Mom accused of tossing newborn

Mom accused of tossing newborn

NEW YORK

A woman charged this week with tossing her newborn daughter to her death from a seventh-story window had an infant son die seven years ago, and prosecutors have now reopened their investigation into his death, authorities said Wednesday.

The 21/2-week-old boy was found dead in the basement of Jennifer Berry’s home in 2008. A medical examiner ruled he died of natural causes related to sudden infant death syndrome.

But prosecutors in Westchester County decided to reopen their probe into the boy’s death after Berry was charged Tuesday in the Bronx with tossing her baby daughter from the window of her boyfriend’s apartment. The 33-year-old from Yonkers was charged with murder and manslaughter in the girl’s death Monday.

Hurricane Joaquin heads towards US

MIAMI

A strengthening Hurricane Joaquin approached the central islands of the Bahamas on Wednesday evening, following a projected track that would take it near the U.S. East Coast by the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds reached 105 mph and extended 35 miles from the center of the storm over the Atlantic Ocean, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, which predicted Joaquin would develop into a major hurricane in the coming days.

Stay in Afghanistan, US military says

WASHINGTON

With the Taliban gaining new ground, U.S. military commanders are arguing for keeping at least a few thousand American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016, a move that would mark a departure from President Barack Obama’s current policy.

Afghan forces Wednesday were preparing for what is expected to be a protracted battle to retake Kunduz, a key city that was overrun by the Taliban on Monday, and the U.S. was assisting with at least five airstrikes over the past two days. The struggle highlighted concerns about the apparent fragility of U.S.-trained Afghan security forces.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said conditions on the ground in Afghanistan would be taken into account as Obama considers how to proceed with his planned drawdown of troops.

Okla. sheriff indicted, planning to resign

TULSA, OKLA.

A grand jury indicted an Oklahoma sheriff Wednesday as part of an investigation into his office that began after an unarmed man was fatally shot by a volunteer deputy who said he mistook his handgun for a stun gun.

Tulsa Sheriff Stanley Glanz, who was indicted on two misdemeanor charges, is accused of refusing to perform his official duties for not promptly releasing documents in an internal investigation related to reserve deputy Robert Bates, Glanz’s friend. Bates’ training and the reserve deputy program came into question after Bates, a former insurance executive, fatally shot a restrained man in April.

Glanz, who plans to resign before a Nov. 10 hearing in the case, said he had always tried to be transparent and make good decisions during his 27 years as sheriff.

No charge for Jenner

LOS ANGELES

Prosecutors declined to charge Caitlyn Jenner on Wednesday in a California car crash that killed another driver, citing insufficient evidence to support a case.

Authorities said Jenner was towing an off-road vehicle on a trailer behind a Cadillac Escalade on Feb. 7 when she crashed into two cars, pushing one into oncoming traffic. Driver Kim Howe died when her Lexus was hit by a Hummer in Malibu.

Associated Press