Palm Desert

Chipotle receives subpoena related to Ohio illness incident

Over the past three years, the company has faced a number of subpoenas regarding sicknesses linked to its restaurants following an E. Coli, salmonella and norovirus outbreaks at the company's outlets dating back to late 2015 that affected hundreds across several states. The latest subpoena is the fourth and is part of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's office for the Central District of California. Last August, a type of bacteria found in meat and pre-cooked food left at unsafe temperatures was responsible for making hundreds of people ill in a Powell, Ohio restaurant.

Floods stall fertilizer shipments in latest blow to U.S. farmers

Farm supplier CHS Inc has dozens of loaded barges trapped on the flood-swollen Mississippi River near St. Louis - about 500 miles from the company's two Minnesota distribution hubs. The barges can't move - or get crucial nutrients to corn farmers for the spring planting season - because river locks on the main U.S. artery for grain and fertilizer have been shuttered for weeks. High water presents a hazard for boats, barges and lock equipment.

Trump immigration plan may increase visas for highly skilled workers: sources

Kushner is expected to present the comprehensive plan next week to President Donald Trump, who will decide whether to adopt it as his official position or send it back for changes, the sources said. The plan does not propose ways to address young people who came to the United States illegally as children who were protected by former President Barack Obama in the 2014 program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or those people who have Temporary Protected Status, the sources said. Democrats, whose support the White House would need to advance any kind of immigration legislation through Congress, have insisted that the DACA recipients be protected.

R. Kelly's accuser wins judgment in suit singer failed to answer

The woman, who accused Kelly of repeatedly having sex with her when she was 16 years old, filed the case in Chicago in February, a day before Kelly was arrested on 10 charges of sexual abuse. A Chicago judge on Tuesday entered a default ruling against Kelly, according to court records, after he did not respond to the lawsuit and missed the hearing. Kelly's criminal defense attorney, Steve Greenberg, said he was not involved in the civil litigation and declined to comment.

Trump says he is holding big Pharma accountable in opioid fight

America's opioid epidemic, especially damaging in rural areas where Trump is popular, has been a focus for the Republican president. On Tuesday, the government charged drug distributor Rochester Drug Co-operative Inc and company executives for their role in fueling the epidemic.

White supremacist executed in Texas for dragging death of black man

John William "Bill" King, 44, was put to death by lethal injection and pronounced dead at 7:08 p.m. (0008 GMT Thursday) at the state’s death chamber in Huntsville, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement. King, along with Shawn Berry and Lawrence Brewer, was accused of kidnapping Byrd while he hitchhiked in Jasper, Texas, on June 7, 1998.

U.S. measles cases at highest since elimination in 2000: CDC

The United States has confirmed 695 measles cases so far this year, the highest incidence recorded since the country declared it had eliminated the virus in 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday. The resurgence of the contagious disease is linked mainly to large outbreaks in Washington state and two in New York that began late last year, the agency said in a statement. "The longer these outbreaks continue, the greater the chance measles will again get a sustained foothold in the United States," the agency's statement warned.

Trump says he is holding big Pharma accountable in opioid fight

U.S. President Donald Trump touted progress in the fight against opioid abuse on Wednesday and promised to hold drugmakers accountable for their part in the crisis, a day after his administration brought its first related criminal charges against a major drug distributor and company executives. America's opioid epidemic, especially damaging in rural areas where Trump is popular, has been a focus for the Republican president. On Tuesday, the government charged drug distributor Rochester Drug Co-operative Inc and company executives for their role in fueling the epidemic.

U.S. measles cases at its highest since elimination in 2000: CDC

(Reuters) - The United States has recorded 695 measles cases from 22 states as of April 24, the largest number of cases reported in the country since measles was eliminated in 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.

Body of missing Illinois boy found in shallow grave, parents arrested

The remains of Andrew "AJ" Freund, wrapped in plastic, were found in a community near his home town of Crystal Lake, based on information provided to investigators by his mother and father, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Tom Kotlowski said in a statement. "To AJ's family, it is our hope that you may have some solace in knowing that AJ is no longer suffering and his killers have been brought to justice," Kotlowski said in the statement. "To AJ, we know you are at peace playing in heaven's playground and are happy you no longer have to suffer," he said.

NRA sues Los Angeles over law requiring disclosure of ties to gun rights group

Los Angeles was accused of trying to "silence NRA's voice, as well as the voices of all those who dare oppose the city's broad gun-control agenda," by cutting off revenue streams the group needs to advocate for the right to bear arms. At issue was an ordinance that took effect on April 1, requiring companies that want city contracts to disclose NRA contracts or sponsorships. The NRA said the law is unconstitutional because it violates its First Amendment right to free speech and association, and its 14th Amendment right to equal protection.

Ex-University of Texas tennis coach in college admissions scandal pleads guilty

The former head coach of the men's tennis team at the University of Texas at Austin pleaded guilty on Wednesday as part of deal to cooperate with prosecutors in their ongoing investigation of the U.S. college admissions scandal. Michael Center, 55, is among several sports coaches at universities including Yale and Georgetown who federal prosecutors in Boston say took bribes to designate students as fake athletic recruits as part of a $25 million scheme. Prosecutors have charged 50 people, including the actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, with participating in the scheme, which involved using bribery and cheating to help wealthy parents' children gain admission to universities.

Leader of self-styled U.S. citizen border patrol attacked in jail

The leader of an armed group that spent two months detaining migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, drawing condemnation from civil liberties advocates, was hospitalized after he was attacked in jail, his lawyer and authorities said. Larry Hopkins, 69, was in a hospital with broken ribs after being attacked on Tuesday at the Dona Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces in southern New Mexico, his attorney, Kelly O'Connell, said. The detention center confirmed on Wednesday that Hopkins, a federal detainee, was "the alleged victim" of a Tuesday night attack and that the incident was under investigation.

U.S. top court buttresses company power to arbitrate disputes

In a decision that could further help companies limit damages in disputes with workers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against a California man who was the victim of an online scam and sought to bring claims against his employer on behalf of a group of workers instead of just himself. In a 5-4 decision with the conservative justices in the majority and the liberals in dissent, the court overturned a lower court ruling that had allowed for the collective arbitration of the workers' claims against lighting retailer Lamps Plus, Inc. Lamps Plus warehouse employee Frank Varela filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of current and former employees accusing it of negligence, breach of contract and invasion of privacy after a hacker obtained his and other workers' personal information from the company.

U.S. federal judge to block Trump's new abortion rule: media, activists

A federal judge in the U.S. state of Oregon will block a move by the Trump administration to cut off federal money to family planning clinics that offer abortion or refer women to abortion providers, activists and media reports said late on Tuesday. President Donald Trump's new Title X rule, set to take effect in May, would halt government funds for Planned Parenthood clinics that subsidize birth control for low-income women, and other clinics that provide abortions. Critics say the plan is aimed at fulfilling Trump's campaign pledge to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides abortions and other health services for women.

White supremacist to be executed in Texas for dragging death of black man

John William "Bill" King, 44, is scheduled to die at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT) by lethal injection at the state’s death chamber in Huntsville. King along with Shawn Berry and Lawrence Brewer were accused of kidnapping Byrd while he hitchhiked in Jasper, Texas, on June 7, 1998.

Supreme Court stumped by the case of the unconscious drunken driver

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday wrestled with whether police need a court-issued warrant to draw an unconscious suspect's blood in a case involving a Wisconsin man convicted of drunken driving based on blood obtained without his consent. The nine justices appeared divided over the case as they heard about an hour of arguments in an appeal by the man, Gerald Mitchell, of state court rulings that endorsed the ability of police to test blood drawn from an unconscious person. Mitchell appealed a ruling by Wisconsin's highest court that the blood draw did not violate the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.

Self-styled citizen border patrol abandons New Mexico camp: police

SUNLAND PARK, N.M./TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - An armed group that has been stopping migrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border honored a request to leave their camp in New Mexico on Tuesday and appeared to be heading home, the local police chief said. The group's leader Larry Hopkins appeared in court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Monday to face firearms charges following his arrest on Saturday by the FBI. Sunland Park, New Mexico, Police Chief Javier Guerra said the group left their campsite outside the town following a request by the Union Pacific Railroad, which said they had trespassed on its land.

Florida judge won't release video in NFL Robert Kraft prostitution sting

The billionaire owner of the six-time Super Bowl champions is among dozens of men accused of soliciting prostitution inside Orchids of Asia Spa in Jupiter, Florida. Palm Peach County Judge Leonard Hanser said Kraft's right to a fair trial could be harmed if prosecutors release the video to media outlets, which requested the footage under Florida's robust open government laws.

Some 156 people in 10 states infected with E. coli from ground beef: CDC

No deaths have been reported but 20 people have been hospitalized after they were infected with the strain E. coli O103 since March 1, the CDC said on its website. The agency said an investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the contaminated ground beef that was supplied to grocery stores and restaurants. "At this time, no common supplier, distributor, or brand of ground beef has been identified," the CDC said.

U.S. brings first criminal case against major drug distributor over opioids

Rochester Drug Co-operative Inc (RDC), one of the 10 largest U.S. drug distributors, agreed to pay a $20 million fine and enter a five-year deferred prosecution agreement to resolve charges it turned a blind eye to thousands of suspicious orders for opioids. "We accept responsibility for those mistakes." Two former RDC executives were also charged, including Laurence Doud, who had been its chief executive for more than 25 years. The case marks a new U.S. effort to curtail the growing number of people addicted to opioids, including oxycodone and other prescription painkillers.

Supreme Court stumped by the case of the unconscious drunken driver

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday wrestled with whether police need a court-issued warrant to draw an unconscious suspect's blood in a case involving a Wisconsin man convicted of drunken driving based on blood obtained without his consent. The nine justices appeared divided over the case as they heard about an hour of arguments in an appeal by the man, Gerald Mitchell, of state court rulings that endorsed the ability of police to test blood drawn from an unconscious person. Mitchell appealed a ruling by Wisconsin's highest court that the blood draw did not violate the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.

Former U.S. vice president Biden to announce 2020 election run on Thursday

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will announce on Thursday that he is seeking the Democratic Party's presidential nomination for the 2020 election, a source familiar with the plans said on Tuesday. Biden, 76, a longtime senator who served for eight years under Democratic President Barack Obama, would join a crowded field of nearly 20 other candidates seeking to defeat Republican President Donald Trump. Biden is expected to make his announcement by video and would bring an end to months of speculation about whether he would challenge Trump, who followed Obama in the White House following his 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Supreme Court poised to give Trump victory on census citizenship question

The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority on Tuesday appeared poised to hand President Donald Trump a victory on his administration's plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, a move opponents call a Republican effort to deter immigrants from taking part. Conservative justices signaled during arguments in the closely watched case a willingness to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked the question and appeared untroubled by the administration's stated justification for using the citizenship question in the decennial population count.

Florida high school, scene of massacre, wins prize to help fund senior prom

Hollister, which is owned by Abercrombie & Fitch Co, said on Tuesday that the Parkland, Florida, school has won its Prom X Hollister Contest. The prize money can be spent on booking a musical artist for its prom, according to the contest's rules.

Ex-USC soccer coach to plead guilty in college admissions scandal

A former University of Southern California assistant women's soccer coach has agreed to plead guilty to engaging in a racketeering scheme in which she accepted bribes to help wealthy parents get their children into the school as part of the largest college admissions scandal in U.S. history. Laura Janke, who worked at USC until 2014, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to commit racketeering, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court in Boston on Tuesday. "Full House" star Loughlin has pleaded not guilty, while "Desperate Housewives" actress Huffman is due to plead guilty on May 21.

Medicare hospital fund reserves likely to be exhausted in 2026: U.S. report

The report from the board of trustees for Social Security and Medicare also projected that Social Security funds could be depleted by 2035, leading to potential reductions in expected payouts to retirees and other beneficiaries. Senator Bernie Sanders, among a large field of contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, has unveiled a "Medicare-for-All" plan that would eliminate private insurance and shift all Americans to a public healthcare plan. "At a time when some are calling for a complete government takeover of the American health care system, the Medicare Trustees have delivered a dose of reality in reminding us that the program's main trust fund for hospital services can only pay full benefits for seven more years," Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), said.

Leader of armed group at U.S. border boasted of assassination training: FBI

LAS CRUCES, N.M./TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - The head of an armed group that stops migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally allegedly boasted of training volunteers to kill former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, an FBI agent said in court papers. Larry Hopkins, leader of the United Constitutional Patriots, appeared in court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Monday to face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The FBI said it found guns during a 2017 visit to his home.

U.S. appeals court denies Manning's bail request, upholds contempt finding

The ruling is a blow to Manning, who has been detained since March after she declined to answer questions in connection with the government’s long-running investigation into Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange. In a comment released by a spokesman, Manning said that while disappointing, the appeals court ruling will still allow her to "raise issues as the government continues to abuse the grand jury process." "I don't have anything to contribute to this, or any other grand jury," Manning added. Assange was arrested on April 11 at Ecuador's Embassy in London, after U.S. prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia unsealed a criminal case against him alleging he conspired with Manning to commit computer intrusion.

Boys now allowed to dance on Minnesota high school teams

The change announced on Friday night by the Minnesota State High School League followed a March 6 decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota blocking the rule's enforcement. Roughly one-third of U.S. states offer competitive dance as a high school sport, but Minnesota had been the last to restrict it to girls. In a memo to school activities directors and posted on its Facebook page, the league said the settlement avoids protracted litigation, and will allow boys to join competitive dance teams beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

Medicare hospital fund reserves likely to be exhausted in 2026: U.S. report

The report from the board of trustees for Social Security and Medicare also projected that Social Security funds could be depleted by 2035, leading to potential reductions in expected payouts to retirees and other beneficiaries. Senator Bernie Sanders, among a large field of contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, has unveiled a "Medicare-for-All" plan that would eliminate private insurance and shift all Americans to a public healthcare plan. "At a time when some are calling for a complete government takeover of the American health care system, the Medicare Trustees have delivered a dose of reality in reminding us that the program's main trust fund for hospital services can only pay full benefits for seven more years," Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), said.

U.S. Supreme Court takes up major gay, transgender job discrimination cases

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether U.S. law banning workplace discrimination on the basis of sex protects gay and transgender workers, as the conservative-majority court waded into a fierce dispute involving a divisive social issue. At issue in the high-profile legal fight is whether gay and transgender people are covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex as well as race, color, national origin and religion. President Donald Trump's administration has argued that Title VII does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity.

Philadelphia can exclude foster agency that won't work with same-sex couples: court

In a 3-0 decision, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Catholic Social Services failed to show that the placement freeze amounted to religious persecution or bias, violating its First Amendment rights to free speech and religious freedom. Circuit Judge Thomas Ambro said Philadelphia was trying merely to stop what it considered a "clear violation" of a city anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation, making a preliminary injunction inappropriate.

U.S. records 71 new measles cases in week as outbreak spreads

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had recorded 626 cases of the highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease in 22 states as of April 19, the highest rate of infection in five years. The CDC had previously reported 555 cases in 20 states between Jan. 1 and April 11. The current outbreak will likely surpass the 2014 outbreak in number of cases, the CDC said on Monday.

FBI arrests leader of armed group stopping migrants in New Mexico

The arrest came two days after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused the group of illegally detaining migrants and New Mexico's Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered an investigation. Hopkins, 69, also known as Johnny Horton, was arrested in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. "We're not worried about it, he's going to be cleared," said Jim Benvie, a spokesman for the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), blaming his arrest on political pressure from Lujan Grisham.