Judge rejects plea deal by South Carolina sheriff in bribery case
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – A U.S. judge rejected a plea deal on Wednesday that would have allowed South Carolina’s former longest-serving sheriff to serve three years of probation in exchange for admitting he was guilty of conspiring to harbor illega…
Pathologist tells U.S. court that Oklahoma had deeply flawed execution
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – Oklahoma’s death chamber was “a disorganized mess” during a troubled execution in April, a pathologist who performed an autopsy on the executed inmate told a federal court that is hearing arguments on whether to halt execution…
West Virginia trial of executive charged in mine disaster delayed
BECKLEY, W.Va. (Reuters) – A U.S. federal judge in West Virginia on Wednesday effectively delayed the Jan. 26 start of the trial of a former coal mining company chief executive on charges of violating mine safety laws before a 2010 explosion that kille…
Texas TV station says meteorologist shot, suspect at large
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A meteorologist at Waco, Texas, broadcaster KCEN-TV was shot multiple times during a confrontation in the station’s parking lot on Wednesday, and the suspect is still at large, the station said.
Pentagon upbeat Lockheed will deliver 36 F-35s in 2014 as planned
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lockheed Martin Corp is on track to deliver all 36 F-35 fighter jets planned in 2014, the Pentagon’s F-35 program manager told reporters on Wednesday.
South Carolina judge tosses conviction of black teen executed in 1944
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – A South Carolina judge on Wednesday took the unusual step of vacating the 1944 conviction of a black 14-year-old boy, the youngest person executed in the United States in the past century, saying he did not receive a fair t…
Chicago area landlord gets life in prison for deadly arson fire
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A suburban Chicago landlord has been sentenced to life in prison for setting a fire that killed seven people, including four children, in a scheme to cash in on property insurance, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Texas woman convicted of killing child freed from prison on bond
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – A Texas woman convicted of killing her 4-year-old foster child by force-feeding him an overdose of salt has been released on bail after an appeals court said there were sufficient questions in her original prosecution to warrant…
Two-thirds of Americans back higher military spending: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than two thirds of U.S. voters back increased military spending given growing threats to America’s security, and would be more likely to support candidates who agree, the Aerospace Industries Association trade group said Wed…
U.S. charges two pharmacists with 25 murders in meningitis outbreak
BOSTON (Reuters) – Two pharmacists from Massachusetts were charged with second-degree murder in connection with a deadly 2012 meningitis outbreak that killed at least 64 people and injured about 750, according to an indictment made public on Wednesday….
