Nurse pleads no contest to smuggling drugs into Lee County jail

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A nurse accused of smuggling drugs into the Lee County jail pleaded no contest in court on Monday. Investigators say Robin Yanda snuck contraband into jail through diabetic snacks. Yanda and inmate Robert Loveland had nearly 300 phone conversations, talking about how she could sneak items into the jail for him, authorities said. Yanda […]

Families of 10 sailors aboard sunken freighter settle claims

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – The families of ten sailors aboard a cargo ship that sank in a hurricane last year have settled claims with the vessel’s owner. The Florida Times-Union reports (http://bit.ly/1Qwxr8W ) that each of the families will receive $500,000 each in the settlement with Tote Maritime Puerto Rico. The 790-foot freighter El Faro […]

AP sources: Bomb in San Bernardino attack was poorly built

WASHINGTON (AP) – A homemade bomb left behind by the husband and wife who perpetrated a mass shooting at a California social services center failed to detonate because it was poorly constructed, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The failure compelled Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 29, to drive around the […]

2016: The year of the political app?

(SWEEPS FEED)- Election season is in full swing, and with the presidential nomination up for grabs in both parties, staying on top of all things political can be a tall order. Now, new apps are designed to help voters stay informed, and even identify the candidate that best fits their views. For busy college student […]

Big East looks like beast, NCAA Tournament to tell tale

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – When the Big East underwent its metamorphosis in 2013 and returned to its basketball-centric roots, the question was whether the conference could recapture the magic of its heyday. The initial answer wasn’t promising. Four of its 10 teams reached the NCAA Tournament and none made it past the first weekend. “I […]

Amid heavy security, Egypt marks 5th anniversary of uprising

CAIRO (AP) – Amid heavy security Monday, Egypt marked the fifth anniversary of the uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with activists taking to social media – but not the streets – to express frustration that their demands for freedom and democracy had not been realized. Many activists instead posted photos from 2011 of […]

UN envoy lowers expectations ahead of Syria talks on Friday

GENEVA (AP) – Lowering expectations about his ability to help end Syria’s civil war, the U.N. special envoy announced talks between government and opposition representatives will start on Friday to embark on a six-month process that he hopes will include civil society and women’s groups. Staffan de Mistura raised nearly as many questions as he […]

South African prosecutors argue against Pistorius appeal

JOHANNESBURG (AP) – South African prosecutors have asked the nation’s highest court to reject a bid by Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers to appeal the double-amputee runner’s murder conviction, a spokesman said Monday. The National Prosecuting Authority filed papers with the Constitutional Court arguing that Pistorius’ appeal was not valid, said Luvuyo Mfaku, a prosecution spokesman. Lawyers […]

Libya lost $68B from attacks on oil, industry chief says

LONDON (AP) – Libya will fall further into chaos if its political factions don’t quickly form a unity government, the head of the state oil company warned Monday, noting the country has already lost some $68 billion in oil sales because of attacks by Islamic extremists. Mustafa Sanalla, who is in London to attend a […]