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…
New Jersey man charged with conspiracy to provide support to Islamic State
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. authorities on Thursday charged a New Jersey man with conspiring to support the militant group Islamic State, the fourth person arrested in recent days in and around New York City as part of a broader investigation.
Two girls murdered in Texas taxi: Were they honor killings?
WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The last words from Sarah were “Oh my God, I’m dying.” Then the 911 emergency operator heard a barrage of gunshots. Sarah, 17, and her sister Amina, 18, were found shot 11 times in the back of their father’s taxi, abandoned in a hotel parking lot.
McDonald’s says number of U.S. restaurants will shrink this year
NEW YORK (Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp said Thursday that it will have fewer restaurants in the United States in 2015 than it did last year.
Mississippi man admits role in draping of noose on statue of black man
(Reuters) – A former University of Mississippi student pleaded guilty on Thursday to a federal civil rights charge, admitting his role in the draping of a noose and Confederate flag on a statue of the school’s first black student, according to court do…
UAW president says union wants to expand healthcare pool
DETROIT (Reuters) – United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams said on Thursday he wants to enter talks with the three major U.S. automakers to pool active union and nonunion workers and UAW retirees to bargain for lower healthcare costs.
Boston bombers’ friend sentenced to 2-1/2 years for lying to investigators
BOSTON (Reuters) – A citizen of Kyrgyzstan who was friends with the Boston Marathon bombers apologized on Thursday for lying to investigators probing the deadly 2013 attack and was then sentenced to 2-1/2 years in federal prison.
Jeralean Talley, world’s oldest-known person, dies at 116
DETROIT (Reuters) – Jeralean Talley, the world’s oldest-known person, has died in Michigan 26 days after her 116th birthday, a family spokeswoman said on Thursday.
