4 firefighters die in Houston blaze

4 firefighters die in Houston blaze

HOUSTON

Four firefighters searching for people they thought might be trapped in a blazing Houston motel and restaurant Friday were killed when the part of the structure collapsed and ensnared them, authorities said.

At least five other firefighters were hospitalized in the blaze that became the deadliest in the 118-year history of the Houston Fire Department.

Ill. governor gets concealed-carry bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.

Illinois would join the rest of the nation in allowing the carrying of concealed weapons under legislation approved by the General Assembly on Friday — hours before lawmakers were scheduled to adjourn for the summer and days before a federal court’s deadline.

The gun measure was a hard-fought compromise between gun-rights activists across the state and gun-control advocates trying to keep a lid on crime in Chicago. It now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, who has not indicated whether he will sign it.

Judge to Google: Give data to FBI

SAN FRANCISCO

A federal judge has ordered Google Inc. to comply with FBI warrantless demands for customer data.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston on Tuesday rejected Google’s argument that the so-called National Security Letters the company received from the FBI were unconstitutional and unnecessary. Judge Illston ordered Google to comply with the secret demands even though she found the letters unconstitutional in March in a separate case filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

She acknowledged as much in her four-page order in the Google case made May 20 and obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.

Judge nixes ex-Ark. official’s guilty plea

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner admitted Friday that she accepted $36,000 from a broker who did business with the state, but a federal judge rejected her attempt to plead guilty to a crime because she denied allegations that she intentionally steered business to the broker’s firm.

In an impromptu hearing, Shoffner acknowledged taking a series of $6,000 cash payments — at times delivered in a pie box — from a broker who is cooperating with federal investigators. She told U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes, however, that she didn’t deliberately direct an increasing share of the state’s bond business to the broker. Under plea bargains, defendants are required to admit key elements of crimes.

After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer said he was surprised the plea deal fell through. Thyer said he will seek an indictment against the former treasurer with additional charges.

McCain: Rebels need heavy weapons

WASHINGTON

Syrian rebels battling the forces of President Bashar Assad must receive ammunition and heavy weapons to counter the regime’s tanks and aircraft or it will be impossible for them to prevail, Sen. John McCain said days after he quietly slipped into Syria to meet with the opposition.

The Republican lawmaker and 2008 presidential candidate made an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday, traveling across the border near Kilis, Turkey, and spending about two hours meeting with rebel leaders.

Associated Press