Reuters US Domestic News Summary

San Bernardino to release bankruptcy exit plan on May 14

Almost three years after declaring bankruptcy, the southern California city of San Bernardino will issue its long-awaited bankruptcy exit plan on Thursday, May 14, the city mayor said on Friday. San Bernardino mayor Carey Davis told Reuters in a telephone interview that a copy of the bankruptcy plan, known as a plan of adjustment, will be attached to the agenda for the next council meeting, which will be posted online next Thursday.

Man arrested in California over sex crime attempt caught on video

A man suspected of following a 13-year-old Northern California girl from school and then attempting to assault her inside her Bay Area home in an incident captured on video has been arrested, authorities said on Friday. Mohammad Khaliqi, 31 of San Jose, was arrested on Friday and held on suspicion of burglary, attempted sexual assault and false imprisonment, according to Sergeant Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department.

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.

'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.

Two charged with conspiracy, fraud for Photobucket.com breach

Federal prosecutors charged two men on Friday with conspiracy and fraud after they allegedly breached the computer systems of Denver-based Photobucket and sold passwords and access to private information on the giant photo-sharing website. Brandon Bourret, 39, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Athanasios Andrianakis, 26, of Sunnyvale, California, were arrested at their homes, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.

Deadline may force compromise on U.S. surveillance law

U.S. Senate Republican leaders insist that spy agencies continue to have access to data on Americans' telephone calls despite a court ruling that the practice is illegal, but aides said on Friday they may have to compromise on proposed reforms of the program before it expires on June 1. Senate aides said the deadline could force supporters and opponents of the bulk data collection program to work out a deal before May ends. In practice the date may be even earlier as Congress leaves Washington on May 22 for a Memorial Day recess.

San Francisco prosecutors dismiss eight cases in police texts probe

San Francisco prosecutors reviewing thousands of arrests linked to 14 police officers who traded racist and homophobic text messages have dismissed eight criminal cases in an ongoing review, the District Attorney's Office said on Friday. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón created a task force of prosecutors to examine the integrity of 3,000 arrests involving the officers, whose text messages surfaced in March as part of a federal corruption probe. On Thursday he named three retired judges to join the group, suggesting they would bring an independent view to the cases.

Thousands attend funeral for slain New York City policeman

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.