Libya’s chief revolutionary leader calls for civil, democratic state
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The chief of Libya’s revolutionary movement told thousands of cheering Libyans in Tripoli on Monday to strive for a civil, democratic state, while loyalists of the hunted dictator Moammar Gadhafi killed at least 15 opposition fighters in an attack on a key oil town in Libya’s east.
From hiding, Gadhafi urged his remaining followers to keep up the fight, a sign that Libya’s six-month civil war is not over even though revolutionary forces now control most of the country.
Former escort boss’ story puts UK treasurer Osborne in spotlight
LONDON (AP) — A dominatrix’s sensational story of sex, cocaine and tabloid wrongdoing has revived questions over the relationship between Rupert Murdoch’s scandal-hungry News of the World and Britain’s Treasury chief, George Osborne.
Former escort boss Natalie Rowe, in a television interview being broadcast later Monday, is claiming that the tabloid deliberately twisted her claims that she and the Conservative Party politician used to snort cocaine together years ago so that Osborne was not tainted in the scandal.
Six oil workers rescued in Gulf of Mexico after tropical storm are stable
CIUDAD DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Six oil workers who were rescued alive after floating for three days in the Gulf of Mexico are stable and conscious, though suffering from bumps and bruises and sunburnt after weathering a tropical storm, a doctor overseeing their treatment said Monday.
All were transferred from a hospital run by Mexico’s state oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, to a private clinic, according to Dr. Liliana Santana.
Children in Texas town return to school after destructive wildfire
BASTROP, Texas (AP) — Paying attention in class may never have been so hard for children who started school Monday after the most destructive wildfire in Texas history left hundreds of their families homeless and many with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Fed by howling winds whipped up by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, flames streaked across drought-stricken Texas, where more than 190 fires statewide have killed four people.
School police officer Stenroos convicted of fraud in fake shooting
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A school policeman who claimed to have been shot while on patrol, sparking a massive manhunt and a school lockdown, was convicted Monday of fraud and other offenses for making the whole thing up.
In a non-jury trial, Superior Court Judge Richard H. Kirschner convicted Officer Jeff Stenroos of felony counts of planting false evidence, insurance fraud, giving false evidence, workers compensation fraud and a misdemeanor count of making a false report of an emergency.
Jindal endorses Texas governnor Rick Perry for president
WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal endorsed Rick Perry for president on Monday, calling the Texas governor “the candidate who can lead our party to victory in 2012.”
Jindal and Perry announced the endorsement before Monday night’s GOP presidential debate in Tampa, Fla., just hours after former Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney, Perry’s most significant rival for the Republican nomination.
48 accused cocaine, heroin dealers charged in Ascension Parish
(AP) — An undercover investigation ongoing since April has led to charges against 48 accused drug dealers in Ascension Parish for distributing cocaine, heroin and other illegal substances.
U.S. Attorney Don Cazayoux, representing the Middle District of Louisiana, based in Baton Rouge, announced the charges Monday with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders.
Federal grand jury indictments were issued against 25 people, and state drug warrants were issued for 23 people. Cazayoux says most of the accused had been arrested by mid-day Monday.