Five Massachusetts Teamsters charged with trying to extort reality-TV show
BOSTON (Reuters) – Five members of the Teamsters union were arrested on Wednesday and charged with trying to extort a non-union company filming a reality television show in Boston last year, federal prosecutors said.
Georgia executes a woman for the first time in 70 years
ATLANTA (Reuters) – The first woman executed in Georgia in 70 years cried and sang “Amazing Grace” before she died early Wednesday, according to a witness, following pleas by the pope and her children for her life to be spared.
Hurricane Joaquin strengthens but threat to United States unclear
(Reuters) – Hurricane Joaquin strengthened in the Atlantic on Wednesday and could become a major storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, although forecast models did not agree on whether it would make landfall in the United States.
Federal oversight urged for Washington’s troubled subway
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday recommended urgent federal oversight of Washington’s troubled subway system, which has been plagued by smoky tunnels, breakdowns and deadly accidents.
Three human skulls discovered at Southern California home
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Coroner’s investigators are examining three human skulls found at a home in the high desert of Los Angeles County, seeking to reveal the origin of the remains and whether any foul play was involved, authorities said on Wednesday…
License plates with Confederate flag for sale again in Georgia
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A Georgia license plate featuring the Confederate battle flag was on sale again on Wednesday after the state ended a temporary hold on the specialty plates in response to the June massacre of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina…
Manhunt underway in Louisiana after accidental release of killer
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Louisiana authorities searched on Wednesday for a killer who was accidentally released from jail last week due to a record-keeping error.
Billionaire Koch defeats appeal in fake wine case
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Billionaire William Koch persuaded a federal appeals court to uphold a jury verdict and $1.15 million award against Silicon Valley entrepreneur and fellow oenophile Eric Greenberg over the sale of 24 bottles of fake Bordeaux.
House Republicans to vote Oct. 8 for new leaders
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives will hold leadership elections on Oct. 8, House Speaker John Boehner said on Wednesday, moving speedily to get a new team in place to deal with a series of fiscal challenges ahead….
House introduces legislation to extend rail safety deadline to 2018
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers, under pressure from the railroad industry, announced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to extend a year-end deadline for costly new safety technology for at least another three years.
