Home sales likely rose again in October AP (November 23, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Home resales for October are projected to rise to the highest level in more than two years as first-time buyers, anticipating that a tax credit would soon expire, rushed to beat the clock.
Salix Pharmaceuticals completes stock offering AP (November 23, 2009) NERALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said Monday it completed its public offering of 5.5 million shares of common stock.
Grand Canyon to change 'unfair' permit system AP (November 23, 2009) FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Getting one of the roughly 11,500 permits granted each year to backpack overnight in the Grand Canyon has become so competitive and "unfair" that managers at the national park have decided to change the system.
Feds find association between drywall, corrosion AP (November 23, 2009) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The federal government said Monday that it has found a "strong association" between problematic imported Chinese drywall and corrosion of pipes and wires, a conclusion that supports complaints by thousands of homeowners over the last year.
Denied relief, W.Va. schools ready to sue AP (November 23, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia will likely be sued by most - if not all - of its 55 county school boards, after the Legislature shot down Gov. Joe Manchin's offer of short-term relief from retiree health costs.
Feds, Pa. county sue company over slag dumping AP (November 23, 2009) NATRONA, Pa. (AP) - The federal government and the Allegheny County Health Department have sued Allegheny Ludlum Corp. and a contractor for alleged air pollution violations at a slag dump near Pittsburgh.
NJ man sentenced in $1.8 million investment scam AP (November 23, 2009) CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A Southern New Jersey securities broker who operated a $1.8 million investment fraud scheme has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.
Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo AP (November 23, 2009) MONTREAL (AP) - A Canadian woman on sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits after her insurance agent found photos of her apparently having fun on Facebook.
Judge strikes down Tennessee guns-in-bars law AP (November 20, 2009) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's new law allowing people with handgun permits to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol is unconstitutionally vague, a judge ruled on Friday.
Chase drops arbitration from card contracts AP (November 20, 2009) BOSTON (AP) - JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Friday it is dropping a clause from its credit card contracts that required disputes with customers to be handled through binding arbitration, a move that could lead to consumers filing class-action and other lawsuits.
13 charged with mortgage and loan fraud in Oregon AP (November 20, 2009) EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A federal grand jury in Eugene has indicted 13 people on mortgage and loan fraud charges arising from the collapse of a central Oregon development company.
Indian tribe sues over Calif. ranch development AP (November 20, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - An Indian tribe has filed a lawsuit to stop the development of a 5,000-acre gated resort community on a sprawling ranch some 60 miles north of Los Angeles that it claims as tribal land.
NYC TV newsman guilty of attempted assault on wife AP (November 20, 2009) WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Cable television newsman Dominic Carter, an influential reporter on New York politics, was convicted Friday of an attempted assault on his wife.
Melaleuca sues Utah company for raiding staff AP (November 19, 2009) BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho health and home products company Melaleuca Inc. accuses a Utah company of raiding some of its top sales staff, infringing on company trade secrets and competing unfairly.
NJ financial adviser admits defrauding investors AP (November 18, 2009) TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey-based financial adviser has admitted operating a scheme that defrauded investors of more than $9 million.
Court again upholds Fla. homeowner tax breaks AP (November 18, 2009) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A three-judge panel Tuesday rejected another challenge to state constitutional amendments that give property tax breaks to Florida's primary homeowners, but not to owners of second homes.
Court to consider Mich. affirmative action ban AP (November 17, 2009) LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A federal appeals court is about to consider a lawsuit challenging Michigan's ban against racial preferences in public university admissions and government hiring.
Judge rejects global warming trial in auction case AP (November 17, 2009) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A federal judge said Monday he won't allow global warming to be put on trial in the case of a college student charged with disrupting an auction of oil and gas drilling leases.
Neb. court revives Union Pacific worker's lawsuit AP (November 17, 2009) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Union Pacific Railroad will have to defend itself from a lawsuit by a former employee who says the company should have done a better job protecting her against West Nile virus.
Mass. residents file lawsuit over Danvers blast AP (November 17, 2009) DANVERS, Mass. (AP) - Two Massachusetts residents are suing a company that supplied chemicals they say were involved in huge explosion that damaged more than 270 homes and businesses in 2006.
Russian policemen turn to YouTube AP (November 13, 2009) MOSCOW (AP) - When a police officer posted a video on YouTube complaining of rampant abuse in Russian law enforcement, it seemed like a lonely voice in a sea of social media.
Evangelist sentenced to 175 years for sex crimes AP (November 13, 2009) TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) - Evangelist Tony Alamo used his stature as a self-proclaimed prophet to force underage girls into sham marriages with him, controlling his followers with their fears of eternal suffering.
Federal judge sues impeachment panel AP (November 13, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A Louisiana federal judge sued a House impeachment task force Friday, contending the panel is making the case for his ouster by using testimony he gave under a promise of immunity.
Colorado parents plead guilty in balloon boy saga AP (November 13, 2009) FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado couple who reported their son was aboard a runaway balloon could land in jail after pleading guilty Friday to charges they made up the story to generate publicity
Insurer Woodmen files $30M lawsuit against US Bank AP (November 13, 2009) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Woodmen of the World wants U.S. Bank to pay nearly $30 million for investing some of the insurer's assets in risky mortgage-backed securities that plummeted in value instead of the conservative investments the bank promised.
Utah OKs settlement with waste incinerator AP (November 13, 2009) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah regulators on Thursday approved a nearly $520,000 settlement over environmental violations at the state's only large-scale incinerator for hazardous waste.
For 3rd time, W.Va. Supreme Court finds for Massey AP (November 13, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A multimillion-dollar coal contract dispute that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court took its latest turn Thursday with another ruling in favor of Massey Energy Co.
Settlement reached in fraud suit against Scruggs AP (November 13, 2009) JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A settlement has been reached in a long-running fraud lawsuit filed against Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, the once powerful anti-tobacco litigator who is now behind bars, an attorney says.
Intel to pay AMD $1.25B in legal settlment AP (November 12, 2009) SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) - Intel says it is paying AMD, its largest rival in the market for computer processors, $1.25 billion to settle all antitrust and patent suits.
Suit accusing TSA of wrongful detention dropped AP (November 11, 2009) ST. LOUIS (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union has dropped a lawsuit against the Transportation Security Administration that claimed a man was wrongly detained the St. Louis airport because he was carrying about $4,700 in cash.
Restaurant groups: Alcohol at NY casino is illegal AP (November 11, 2009) UTICA, N.Y. (AP) - Three restaurant-owner associations have sued the New York state liquor board, claiming it illegally granted alcohol catering permits for the Indian-owned Turning Stone Casino and Resort.
D.C. sniper mastermind set to be executed Tuesday AP (November 10, 2009) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Unless Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine steps in, sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad will be executed Tuesday for the attacks that terrorized the nation's capital region for three weeks in 2002.
Ex-Miss California admits to making sex tape AP (November 10, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean calls a sex tape she made for an ex-boyfriend several years ago "the biggest mistake of my life."
Mutual of Omaha settles 'aha' suit against Winfrey AP (November 10, 2009) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Mutual of Omaha may have had its own "aha moment." The insurance company has decided to settle its lawsuit against Oprah Winfrey's production company over rights to the phrase.
AP asks judge to keep HOPE artist's lawyers AP (November 10, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The Associated Press has asked a judge to deny a request by the attorneys of street artist Shepard Fairey to withdraw from his copyright battle over the Barack Obama "HOPE" poster.
Police say 2 die in Oregon office park shooting AP (November 10, 2009) TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) - Oregon police say a shooting at drug-testing facility in a suburban Portland office park has left two people dead and two others wounded. Police say the apparent shooter was among those killed, apparently from a self-inflected gunshot wound. A woman who was killed was not identified.
Fannie Mae offers borrowers option to foreclosure AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Can't pay the mortgage? You still might be able to stay in your home. Government-controlled mortgage company Fannie Mae is going to give borrowers on the verge of foreclosure the option of renting their homes for a year.
Lax laws allow US companies to be used for crimes AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Lax state laws allow arms traffickers, drug kingpins and money launderers to use U.S. companies to hide their illicit activities from investigators, government officials said Thursday.
Vote clears way for Ill. abortion notification law AP (November 04, 2009) CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois is allowed to start enforcing a long-debated parental notification law for teen girls seeking abortions after more than a decade of legal challenges.
Judge: Mich. man can sue store he robbed AP (November 04, 2009) MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan judge says a man who claims he was chased, shot and beaten by workers at a store he'd just robbed can sue the men. But only if he comes up with $10,000 within two weeks.
Kin tells of brief call from doomed scallop boat AP (November 04, 2009) CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) - Shortly before 5 a.m. on March 24, Janet Greene's phone rang in her North Carolina home. A light sleeper, she grabbed it on the first ring, knowing it was likely to be from Royal Smith Jr., a commercial fisherman who had two sons with her daughter, Stacy.
NC appellate judges reject public records lawsuit AP (November 03, 2009) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The North Carolina Court of Appeals has sided with the state treasurer's office in a public records lawsuit that accused officials of withholding documents about the state's pension fund.
Attorney: Texas lottery won't pay cheated winner AP (November 03, 2009) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - An attorney for a man who lost out on a $1 million jackpot says the Texas Lottery Commission still considers the store clerk who allegedly stole the ticket to be the winner.
Calif. man gets prison for aiming laser at planes AP (November 03, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Southern California man who aimed a laser beam at two airliners as they approached an airport has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for disrupting the flights.
Court seems unlikely to get involved in fee fight AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Several Supreme Court justices seemed unsympathetic to calls for the court to get involved in setting fees for mutual funds, a common form of retirement investment.
Consol cited for training violation in 2008 death AP (November 02, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Federal investigators say they can't determine how a foreman for coal producer Consol Energy fell into the Ohio River in northern West Virginia and drowned late last year.
Court rejects Pa. buffer law on abortion clinics AP (November 02, 2009) PITTSBURGH (AP) - A federal appeals court has struck down a Pittsburgh ordinance that created two types of buffer zones around abortion clinics.
Former AMD chief leaves current job AP (November 02, 2009) SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) - Hector Ruiz, former CEO of chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc., is leaving his job with a spinoff company after a published report linking him to the Galleon Group insider trading case.
NFL's Goodell to testify on Vikings suspensions AP (October 30, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is returning to Capitol Hill next week, this time to testify about the case of two professional football players whose suspensions for violating the league's anti-doping policy were blocked by the courts.
Mich. sued for cutting off adult dental benefits AP (October 30, 2009) LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 400,000 adult Medicaid recipients whose dental benefits were eliminated by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to save money.
EPA settles with Detroit co. over hazardous waste AP (October 30, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Federal officials have reached an agreement with a Detroit company over alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at two oil recycling operations.
Toy salesman gets 3 months jail in UBS tax probe AP (October 30, 2009) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A federal judge Friday rejected a plea for probation from a New York businessman who admitted concealing $8 million in secret Swiss bank accounts, imposing instead a three-month prison term in the high-profile tax evasion case.
Univ. of Mich. will settle case with ex-student AP (October 30, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - The University of Michigan has dropped an appeal of a $1.7 million verdict and agreed to settle a lawsuit with a former dental student who convinced a jury that she was illegally kicked out of school.
Doctor wrote about kissing Anna Nicole in diary AP (October 29, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - One of Anna Nicole Smith's doctors worried about his own drug use and his professionalism after he kissed her and prescribed her highly addictive drugs, according to his diary, which was read in court.
Union backs American Airlines antitrust immunity AP (October 29, 2009) FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - The union representing flight attendants at American Airlines is supporting the company's bid to win antitrust immunity and work more closely with British Airways and Iberia.
Mont. jury awards $850,000 in aluminum bat lawsuit AP (October 29, 2009) HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A jury on Wednesday found that the maker of Louisville Slugger baseball bats failed to adequately warn about the dangers the product can pose, awarding a family $850,000 for the 2003 death of their son in a baseball game.
Court to hear arguments on E. Chicago casino money AP (October 27, 2009) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether a share of East Chicago casino revenues earmarked for economic development should go to a nonprofit corporation or to the city.
Tenn. Appeals Court rules for Bible Park rezoning AP (October 27, 2009) MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Court of Appeals at Nashville has ruled in favor of a rezoning that would allow a Bible-based theme park to be built in Rutherford County.