Judge temporarily blocks new Arkansas anti-abortion laws

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge blocked three new abortion restrictions from taking effect Wednesday in Arkansas, including a measure that opponents say would likely force the state's only surgical abortion clinic to close. U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker granted a 14-day temporary restraining...

Federal judge blocks three new abortion restrictions from taking effect in Arkansas this week

Judge dismisses Oregon prisoners' lawsuit over spoiled food

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit by current and former inmates claiming the Oregon prison system served them spoiled food. The Oregonian/Oregon Live reported Tuesday that the 2017 lawsuit was thrown out by a U.S. district judge who found there was no evidence of...

Esper is sworn in as defense secretary to succeed Mattis

WASHINGTON (AP) — It took seven months, but President Donald Trump on Tuesday finally got a Senate-confirmed secretary of defense to succeed Jim Mattis. Mark Esper, an Army veteran and former defense industry lobbyist, won Senate confirmation by a vote of 90-8 and was sworn in at the White House by Supreme...

Trump threatens Guatemala after its court blocks asylum deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened retribution against Guatemala over immigration after the country's high court blocked its government from signing an asylum deal with the United States. Trump tweeted that Guatemala has decided against signing a "safe-third agreement" requiring...

Man with knife shot, wounded outside LA federal courthouse

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say a man with a knife has been shot and wounded outside a federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles police say a courthouse security officer wounded the man, who was wielding the weapon Tuesday afternoon in front of the court on First Street. The man was shot...

Gun group wants judge to block ammunition background checks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California affiliate of the National Rifle Association has asked a U.S. judge to block a new law requiring background checks for anyone buying ammunition. The California Rifle & Pistol Association asked San Diego-based U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez to halt the checks and...

Federal government drops appeal for Alaska refuge road

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a court case that blocked a proposed road through a national wildlife refuge in Alaska. But it may pursue other legal means to build a land route between two rural villages. The federal government had appealed the rejection of a...

Alabama: Keep statewide elections for appellate courts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In a Monday court filing, Alabama asked a federal judge to uphold the state's 150-year-old practice of electing appellate judges by statewide vote and reject a lawsuit's claims that it is racially discriminatory. A federal judge will hear arguments next month in a lawsuit that seeks...

Dentist sentenced for improperly prescribing opioid pills

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A Spokane dentist who originally faced years in federal prison has been sentenced to 15 months of home confinement and three years of probation. The Spokesman-Review reports U.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko on Monday sentenced Dr. James Stein-Sheridan Shelby. Federal investigators...