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Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Quarterback Winston files counterclaim against rape accuser

Heisman-winning quarterback Jameis Winston on Friday filed a counterclaim against a woman who accused him of raping her in 2012 while she was a student at Florida State University, court records show. Attorneys for Winston, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the first overall pick in the National Football League draft last Thursday, said in the filing against Erica Kinsman that her claims harmed his career and personal life.

Nine Georgia deputies fired over black inmate's death

Nine sheriff's deputies in Georgia were fired on Friday over the New Year's Day death of a black inmate who had been placed in restraints, officials said. The dismissals come amid a series of killings by police in cities including of Baltimore, New York, and Ferguson, Missouri over the past year that have raised questions about officers' use of lethal force, especially against black men and other minority groups.

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NYC judge declares mistrial in 1979 Etan Patz murder case

A judge declared a mistrial on Friday in the marathon trial of Pedro Hernandez, who had confessed to killing Etan Patz, the New York City boy whose 1979 disappearance raised awareness of the plight of missing and abducted children and their families. Immediately after state Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley's mistrial ruling, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon requested a second trial for Hernandez.

U.S. Justice Department launches civil rights probe of Baltimore policing

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday announced a federal civil rights investigation into the legality of the Baltimore's police department's use of force and whether there are "systemic violations" as well as any pattern of discriminatory policing. The announcement came less than one month after the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man injured in police custody, sparked outrage in Maryland's largest city, although the department's wider investigation is not specifically tied to his individual case.

Tropical storm warning expanded for Carolinas as Ana strengthens

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Meteorologists expanded a tropical storm warning for part of the North Carolina and South Caroline coastline on Friday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Subtropical storm Ana, the first named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, was on the verge of becoming a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (72 km per hour), according to the Miami-based weather agency announced.

'Re-homing' couple exposed by Reuters is indicted on kidnap charges

An Arizona couple who used an underground online market for acquiring children has been charged with kidnapping two minors and transporting one across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. The suspects, Nicole and Calvin Eason, came to authorities' attention as a result of "The Child Exchange," a Reuters series in 2013 that exposed how Americans were using Yahoo message boards, Facebook groups and other online sites to "re-home" unwanted children.

Los Angeles gives first approval to earthquake rules for cell towers

Los Angeles is close to having the first-ever seismic standards for building cellphone towers in the United States, as leaders gave preliminary approval on Friday to regulations intended to ensure residents will be able to communicate following a major earthquake. The rules, which still must be approved by the Los Angeles City Council on a second vote as early as next week, are the first seismic standards for cell phone towers in the United States, officials say.

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San Diego police chief orders officers to keep body cameras on

San Diego's police chief, already conducting a probe into why a body camera worn by one of her policemen was not turned on when he shot and killed an Afghan immigrant, has ordered all of the department's officers to turn them on before arriving at calls. San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman on Thursday promised a full investigation into why Officer Neal Browder did not have his camera turned on when he shot and killed Fridoon Rawshannehad in an alley behind an adult bookstore on April 30.

Exclusive: Why a U.S. company's chairman threw support behind Prophet Mohammad cartoon event

Robert Shillman heads a publicly traded American technology company called Cognex Corp with a market value of $4 billion. He also says he is a big supporter of last Sunday's Prophet Mohammad cartoon contest in Texas that was attacked by two gunmen who opened fire before being shot dead by police. In a telephone interview with Reuters from his home near San Diego, California, Shillman said America's free speech is under threat. He added that violent attacks on such events are making people fearful and prone to self censorship. Many Muslims regard depictions of the prophet - such as the caricatures displayed at the event - as offensive and against the religion's teachings.

Thousands attend funeral for slain New York City policeman

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Thousands of policemen from around the United States gathered on Friday at the funeral of a 25-year-old New York City officer who was shot in the head while on patrol, making him the third member of the NYPD killed in the line of duty since December. Services for the New York Police Department's Brian Moore at a Roman Catholic church in a Long Island suburb were attended by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner William Bratton and dozens of other dignitaries.

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