Massive Los Angeles construction fire was arson, authorities say
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A construction fire that gutted an entire city block of downtown Los Angeles and caused up to $30 million in damages was an act of arson, authorities said on Thursday.
Colorado boy, 14, sentenced to 10 years for dad’s murder
DENVER (Reuters) – A 14-year-old Colorado boy who admitted shooting his father dead and concealing the death by calling the man’s work for five days to say his dad was ill was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Washington governor pushes capital gains tax in face of budget gap
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Washington state Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday proposed a new tax on capital gains to try to close a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 billion, rolling back on a no-new-taxes campaign pledge.
Uber’s fight of California data-sharing rule highlights its bumpy road
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Uber argued Thursday that it should not have to turn over ride data in a California regulatory standoff that shows how the transportation service is falling afoul of officials who could threaten its expansion.
Exclusive: Creditor to oppose San Bernardino bankruptcy plan favoring Calpers – source
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A major capital markets creditor of bankrupt San Bernardino, California, will oppose any exit plan that is more favorable to Calpers, California’s public pension fund, a source familiar with the creditor’s strategy said on Thurs…
Journalist sues over arrest at protest in Ferguson, Missouri
(Reuters) – A Washington-based journalist has sued St. Louis County and one of its police lieutenants, saying his rights were violated when he was arrested while covering protests over the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer …
Neighboring states challenge Colorado pot laws in top U.S. court
DENVER (Reuters) – Nebraska and Oklahoma challenged neighboring Colorado’s recreational marijuana laws in the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday amid complaints its pot was seeping across their borders, and Colorado vowed to defend its laws.
Pennsylvania couple plead not guilty in starvation death of disabled son
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – A Pennsylvania mother and father accused of letting their 9-year-old disabled son starve to death last summer entered pleas of not guilty on Thursday.
Arizona sheriff to disband unit that targeted immigrants workers in raids
PHOENIX (Reuters) – Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is disbanding a squad that targeted undocumented immigrants in workplace raid, his office said on Thursday, following a lawsuit by groups that accused the controversial lawman of infringing on the powers o…
Fraternity closed at California university over anti-rape march harassment
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – (This story corrects headline, first paragraph to show that fraternity agreed to close but was not banned by university)
