National Roundup

Illinois Police: Man tried to back semi rig into courthouse EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A trucker upset about child-support matters is charged with felony criminal property damage after police say he intentionally tried backing his tractor-trailer into a southwestern Illinois courthouse. Edwardsville Police Chief James Bedell says 42-year-old Roy Conger's attempt to ram the Madison County courthouse on Monday failed when the Collinsville man's semi rig got stuck on the property's steps. Police say Conger left the scene and surrendered at the nearby county jail. He's charged with criminal damage to state-supported property valued at more than $500. Conger earlier this month sought to have his child-support payments reduced after he lost his job. He was jailed Tuesday on $25,000 bond. He couldn't be reached for comment, and it isn't clear if he has an attorney. California Judge signs off on $1.5M Terminix settlement SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A federal judge in San Francisco has approved a $1.5 million settlement for more than 1,200 employees of pest-control company Terminix who said they were wrongfully denied overtime. The employees claimed in a May 2008 lawsuit that they worked long hours without overtime, rest breaks and meal periods while out on termite inspection calls. They were training to be termite inspectors. Terminix argued that termite inspections were sales activities, so they were not subject to state overtime regulations. The inspections are often free. Terminix makes money if the potential customer agrees to buy follow-up services or products. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston rejected the company's argument in June. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that she endorsed the settlement on Friday. Pennsylvania State Sen. free on bond on new perjury, forgery charges PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Republican state Sen. Jane Orie is scheduled to appear in court next week to answer 16 new charges including perjury and forgery stemming from her testimony and allegedly forged defense documents introduced during a trial earlier this year on charges she used her state-funded staff to do political work. Orie didn't comment as she turned herself in Monday night to be arraigned on the new charges filed by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. Her brother, Jack Orie, who is also an attorney, says the senator is "shocked" by the new charges which suggest Orie herself scanned a document that a judge later determined to be a forgery, prompting him to declare a mistrial of her corruption trial in March. A preliminary hearing on the new charges has been set for Sept. 7. Maine Killings prompt domestic violence bill AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- A bill prompted by the killings of a mother and her two children in Dexter in June is being prepared for consideration by the Maine Legislature. State Rep. Ken Fredette has submitted a bill title to amend Maine's bail code to require consideration of domestic violence when setting bail for people charged with crimes. The Newport Republican says details of the legislation are still under development, but it will likely include provisions regarding whether a suspect has a history of domestic violence or other violent acts. Legislative leaders must decide whether to allow the bill to be considered during the session that starts in January. Domestic violence led to the killings June 13 of Amy Lake, a kindergarten teacher in Dexter, and her children, 12-year-old Monica and 13-year-old Coty. Louisiana Appeals court to review prison newspaper ban NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The state of Louisiana is asking a federal appeals court to rule that the state's prisons can ban inmates from receiving copies of The Final Call newspaper published by the Nation of Islam. The state wants the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a judge's ruling that the David Wade Correctional Center must deliver copies of the newspaper to Henry Leonard, a convicted murderer who claimed the Homer prison violated his right to free exercise of religion. A three-judge panel is scheduled to hear the case Tuesday. Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell's office says the newspaper contains racist rhetoric that poses a security threat. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana says banning The Final Call from prisons is unconstitutional and has no connection to preventing violence. West Virginia Mercer Co. judge to preside over Monsanto case CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A Mercer County judge will preside over a class-action lawsuit that alleges dioxin pollution from a former Monsanto Co. plant The state Supreme Court says Chief Justice Margaret Workman appointed Circuit Judge Derek Swope on Monday. Swope replaces Putnam County Circuit Court Judge O.C. Spaulding. Spaulding announced Friday that he was stepping aside from the case because he's been diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. The Supreme Court says Swope has postponed the trial, which was supposed to begin on Sept. 6. The case involves thousands of current and former Nitro residents who blame Monsanto for polluting residential properties and streams. The cases were consolidated into a class-action lawsuit in 2008. During the Monsanto trial, Senior Status Judge James Holliday will preside over Spaulding's other cases. California Defendant thought elderly victim was gang member LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A Southern California man acting as his own attorney in an assault case has told jurors he acted in self-defense because he thought the 69-year-old woman was a gang member. Hawthorne police officers found 50-year-old Gary LaBon on top of the unconscious woman with his pants down outside a home two years ago. The woman was collecting aluminum cans for recycling when she was raped and choked. The Torrance Daily Breeze says LaBon told jurors on Monday that he feared for his life because he believed the woman was a gang member. The judge ordered jurors to disregard most of LaBon's closing argument, saying it wasn't based on evidence presented during the trial. Jurors reached verdicts Monday on some rape, attempted murder and kidnapping counts. Deliberations continued Tuesday. Published: Wed, Aug 31, 2011