Pennsylvania appeals state Supreme Court ruling on fracking law
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The state of Pennsylvania appealed on Thursday against a December decision from the state Supreme Court that struck down parts of an oil and gas law.
California court lets undocumented immigrant practice law
(Reuters) – The California Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that an undocumented Mexican immigrant should be licensed to practice law in a closely watched case on immigration rights.
Police arrest suspect in New Year’s Day murder of California priest
(Reuters) – Police in Northern California on Thursday arrested a man suspected of killing a Catholic priest on New Year’s Day, shortly after the suspect walked out of jail, where he had been held briefly for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
Former first lady Barbara Bush in ‘good spirits’ in hospital
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Former first lady Barbara Bush was in good spirits and doing well after being admitted to a Houston hospital earlier this week with a respiratory ailment, a family spokesman said on Thursday.
Obamas’ Christmas gift for godmother delivered to wrong family
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A Chicago-area family got a belated Christmas surprise this week – a book of family photos from the White House meant for the Obama girls’ godmother, according to media reports and the White House.
‘Breaking Bad’ contest winner arrested in Florida on drug charges
MIAMI (Reuters) – A Florida man who won a contest to watch the finale of the drug-themed TV show “Breaking Bad” with its cast has been arrested on charges he ran an underground synthetic marijuana distribution operation, police said on Thursday.
Human foot found on south Florida beach
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – Investigators in south Florida are trying to identify a human foot inside a tube sock and midsize white New Balance athletic shoe found by a beach walker on New Year’s Day.
Arsonist strikes Chinese consulate in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO/BEIJING (Reuters) – The Chinese consulate in San Francisco sustained fire and smoke damage after an arsonist struck it, the consulate said on Thursday, but there were no injuries and the consulate was open for business.
Fugitive U.S. banker arrested after 18 months on run
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A former Georgia bank director who left a suicide note and vanished while under suspicion he embezzled $21 million has been captured 18 months after he disappeared.
Penn State football coach O’Brien, hired after Paterno fired, quits
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – Penn State on Thursday announced the resignation of its head football coach Bill O’Brien, who was hired two years ago in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal that cost legendary coach Joe Paterno his job.