Convictions of four Alaska men over 1997 beating death of teen dismissed
(Reuters) – An Alaska judge on Thursday dismissed the convictions of four men who spent nearly two decades in prison for the murder of a teenager, approving a settlement in which defense attorneys introduced new evidence casting doubt on their guilt.
Transgender Arkansas inmate denied right to sue prison-court
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) – A transgender Arkansas inmate in a men’s prison who castrated herself cannot sue prison officials for refusing to provide hormone therapy to assist her efforts to change genders, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.
Trial scheduled for oil truck operator in North Dakota murder-for-hire case
SEATTLE (Reuters) – The trial of an oil truck operator charged with orchestrating the killings of two business rivals competing for work in North Dakota’s giant Bakken oil patch was slated to begin in January after the man withdrew his guilty plea, his…
Washington state man indicted over death threats to human tissue supplier
SEATTLE (Reuters) – A Washington state man was indicted on Thursday for making online death threats against a biotech company that supplies human tissue to researchers and has former ties to Planned Parenthood, a U.S. attorney said.
Schools around U.S. receive hoax threats; two arrested in Indiana
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A rash of email and phone threats of violence hit schools on Thursday from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., and from Florida to California, but most were deemed to be hoaxes and schools opened.
New Jersey lawmakers push state casino gambling expansion
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New Jersey lawmakers advanced separate pieces of legislation on Thursday that would expand casinos beyond Atlantic City, the state’s struggling gambling hub.
Manhunt for Texas affluenza teen after he apparently goes missing
FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) – A manhunt was underway on Thursday for a wealthy Texas teenager, described at trial as being afflicted with “affluenza,” who apparently fled to avoid violating a probation deal that kept him out of prison for killing four in a drunken-driving crash.
Pennsylvania special prosecutor warns attorney general to expect scrutiny
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – A special prosecutor named by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane to determine whether state officials broke any laws in sending or receiving thousands of inappropriate emails won’t shy away from scrutinizing Kane he…
Chicago Mayor Emanuel meets with federal officials about police
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday met with federal officials on their investigation into the city’s police, more than three weeks after a video showing the fatal shooting of a black teenager prompted calls for the mayor to resi…
California shooters’ ex-neighbor charged with supporting terrorists
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A former neighbor suspected of supplying guns to the married couple who massacred 14 people in San Bernardino, California, was charged on Thursday with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, the U.S. Ju…
