New Jersey may be first state to ban smoking on beaches, in parks
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New Jersey could become the first state in the nation to ban cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products in all public parks and beaches if Governor Chris Christie signs into law a sweeping anti-smoking bill approved by lawmakers…
Kansas coal plant fight back in court; emission concerns cited
(Reuters) – A long-running battle over coal-fired energy in Kansas continued Friday as the Sierra Club environmental group filed a legal challenge to the state’s issuance of a permit intended to give a green light to a controversial new power plant.
Massachusetts abortion clinics boost security, lawmakers seek fix
BOSTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts is beefing up security around abortion clinics and scrambling for a legal fix after the U.S. Supreme Court voided the state’s buffer zone law that kept protesters 35 feet away, saying it violated freedom of speech.
Fugitive returned to Pennsylvania after 33 years on the run
HARRISBURG Pa. (Reuters) – An elderly Pennsylvania fugitive, on the run for 33 years, is back in the state to face murder charges, authorities said on Friday.
Washington DC tour guides win court ruling on free speech grounds
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal appeals court ruled on Friday in favor of Washington tour guides who challenged licensing rules that require guides to pay the city a license fee and pass an exam.
Father says learned son had slain six in California via the Internet
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The father of a 22-year-old man who killed six college students in a stabbing and shooting rampage near Santa Barbara, California, said in an interview that he initially thought his son was one of the victims and learned the gri…
NH man convicted in murder, rape of university student
BOSTON (Reuters) – A New Hampshire jury on Friday found Seth Mazzaglia guilty of first-degree murder in the strangulation and rape of college student Elizabeth Marriott in 2012, a court official said.
Maryland fast-food customer gets a bag of pot with her fries
(Reuters) – A Maryland woman who ordered a meal at a Sonic Corp fast-food restaurant got something extra with her French fries – a bag of marijuana.
Maine woman sentenced to prison for grisly murder of husband
(Reuters) – A Bangor, Maine woman on Friday was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the gruesome murder of her husband, whom she was convicted of killing with pliers and a baseball bat, according to local media.
Caesars Entertainment to shut Showboat Atlantic City casino
(Reuters) – Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s decision to close its Showboat casino makes it the second gambling house shuttered in what New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had called a crucial year for the future of gambling in Atlantic City.
