Police beefed up patrols around national landmarks Wednesday, a day after Washington, D.C.’s, police chief declared a crime emergency in response to a string of violence that included the killing of a British activist. At least 14 people have been killed there this month, and in the last 30 days robberies have risen 14 percent, and armed assaults have jumped 18 percent.
Trial starts In Xbox killings
A prosecutor in the case of three men accused of killing six friends over an Xbox video game system told the jury Wednesday that the victims were beaten and stabbed to death “in a matter of minutes.” Prosecutors in St. Augustine, Fla., will seek the death penalty against Troy Victorino, 29, Michael Salas, 20, and Jerone Hunter, 20, if they are convicted.
Landlord nabbed over child porn
Investigators in Bloomington, Calif., said a landlord won the trust of parents and lured their children to his residence, where he had equipped a room with bunk beds, cameras and movies. Earl Venton Buchanan, 62, pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges last week in federal court. He has not yet been charged with molestation.
Wildfire rages in desert
Firefighters evacuated dozens of homes Wednesday as a wildfire raced across 26,000 acres of desert and destroyed 30 homes and buildings in an area where Hollywood Westerns were filmed. Historic buildings in the Old West movie set area of Pioneertown had been spared, but several other structures were destroyed, fire officials said Wednesday. Wind exceeding 40 mph fanned the flames.
AND FINALLY
So much for the safe driving
Two vehicles crashed and four people were arrested during an exciting gasoline giveaway Wednesday to reward the city of Milwaukee for its safe-driving record. For the most part, hundreds of drivers waited patiently for hours for about $30 worth of free gasoline each that Allstate Insuranceprovided at one sta
