The national Do Not Call registry will resume accepting phone numbers Thursday from people who do not want to be bothered by telemarketers.
The Federal Trade Commission shut down new registration last week after a federal court ordered the agency to stop operating the list. But the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver temporarily blocked the lower court’s decision Tuesday, allowing the registry to restart. Consumers can register home or cell phone numbers by visiting www.donotcall.gov or calling 1-888-382-1222.
PLEA ENTERED: A man accused of killing the half-sister of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams pleaded innocent Wednesday to murder and other charges. The suspect, Aaron Michael Hammer, was scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22, when a date for his preliminary hearing would be set. Yetunde Price, 31, was shot Sept. 14 while riding with a companion in Compton.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES GAINING: Nearly one in five Americans speaks a language other than English at home, the Census Bureau says, after a surge of nearly 50 percent during the past decade. Most speak Spanish, followed by Chinese, with Russian rising fast.
LIFE-SUPPORT DEBATE: A Florida judge refused Wednesday to delay next week’s scheduled removal of the feeding tube keeping a severely brain-damaged woman alive.
Terri Schiavo, 39, is at the center of a long legal battle between her parents, who want her kept alive, and her husband and legal guardian, who says she never would have wanted to live by artificial means.
SUICIDE PACT THWARTED: Parents of nine Des Moines high school students were awakened before dawn by police officers sent to warn them of a suspected suicide pact involving their children, a week after a classmate hanged himself.
Lincoln High School Principal Al Graziano said a student was overheard talking about suicide Monday night, and later told authorities that others were involved.
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Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and Michael Morgan (mnmorgan@tribune.com)
