California eases prison crowding after years of trying
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – After years of controversy and legal trouble because of overcrowding in California’s mammoth prison system, the state’s inmate population dipped below the maximum level set by a federal court for the first time on Thursda…
California lawmaker aims to raise smoking age to 21
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – A California lawmaker introduced legislation on Thursday that aims to raise the legal smoking age to 21 from 18, his office said in a statement, just over a week after a similar move by Washington state’s top lawyer.
Secretary of State Kerry fined for not shoveling by Boston home
BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was slapped with a $50 fine for failing to have a side street adjoining his Boston home shoveled following the blizzard that dropped more than 2 feet (60 cm) of snow on Massachusetts this week, a sp…
U.S. man shot and wounded in eastern Saudi Arabia: state media
DUBAI (Reuters) – A U.S. citizen was shot and wounded in eastern Saudi Arabia on Friday, state news agency SPA reported, adding to security concerns in the world’s top oil exporting nation.
Elderly residents die in blizzard-hit Massachusetts; death toll at least four
(Reuters) – An elderly man and woman found dead outside their homes in separate coastal Massachusetts communities were likely victims of a massive blizzard that hit New England earlier this week, police said on Thursday.
Shell says ‘optimistic’ on U.S. refinery contract talks
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Lead industry negotiator Royal Dutch Shell Plc said on Thursday it was “optimistic” a new three-year agreement could be reached with a union representing hourly workers at 63 U.S. refineries that account for two-thirds of U.S. refin…
Delta Air Lines pilot locked out of cockpit for Las Vegas landing
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – A Delta Air Lines Inc jet ended its flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas on Thursday with its captain locked out of his cockpit, the airline said.
Suspected Ebola patient admitted to California hospital
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – A patient suspected of contracting Ebola after traveling in West Africa and exhibiting symptoms of the disease was admitted on Thursday to a special isolation hospital unit in Sacramento and was being tested for infection…
NYC public defenders in video advocate killing police, city finds
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Attorneys at a New York City public defenders’ office participated in an online video that advocated the killing of police officers, featuring the lyrics “time to start killing these coppers,” a city investigation disclosed on Thur…
Pilots’ trans-Pacific balloon journey eclipses distance record
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Reuters) – Two balloonists crossing over the Pacific Ocean from Japan surpassed a distance record on Thursday for gas-filled balloon travel and are heading toward a landing in Mexico’s Baja California in two days, officials said.
