A Philadelphia judge’s clash with the late actor Charlton Heston has indirectly led a U.S. appeals court to overturn a murder conviction. The victim’s family had created a blog during the 1998 trial that quoted Heston, of “Ben-Hur” and “The ...
Read More »Federal judge tosses SEC suit against Texas attorney general
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed claims by the U.S. government that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fraudulently duped wealthy investors before taking office, giving the Republican a key victory two months ahead of his criminal trial that carries a ...
Read More »Police: Indicted Baltimore officers ‘1930s-style gangsters’
Seven Baltimore officers were so unfazed by U.S. Justice Department scrutiny of abusive policing that they kept falsely detaining people, stealing their money and property, and faking reports to cover it up, according to a damning federal indictment. Federal prosecutors ...
Read More »US average 30-year mortgage rate falls to 4.10 percent
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, breaking a holding pattern that prevailed for more than a month. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans declined to 4.10 percent from 4.16 percent last week. The ...
Read More »Florida looks to expand ‘stand your ground’ immunity
Florida doesn’t just want to let people stand their ground, it also wants to make the state prove they didn’t commit violence in self-defense before taking them to trial. Florida has been seen as a leader in giving citizens immunity ...
Read More »Uber takes the path less traveled and it’s a rocky one
Uber’s CEO says he needs leadership help after a video has emerged of him arguing heatedly with a driver about fares. In the latest embarrassment to beset the ride-hailing company, CEO Travis Kalanick is seen discussing Uber’s business model with ...
Read More »Ammon Bundy testifies in second Oregon standoff trial
Ammon Bundy, who was recently acquitted in the armed occupation of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon, testified Tuesday that he felt “driven” to protest federal control of Western lands after learning that two Oregon ranchers were imprisoned for setting ...
Read More »Tribes hope Trump’s ‘America first’ helps first Americans
Native Americans hope President Donald Trump doesn’t forget America’s first inhabitants as he promises to put “America first.” Tribes have been reaching out to the Republican administration since it took office last month, saying they’re ready to help it meet ...
Read More »US consumer spending up slightly, inflation at 4-year high
U.S. consumer spending rose at only a sluggish pace in January, even as signs of growing optimism about the economy have emerged. Consumer spending increased 0.2 percent in January, after a 0.5 percent gain in December, the Commerce Department said ...
Read More »Missouri public defenders seek more money from lawmakers
The Missouri public defender system made its case to a House Budget Committee on Monday about why it needs more money to provide lawyers to people too poor to hire private attorneys. The director of the system, Michael Barrett, said ...
Read More »Trump election has parallels to Andrew Jackson’s presidency
It was an ugly, highly personal presidential election. An unvarnished celebrity outsider who pledged to represent the forgotten laborer took on an intellectual member of the Washington establishment looking to extend a political dynasty in the White House. Andrew Jackson’s ...
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