Virginia governor’s former chef reaches plea deal, avoids trial
RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) – The former chef at the Virginia governor’s mansion pleaded no contest on Wednesday to two misdemeanor embezzlement charges, averting a trial near Election Day that could have had repercussions on the race for governor.
U.S. charges 6 people, 3 firms with $100 million biofuels fraud
(Reuters) – Six people and three companies, including an Indiana operation claiming to make biofuel from chicken fat and vegetable oils, were charged with defrauding investors and consumers out of more than $100 million, prosecutors in Indianapolis sai…
High profile U.S. Navy commander charged in bribery case
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A high profile U.S. Navy commander has been charged with accepting paid travel, the services of prostitutes and Lady Gaga concert tickets from a Singapore-based defense contractor in exchange for classified information, prosecut…
DC gunman treated for insomnia before shooting: veterans’ agency
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Washington Navy Yard gunman was treated for insomnia in August at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but said he did not have violent thoughts and did not seek care from a VA mental health specialist, the VA…
Skeletons found in cars pulled from Oklahoma lake
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – Oklahoma authorities said on Wednesday they were working to identify six human skeletons found in cars pulled from a lake in the western part of the state to determine if the skeletons are linked to decades-old missing persons…
Connecticut releases $5 million toward school security after Newtown
MILFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) – Connecticut on Wednesday released $5 million of an expected $15 million in state funding toward boosting security at school buildings, nine months after a gunman massacred 26 people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School i…
‘Messiah’ fine as first name for baby boy, Tennessee judge rules
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – A Tennessee judge on Wednesday restored a baby boy’s given first name of “Messiah,” ruling unconstitutional a lower ranking judge’s order changing it to “Martin” on the basis that “Messiah” is a title earned only by Jes…
Number of U.S. prisoners in for life climbs to new high
MIAMI (Reuters) – The number of prisoners serving life terms in the United States has more than quadrupled since 1984, and so-called lifers now account for one in nine people behind bars, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Sentencing Pr…
Navy Yard shooting victims included a bird lover, a divorcé, parents
(Reuters) – A dozen people were killed in Monday’s shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard. The three women and nine men ranged in age from 46 to 73 and included retirees, parents, a bird lover and a divorcé.
Teenage girl snatched from Georgia home found alive
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A teenager abducted from her suburban Atlanta home by armed men who snatched her during a home invasion has been found alive, and two suspects have been arrested about 34 hours after the girl went missing, police said on Wednesday.
