Exclusive: Motiva Port Arthur refinery reaches throughput milestone – sources
HOUSTON (Reuters) – The nation’s largest refinery hit a throughput milestone last week, processing 615,000 barrels in one day for the first time since a series of setbacks that followed its $10 billion expansion, sources familiar with operations said.
One dead, three badly hurt in Texas school fireworks explosion
DALLAS (Reuters) – One person was killed and three others severely injured when a truck trailer carrying fireworks for a Fourth of July celebration at a central Texas high school exploded on Thursday as workers prepared the show, a fire official said.
Police release man questioned in New Orleans shootout
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Authorities set free a 20-year-old man on Thursday after questioning him about a weekend shootout on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street that left one person dead and nine others wounded.
Rhode Island governor signs minimum wage increase
(Reuters) – Rhode Island’s Democratic governor, Lincoln Chafee, has signed a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1, to $9 an hour, his office said on Thursday, following similar moves by neighboring New England states.
Boy hit in Arizona target-shooting accident dies
(Reuters) – A 9-year-old boy who was shot in the neck by a bullet ricochet while target shooting in the Arizona desert died on Thursday of his wounds, authorities said.
Dying ex-priest convicted of killing nun denied prison release
CLEVELAND (Reuters) – A dying ex-priest convicted of stabbing an Ohio nun to death cannot obtain an early release for his final days, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
New Mexico middle school shooter sentenced to detention until age 21
ALBUQUERQUE N.M. (Reuters) – A 13-year-old boy who brought a sawed-off shotgun to his New Mexico middle school and wounded two classmates in January has been sentenced to be held in juvenile detention until age 21, a court official said on Thursday.
Wisconsin ex-cop said deaths of women in luggage an accident
ELKHORN Wis. (Reuters) – A former Wisconsin police officer suspected in the deaths of two women whose bodies were found in suitcases said that he accidentally killed the women during sexual encounters, a detective testified on Thursday.
Washington ‘Beltway sniper’ appeals ruling on life sentence
(Reuters) – Lawyers for convicted “Beltway sniper” Lee Boyd Malvo are appealing a federal judge’s rejection of his claim that his life sentence is unconstitutional, according to court documents.
Wildfire near California’s wine country grows overnight
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A wildfire near Northern California’s Napa Valley wine country grew overnight Thursday, devouring 4,300 acres and two houses, and prompting more evacuations, officials said.