, and may now face the death penalty.
U.S. officials aim to recover El Faro data recorder in next few months
BOSTON (Reuters) – The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board hopes to recover the voyage data recorder from the cargo ship El Faro, which sank during a hurricane killing all 33 crew on board, over the next two to three months, an agency official sa…
Sexual assault in U.S. military is underreported: official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military received about 6,000 reports of sexual assault in 2015, similar to the number in 2014, the Pentagon said in an annual report on Thursday, but such crimes are still underreported.
Obama commutes prison sentences of 58 people
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has commuted the prison terms of 58 individuals, nearly a third of whom were serving life sentences, the White House said on Thursday.
Texas attorney general questions Target’s transgender bathroom policy
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – The attorney general of Texas has written the chief executive of Target to tell him that the state is concerned about the retailer’s policy allowing shoppers and employees to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender ident…
Prosecutor removes herself from Chicago cop’s murder trial
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago’s top prosecutor removed herself from the murder trial of police officer Jason Van Dyke on Thursday and asked the judge to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the politically sensitive case, which set off protests last ye…
