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WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study shows that federal judges are handing out widely disparate sentences for similar crimes 30 years after Congress tried to create fairer results, but the differences don't line up with the party of the president who appointed the judges, despite any impressions that Republicans or Democrats may be tougher or softer on crime....

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study shows that federal judges are handing out widely disparate sentences for similar crimes 30 years after Congress tried to create fairer results, but the differences don't line up with the party of the president who appointed the judges, despite any impressions that Republicans or Democrats may be tougher or softer on crime....

OAK BROOK TERRACE, Ill. (AP) -- For the first time in public, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy promised his department will never conduct blanket surveillance of Muslims like the New York Police Department did in Newark, N.J., when he was chief there....

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (AP) -- Officials in Indiana have lowered the state's death toll from Friday's tornado outbreak to 12 people from the previous 14 and are now concentrating on cleanup work....

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (AP) -- Officials in Indiana have lowered the state's death toll from Friday's tornado outbreak to 12 people from the previous 14 and are now concentrating on cleanup work....

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (AP) -- Officials in Indiana have lowered the state's death toll from Friday's tornado outbreak to 12 people from the previous 14 and are now concentrating on cleanup work....

EAST BERNSTADT, Ky. (AP) — The stories from tornado survivors across the South and Midwest were remarkable: Schoolchildren took cover under desks; people hunkered down in a church basement or hid out in a bank vault; one family even piled on top of one another for protection.

One of the ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A custody battle in Florida between two lesbians could fuel the growing national debate over the definition of motherhood....

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A custody battle in Florida between two lesbians could fuel the growing national debate over the definition of motherhood....

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A custody battle in Florida between two lesbians could fuel the growing national debate over the definition of motherhood....

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A custody battle in Florida between two lesbians could fuel the growing national debate over the definition of motherhood....

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A custody battle in Florida between two lesbians could fuel the growing national debate over the definition of motherhood....

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Hundreds of concert-goers waiting outside an Arizona nightclub for a hip-hop show fled in panic as shooting erupted involving three gunmen, leaving at least 14 people wounded. Police arrested one suspect and were hunting two others.

"People were running in all different directions, and some people ...

EAST BERNSTADT, Ky. (AP) -- The stories from tornado survivors across the South and Midwest were remarkable: schoolchildren took cover under desks, people hunkered down in a church basement or hid out in a bank vault. One family even piled on top of one another for protection....

The patdown down was reasonable based on the strong smell of marijuana coming from defendant’s department. The feel of a baggy in the pocket was plain feel. State v. Banks, 2012 Iowa App. LEXIS 173 (February 29, 2012):

At the suppression hearing, Officer Younie testified he felt the crunch or crinkle of plastic in Banks's front pants pocket. Based on his experience he knew marijuana is routinely packaged in plastic baggies. He smelled the odor of burnt marijuana, and therefore, he opined the item in Banks's pocket was packaged marijuana. Officer Younie acknowledged that it was possible the baggie may have contained something other than marijuana, but as stated above, absolute certainty is not required. In addition, in his police report Officer Younie stated that he felt something in the pocket during the pat-down and that it felt like a plastic bag with a soft substance inside. We believe this evidence provided Officer Younie with probable cause to believe the item he felt in Banks's pocket was contraband, justifying his seizure of the item during the Terry pat-down.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study shows that federal judges are handing out widely disparate sentences for similar crimes 30 years after Congress tried to create fairer results, but the differences don't line up with the party of the president who appointed the judges, despite any impressions that Republicans or Democrats may be tougher or softer on crime....

EAST BERNSTADT, Ky. (AP) -- The stories from tornado survivors across the South and Midwest were remarkable: schoolchildren took cover under desks, people hunkered down in a church basement or hid out in a bank vault. One family even piled on top of one another for protection....

NEW YORK (AP) -- BP's multibillion-dollar settlement with people and businesses harmed by its 2010 oil spill removes some uncertainty about the potential financial damages it faces. It also may help the company restore its all-important relationship with the federal government....

NEW YORK (AP) -- BP's multibillion-dollar settlement with people and businesses harmed by its 2010 oil spill removes some uncertainty about the potential financial damages it faces. It also may help the company restore its all-important relationship with the federal government....

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh apologized Saturday to a Georgetown University law student he had branded a "slut" and "prostitute" after fellow Republicans as well as Democrats criticized him and several advertisers left his program....