North America News

LA anti-gang worker gets 12 years for burglary

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles anti-gang intervention worker has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a burglary he admitted was done for the benefit of a street gang.

Obama administration will not sign land mine ban

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has decided not to sign an international convention banning land mines.

Feds blame low oxygen for Ala. coal mine death

BROOKWOOD, Ala. - The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is blaming low oxygen for the death of a coal miner at a west Alabama mine.

Man pushed by Calif. transit officer charged

OAKLAND, Calif. - A man who was pushed into a glass window by a San Francisco-area transit officer will not face felony charges in the incident that was caught on video.

LA County leaders back night fire flights

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County leaders responding to the summer's destructive Station Fire voted Tuesday to urge the U.S. Forest Service to allow helicopters to battle wildfires at night.

Suspect in Colo. bar shooting charged with murder

VAIL, Colo. - A man accused of killing a man and wounding three others after he was escorted out of a bar in Colorado has been charged with first-degree murder.

Obama toasts India as state dinner begins

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama honored India's prime minister with a toast in which he called the United States' relationship with India a "great and growing partnership."

US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 845

As of Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at least 845 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.

New details emerge in Somali terror probe

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota man hosted a gathering for several young Somalis days before they left Minneapolis to fight with a terrorist group in their war-torn homeland, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday in a sweeping federal investigation.

Doctor's help sought in failed Ohio execution try

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As an Ohio execution team tried to find a vein during an unsuccessful lethal injection attempt, prison staff sought help from a doctor _ a move generally discouraged by ethical and professional medical rules _ federal court papers show.

GM returns $140M provided for parts suppliers

WASHINGTON - General Motors has returned $140 million of the $290 million it received from the government to support is parts suppliers.

Obama expects support for more Afghanistan troops

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama expects Americans to support more U.S. troops in Afghanistan once they understand the perils of losing, and he is preparing to make his case to the nation next week.

'Junior' Gotti NYC jury signals deadlock _ again

NEW YORK - A jury considering racketeering and murder charges against John "Junior" Gotti told a judge Tuesday it was deadlocked for a second time before resuming work and indicating it was looking to deliberate into next week.

4 NBC affiliates ban PETA's Thanksgiving Day ad

RALEIGH, N.C. - Four NBC affiliates broadcasting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are banning a commercial promoting veganism sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Clergy abuse victims criticize RI bishop

Jordanian faces June trial in alleged Dallas plot

DALLAS - A Jordanian man charged with trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper with what he thought was a car bomb will go on trial next summer.

2 plead guilty in Calif. freeway shootings

OAKLAND, Calif. - Two men have pleaded guilty to shooting high-powered pellet guns at dozens of cars on San Francisco Bay area freeways.

Paltry sale for once-proud dome in once-proud city

PONTIAC, Mich. - Talk about getting stuck with the cheap seats.

CPSC chief pledges swift action after crib recall

WASHINGTON - The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Tuesday promised swift action to get dangerous products off the market, acknowledging that the agency didn't move quickly enough on a record recall of more than 2 million cribs linked to four deaths.