Today in History

Today in History Today is Sunday, Aug. 9, the 222nd day of 2020. There are 144 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown Jr., an unarmed 18-year-old Black man, was shot to death by a police officer following an altercation in Ferguson, Missouri; Brown’s...

Ex-Green Berets sentenced to 20 years for Venezuela attack

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan court has sentenced two former U.S. special forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for their part in a blunder-filled beach attack aimed at overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro. Lawyers for the former Green Berets, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, said they were...

State chief justice blasts small-time thief's life sentence

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man caught with stolen hedge clippers decades ago must continue to serve his life sentence, despite a stinging dissent from the chief justice of Louisiana’s Supreme Court, who said the sentence was the result of laws rooted in racism. Justice Bernette Johnson, the only Black...

Man gets life with no parole in 1979 murder of Iowa woman

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man was on Friday sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole in the 1979 murder of an 18-year-old high school student. Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester, was arrested in Dec. 19 2018, 39 years to the day after Michelle Martinko was found dead in her parents’...

Louisiana man serving life for $30 drug sale set to be freed

ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) — Prosecutors in Louisiana have agreed to release a Black veteran serving a life sentence in prison without parole over a $30 marijuana sale, according to his defense attorneys. The decision reached Thursday in Vermilion Parish will allow Derek Harris to be freed after nine years in...

China sentences fourth Canadian to death on drug charges

BEIJING (AP) — China has sentenced a fourth Canadian citizen to death on drug charges in less than two years following a sharp downturn in ties over the arrest of an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei. Ye Jianhui was sentenced Friday by the Foshan Municipal Intermediate Court in the southern province...

China sentences fourth Canadian to death on drug charges since sharp downturn in ties over arrest of Huawei executive

BEIJING (AP) — China sentences fourth Canadian to death on drug charges since sharp downturn in ties over arrest of Huawei executive.

Utah protesters face charges with potential life sentence

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Some Black Lives Matter protesters in Salt Lake City could face up to life in prison if they’re convicted of splashing red paint and smashing windows during a protest, a potential punishment that stands out among demonstrators arrested around the country and one that critics...

Arkansas woman pleads guilty to killing former lawmaker

POCAHONTAS, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas woman pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a former state lawmaker who was found dead from multiple stab wounds outside her home last year. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the death of former Arkansas state Sen. Linda...

China sentences 3rd Canadian to death on drug charges

BEIJING (AP) — China has sentenced a third Canadian citizen to death on drug charges amid a steep decline in relations between the two countries. The Guangzhou Municipal Intermediate Court announced Xu Weihong’s penalty on Thursday and said an alleged accomplice, Wen Guanxiong, had been given a life...