Today News: August 2018

Colorado man sentenced to 11 years for aiding Uzbek militants

A Colorado man convicted of providing material support to a U.S.-designated terrorist group in his native Uzbekistan was sentenced on Thursday to 11 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2NwQJgn

New Mexico prosecutor vows charges after compound members released

A New Mexico district attorney vowed on Thursday to reinstate child abuse charges against three defendants from a remote compound after a procedural fumble by his team led to their release, sparking a public outcry.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2MGujgw

U.S. argues Harvard admissions policies harm Asian-Americans

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday backed a lawsuit accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian-American applicants, throwing its support behind a case that could impact the use of race-based college admissions.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2NwQDp1

California set to serve healthy, 'ethical' food to prisoners

California lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill requiring hospitals, healthcare facilities and prisons to offer plant-based meals, saying that even inmates deserve to have healthy and "ethical" meal choices.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2opK50v

U.S. top court rebuffs Catholic agency over same-sex foster care

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Thursday to force the city of Philadelphia to resume the placement of children in need of foster care with a Catholic agency that refuses to accept gay couples as foster parents.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2NG4ERe

Housing funds for Puerto Ricans who fled Hurricane Maria must end: U.S. judge

More than a thousand Puerto Rican families who fled Hurricane Maria will get two more weeks of U.S.-funded housing in hotels and motels across the country but will then need to fend for themselves, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2MGhtP5

Longtime Trump driver's overtime lawsuit moved to private arbitration

A lawsuit by a former personal driver for U.S. President Donald Trump who has claimed that Trump's company failed to pay him for thousands of hours of overtime has been moved from federal court to private arbitration, the man's lawyer said on Thursday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2Piztfp

NCAA clears Michigan State in Nassar scandal: university

A National Collegiate Athletic Association review found that Michigan State University did not violate the organization's rules in dealing with former school physician Larry Nassar, who was convicted of molesting hundreds of female gymnasts, the university said on Thursday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2op2p9Z

Thousands of teachers in Washington state strike over salaries

Nearly 80,000 students in Washington state were unable to attend the first day of school this week as thousands of teachers went on strike seeking higher salaries, teacher's unions said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2PiR8DM

U.S. army sergeant in Hawaii admits supporting Islamic State

A U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Hawaii will serve 25 years in prison after admitting he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group, federal prosecutors said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2PNKNkG

“As the North Wind Howled”

Yu Hua’s flash-fiction story “As the North Wind Howled,” about the death of a friend.

from Book Reviews and News, Literary Criticism, and Fiction http://bit.ly/2wpjKEn

Catholic bishops in Australia reject compulsory abuse reporting, defying new laws

The Catholic church in Australia said on Friday it would oppose laws forcing priests to report child abuse when they learn about it in the confessional, setting the stage for a showdown between the country's biggest religion and the government.