Reuters US Domestic News Summary

09/03/2016 19:55

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Clown sightings spook South Carolina, perplex police

One clown showed up on a roadside in a rain poncho, another waved money at children near woods. The reported sightings of silent, menacing clowns in northeastern South Carolina may be part of a horror movie publicity stunt or an elaborate hoax, but they are no laughing matter for parents and police.

SpaceX to shift Florida launches to new pad after explosion

SpaceX said on Friday it would shift Florida flights to a nearly completed second site after damage to its launch pad on Thursday from the explosion of a rocket belonging to the space services company run by Elon Musk. The Federal Aviation Administration has sent seven people to Florida to supervise investigation of the disaster, said FAA spokesman Hank Price. The agency, which oversees U.S. commercial rocket launches, requires that SpaceX's flights be suspended pending results of the probe.

Ex-Subway pitchman blames victim's parents for her 'destructive behaviors'

Former Subway sandwich pitchman Jared Fogle, who is in prison for child pornography and sex with minors convictions, has responded to a lawsuit filed on behalf of one of his underaged female victims by blaming her parents for what he called "destructive behaviors" such as drinking and drug abuse. Fogle, 38, who became famous after shedding weight on a diet that included sandwiches from the fast-food chain, pleaded guilty in November 2015 to charges of child pornography and traveling for illicit paid sex with minors.

Shooter wounds two in California jail, suspect held

Two Fresno County, California, sheriff's employees were wounded in a shooting at the county jail on Saturday, and a suspect is in custody, authorities said. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said the shooting took place in the jail's main lobby. The two wounded people were taken to a hospital, and their conditions were unknown, the office said in a statement.

Trump calls for new civil rights agenda in visit to black church

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stepped up his bid to win over minority voters by addressing a largely black church in Detroit on Saturday and calling for a new civil rights agenda to support African-Americans. As scores of protesters outside chanted "No justice, no peace," Trump said he wanted to make Detroit - a predominantly African-American city which recently emerged from bankruptcy - the economic envy of the world by bringing back companies from abroad.

Hermine strengthens off North Carolina en route to Middle Atlantic

A powerful Atlantic storm strengthened on Saturday afternoon after passing over North Carolina's Outer Banks en route to the U.S. Middle Atlantic coast, where it was expected to spoil the Labor Day holiday weekend with high winds, soaking rains and surging seas. The storm, dubbed Hermine and classified as a Category 1 hurricane until it lost power while cutting across Florida and Georgia, was expected to push slowly up the coast before stalling off New Jersey, where it could linger for days.

Former New York mayor David Dinkins sued for alleged hit-and-run

Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins denied on Saturday an accusation in a lawsuit that he plowed into a bicycle deliveryman while driving on a Manhattan street and then fled. Deliveryman Rodrigo Garcia alleged that a car driven by the 89-year-old former politician struck him on June 30 as Garcia was stopped to make a turn on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Police did not file any charges, Garcia's attorney said.

Oklahoma rocked by one of its strongest earthquakes

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in Oklahoma rattled the area northwest of Pawnee on Saturday, fueling growing concern about seismic activity linked to energy production, a federal agency said. The magnitude 5.6 quake, which was felt from South Dakota to Texas, prompted the closure of some 35 wastewater disposal wells in the area, officials said.

Anger as ex-Stanford swimmer freed after three months for sex assault

A former Stanford University swimmer whose six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman caused uproar was released from jail on Friday after serving half of his time. Controversy over the short sentence for Brock Turner, a one-time U.S. Olympic hopeful, has stoked the intense debate about sexual assault on U.S. college campuses.

Atlantic City, NJ, police officer critically wounded, suspect slain

A suspect was shot dead and an Atlantic City, New Jersey, police officer critically wounded on Saturday when police exchanged gunfire with a group of six men allegedly engaged in criminal activity, the county prosecutor's office said. Authorities asked for the public's help in identifying the remaining suspects, who fled the scene following the shooting, and posted a $20,000 reward for information leading to their arrest and conviction.

09/03/2016 19:55