Family is key to understanding accused Boston bomber: attorney
BOSTON (Reuters) – The accused Boston Marathon bomber’s relationship with family, and particularly with his slain older brother who prosecutors contend helped plan the attack, is key to understanding his case, defense lawyers argued on Wednesday.
Navy delays submarine commissioning, says more work needed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Navy on Wednesday said it would delay the commissioning of the North Dakota, a new Virginia-class submarine that was due to enter active service on May 31, to carry out more design work and resolve quality problems with certa…
New Jersey mother charged with driving teens into Delaware River
(Reuters) – A New Jersey mother of three teenagers was charged on Wednesday with attempted murder and endangering the welfare of children after allegedly driving her minivan into the Delaware River with them inside, authorities said.
New Mexico to eliminate conjugal visits for prisoners
ALBURQUERQUE, New Mexico (Reuters) – New Mexico will end conjugal visits between inmates and their spouses next month, officials said Wednesday, in a move that will leave the once-widespread practice in place in only three U.S. states.
Judge stays recognition of most Ohio out-of-state gay nuptials
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) – Ohio will not be required to recognize the legal marriage of gay couples statewide, pending appeal of a ruling that struck down a state ban, but it must recognize the unions of the couples who challenged the law, a federal ju…
Nebraska man could face execution after conviction in 4 killings
OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) – A Nebraska man was convicted on Wednesday of killing four people during a 10-day murder spree last summer within days of his release from prison and could face the death penalty in a state that has not carried out an executi…
Detroit pension deal approved by one retirement system
(Reuters) – The board of Detroit’s General Retirement System on Wednesday approved economic terms of a settlement with the city that include cuts to pension benefits, putting in place another key component of Detroit’s effort to exit bankruptcy by Octo…
Philadelphia using ‘robo-calls’ as weapon in war on illegal signs
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – Philadelphia is taking on businesses that blanket its neighborhoods with illegal paper and plastic signs by using automated phone calls to disrupt the operations of people who post them along with contact numbers.
Wisconsin passes law to curb private custody transfers of children
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wisconsin has adopted a law to limit private custody transfers of children, the first law of its kind in the United States, responding to a Reuters investigation that exposed the dangers of the unregulated practice.
Jury begins deliberating in murder trial of Iraqi-American man
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Jurors began deliberating on Wednesday in the trial of an Iraqi-American man charged with murdering his wife in a case first investigated as a hate crime, following closing arguments in which prosecutors urged the panel to find hi…