U.S. exonerations hit record high as more troubled cases probed
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Criminal exonerations hit a record high in 2015 due largely to district attorneys in places such as Houston, Dallas and Brooklyn, New York, setting up units to review cases where the legal system may have acted unjustly, a rep…
U.S. defense budget focuses on changing security environment: Carter
WASHINGTON/NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday the Pentagon would seek a $582.7 billion defense budget next year and reshape spending priorities to reflect a new strategic environme…
FBI joins probe of Flint, Michigan’s lead contaminated water
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Tuesday it was joining a criminal investigation of lead-contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan, exploring whether laws were broken in a crisis that has captured international at…
Ferguson, Missouri, hears from public on justice reforms plan
FERGUSON, Mo. (Reuters) – Residents of Ferguson, Missouri, jammed a meeting on Tuesday to weigh in on a proposed agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the city police department after the 2014 shooting of a black teenager by a white offi…
U.S. Red Cross asks blood donors to wait 28 days after visiting Zika areas
(Reuters) – The American Red Cross appealed on Tuesday to prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood, but said the risk of transmitting the virus through blood donations remained “extremely” low…
District of Columbia lawmakers vote to study pot clubs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The District of Columbia Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to study the possible licensing of marijuana clubs as the U.S. capital nears its anniversary of legal pot.
L.A. prosecutors file criminal charges in methane leak near Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles prosecutors filed criminal charges against the Southern California Gas company on Tuesday over a huge methane leak near the city that has forced thousands of residents from their homes since October.
Cosby seeks to block sex assault prosecution in Pennsylvania
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (Reuters) – Comedian Bill Cosby on Tuesday sought to derail Pennsylvania prosecutors’ effort to make him stand trial on sexual assault charges, contending that a deal reached over a decade ago gave him immunity from prosecution.
L.A. prosecutors file criminal charges against SoCalGas in huge methane leak
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles prosecutors on Tuesday filed criminal charges against the Southern California Gas company over a huge methane leak near the city sparked by an underground pipeline rupture that has forced thousands of residents from …
Pentagon to boost funding for Raytheon, Lockheed missiles
NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. (Reuters) – The Pentagon will spend $2 billion over the next five years to buy more Raytheon Co Tomahawk missiles and upgrade their capabilities, bringing the U.S. inventory of the missiles to above 4,000, U…
