Ex-NFL star Darren Sharper pleads not guilty to rape
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Former football star Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges that he drugged and raped two women in a Los Angeles hotel as investigations continue into similar sex crimes in four other U.S. states, according to …
Mexico criticizes fatal San Diego border shooting
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Mexican government officials criticized the U.S. Border Patrol on Thursday for the fatal shooting of one of its citizens in a confrontation in Southern California this week, saying it opposed the use of lethal force in border cont…
Oregon says will not defend state ban on gay marriage
(Reuters) – Oregon will not defend a ban on gay marriage in the state, which was sued by four same-sex couples who argue the prohibition violates equality guarantees enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the state’s top law enforcement official said on T…
New York police surveillance of Muslims constitutional: judge
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York City’s secret police surveillance of mosques, Muslim businesses and a Muslim student group in New Jersey did not violate the U.S. Constitution, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
Nebraska ruling could grant Obama breathing space on Keystone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Nebraska judge’s ruling on the Keystone XL pipeline could let President Barack Obama delay his final decision on the project until after mid-term elections and avoid political damage, analysts say.
Cuban windsurfer missing after attempting to cross Florida Straits
KEY WEST, Florida (Reuters) – Three Cuban migrants attempted to windsurf across the Florida Straits to reach the United States on Tuesday, but only one is known to have reached dry land.
Venture capitalist in bid to split California into six states
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A venture capitalist seeking to break California into six new states has won approval to begin collecting signatures needed to get his plan on the ballot in November, but experts said such a measure likely stands little chance o…
Colorado lawmaker leaves behind loaded handgun in state Capitol
DENVER (Reuters) – A Colorado lawmaker said on Thursday he found a loaded handgun that one of his colleagues had mistakenly left in a room at the Capitol building where a committee had discussed a bipartisan measure to ease restrictions on carrying con…
Authorities lift evacuation order for Iowa town
(Reuters) – Authorities allowed residents of a small Iowa town to return to their homes on Thursday hours after they were told to evacuate because of a fire involving sulfuric acid at a local airport.
Man called muse for ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ charged with fraud
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A man who served prison time for conning Hollywood stars and reputedly inspired Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in “The Wolf of Wall Street” was in federal court on Thursday facing charges that he used a friend’s credit card to buy…
