Texas executes man for bludgeoning mechanic to death in robbery
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Texas on Thursday executed Gregory Russeau, 45, who was convicted of killing a 75-year-old auto mechanic in a 2001 robbery and driving off from the crime scene in the victim’s car.
U.S. judge calls case of Russian who joined Taliban a ‘new frontier’
RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) – A federal judge in Virginia in the case of a former Russian army officer accused of fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan asked attorneys in the case on Thursday to focus on whether as a war combatant he was protected from …
Ex-NAACP activist Dolezal removed from police oversight panel in Washington state
SEATTLE (Reuters) – The city council in Washington state voted on Thursday to remove civil rights activist Rachel Dolezal, who drew national attention over her racial identity, from a police oversight commission over conduct violations, a Spokane city …
Search on for ex-White House chef missing in New Mexico mountains
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Reuters) – Search and rescue teams scoured the rugged mountains above the Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico on Thursday for any sign of a missing former White House chef who was last seen setting off for a hike in the area over the weeke…
White suspect arrested in killing of nine at black U.S. church
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – A white man was arrested on Thursday on suspicions he killed nine people at a historic African-American church in South Carolina after sitting with them for an hour of Bible study in an attack U.S. officials are investigati…
Three dead as Tropical Depression Bill lashes central U.S. states
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – Tropical Depression Bill pelted Oklahoma with heavy rains, triggering flooding that killed a 2-year-old toddler who was swept out of his father’s arms by raging waters, officials said on Thursday.
North Dakota’s workers comp claims rise less than expected
(Corrects June 17 story to fix spelling of name in ninth paragraph to Boquist, not Bolquist)
Florida seeks to put state parks to commercial use
ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) – Florida is moving toward expanding cattle grazing, hunting and other commercial activities in state parks to help make them self-sufficient, an idea raising alarms among conservationists.
New Mexico judge gives go-ahead to teacher evaluations lawsuit
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Reuters) – A New Mexico judge has denied a motion to dismiss a teachers union lawsuit that challenges the state’s new educator evaluation system, delighting opponents who say the system is punitive and error-ridden.
‘Callous’ New York jail guard gets prison over inmate death
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former supervising guard at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Thursday for refusing to help a mentally ill inmate who died in 2012 after swallowing powdered detergent…
