Baltimore man charged in liquor store fire during April riot
(Reuters) – A Baltimore man was due in federal court on Friday to face charges of setting fire to a liquor store during an April riot that followed the death of an unarmed black man in police custody, prosecutors said.
In Mississippi, ‘last Democrat in Dixie’ fights to survive
(Reuters) – Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood’s campaign messaging highlights his passion for hunting and his ties to the state’s popular Republican governor.
Four injured at Houston-area chemical plant fire
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Four workers were injured in a chemical plant explosion and fire outside of Houston on Friday, emergency officials said.
Drought woes in California town highlight thirsty poultry industry
LIVINGSTON, CALIF/CHICAGO (Reuters) – Residents of Livingston, California have sharply reduced their water usage during the state’s severe drought, now in its fourth year. But this summer, when state officials ranked how water suppliers had done meeting mandated conservation goals, the blue-collar town of 13,800 came in dead last.
Virginia serial killer executed by lethal injection: reports
(Reuters) – Convicted Virginia serial killer Alfredo Prieto was executed by lethal injection on Thursday night, the Washington Post and ABC News reported.
L.A. prosecutors reviewing evidence against Bill Cosby
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles prosecutors are reviewing sexual assault evidence against Bill Cosby, a county official said Thursday, pushing forward a case that could result in the first criminal charges against the comedian.
U.S. courts reject Virginia killer’s bids to avoid execution
RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) – A convicted Virginia serial killer’s legal efforts to avoid execution on Thursday were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal appeals court.
Teen son arrested for murder in California foothill fire deaths
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A teenager was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murdering his father and two other family members whose bodies were found in a burned California vacation cabin last month, officials said.
Chicago businesses brace for potential doubling of property taxes
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has disclosed that his record property tax hike plan entails significant cuts for nearly 300,000 homeowners, leaving Chicago businesses predicting they will face hikes of up to 50 percent.
Two men found guilty of murdering U.S. Border Patrol agent
TUCSON, Ariz. (Reuters) – Two men charged with murdering a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a late-night gunbattle near the U.S.-Mexican border in 2010 were found guilty on all counts on Thursday by a federal jury in Arizona.