Another Washington state death blamed on a prisoner freed by mistake
(Reuters) – A former Washington state prisoner among those mistakenly released early since 2002 has been arrested on suspicion of killing a man, in the second death blamed on a wrongly released inmate, officials said on Thursday.
Suspected Islamic State supporter charged with New Year’s Eve plot in upstate New York
(Reuters) – A 25-year-old man accused of planning to attack a restaurant in upstate New York on New Year’s Eve has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group, the U.S. Justice Department sa…
U.S. chief justice urges judges, lawyers to cooperate for speedier litigation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts urged trial judges on Thursday to manage cases more efficiently and advised lawyers to avoid “antagonistic tactics,” as he focused his annual year-end report on federal rules intended to speed up litigation.
New Year’s Eve revelers pack NYC’s Times Square under tight security
NEW YORK (Reuters) – More than a million people were expected to crowd into New York City’s Times Square under heavy security on Thursday to celebrate the arrival of 2016 with the traditional dropping of the New Year’s Eve crystal ball.
Return of Texas ‘affluenza’ teen delayed, mother jailed in U.S.
LOS ANGELES/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Texas teenager derided for his “affluenza” defense in a deadly drunken-driving case won a weeks-long in delay in extradition from Mexico, while his mother was in a Los Angeles jail on Thursday after being deporte…
Floods swamp Missouri, Illinois; nine million people in risk areas
(Reuters) – Record flooding from rain-swollen rivers has washed out hundreds of structures in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, forcing thousands to flee their homes, and 9.3 million Americans still face flood warnings.
Chicago prosecutor asks for FBI help on police shootings
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago’s top prosecutor on Thursday said she asked the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to help probe the fatal police shootings of two black residents over the weekend, as protesters renewed calls for the resignation of Mayor …
No plea bargain for ‘not guilty’ Bill Cosby, lawyer says
(Reuters) – Comedian Bill Cosby’s lawyer said on Thursday that the entertainer would not consider a plea bargain on charges he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004 after giving her drugs and alcohol.
Oregon court reinstates patrolman who shot to death unarmed black man
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) – The Portland police must reinstate a white officer who was fired in 2010 after he fatally shot an unarmed black man in the back, an Oregon state appeals court has ruled, officials said on Thursday.
Court blocks Utah governor from stopping Planned Parenthood funds
(Reuters) – A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Utah’s governor from cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood in the state, which he had ordered amid a controversy over the use of fetal tissue from abortions.
