Circumcision battle enters federal court

Circumcision battle enters federal court

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.

A judge expressed skepticism Monday that a long-running court battle over a Florida boy’s circumcision amounted to a constitutional issue worthy of being argued in federal court after being exhaustively litigated in state courts.

In the first hearing on the issue in federal court, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra questioned the attorney for the boy’s mother, Heather Hironimus, over the legality of proceeding with the case when a state judge already had ruled.

Already a legal oddity for its subject matter, the long-running case between the boy’s estranged parents over the fate of his genitals got an extra dose of drama when Hironimus fled with the child nearly three months ago, going into hiding at a domestic-violence shelter while a state judge warned she risked imprisonment for defying orders and refusing to appear in court. She was arrested Thursday and remains jailed.

At least 58 die in flooding, mudslide

SALGAR, Colombia

An avalanche of mud and debris roared through an alpine town in western Colombia before dawn Monday, killing at least 58 people in a flash flood and mudslide triggered by heavy rains.

Survivors barely had enough time to gather their loved ones.

Dozens of rescuers supported by Black Hawk helicopters evacuated residents near the ravine for fear of another mudslide.

Expert: I hacked into plane controls

A security researcher told federal agents he was able to hack into aircraft computer systems midflight numerous times through the in-flight entertainment systems, and at one point, he caused a plane he was on to move sideways, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.

Although the claims are still being investigated, the airline involved, United, cast doubt on whether it was possible to control an airplane through the entertainment system, while other experts said such cyber threats should be taken seriously given that airplanes are increasingly connected to the Internet.

The researcher, Chris Roberts, was questioned upon his arrival at the Syracuse, N.Y., airport April 15.

Minister pleads guilty, gets no time

PRATTVILLE, Ala.

A minister who tried to perform a gay wedding in an Alabama courthouse pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct Monday but will avoid serving time in jail.

Anne Susan DiPrizio, 44, entered the plea in Autauga County, The Montgomery Advertiser reported. A judge ordered her to pay a $250 fine and suspended her 30-day jail sentence. She will spend six months on probation but doesn’t have to report to an officer.

1 critical, 3 in hospital after aircraft crash

HONOLULU

The fatal crash of the Marine Corps’ new hybridized airplane-and-helicopter aircraft during a training exercise in Hawaii over the weekend is renewing safety concerns about the machine. But the Marines say the MV-22 Osprey has proved itself to be very safe despite high-profile accidents early in its operation.

The MV-22 Osprey went down Sunday at a military base outside Honolulu with 21 Marines and a Navy corpsman on board. The crash killed one Marine and critically injured another. Three Marines were still hospitalized in stable condition Monday.

The Osprey that crashed had taken off from the USS Essex, a Navy ship that was 100 miles offshore. It was flying to Oahu to drop off infantry Marines who were to train on land, said Capt. Brian Block, a spokesman for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Associated Press