Teen beaten for trying to leave church, police say

Teen beaten for trying to leave church, police say

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y.

A mother and father whipped their 19-year-old son in church with an electrical cord and what appeared to be a belt during a deadly, all-night spiritual counseling session triggered by his desire to leave the fold, according to witness testimony and police Friday.

Church deacon Daniel Irwin testified he peered through a doorway window in the sanctuary during the more than 12-hour ordeal at the Word of Life Christian Church and saw Lucas Leonard bleeding and in apparent agony.

“Lucas was rolling himself back and forth on the floor and making a sustained, monotone moaning,” Irwin said.

Within hours, the young man would be dead, killed by blows inflicted by his parents, sister and fellow church members, authorities said. His mother told police the group took turns hitting him and holding him down, state police investigator Jason Nellis testified.

Turkey shoots down drone near Syria

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkey shot down an unidentified drone that flew into its airspace Friday near the Syrian border, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country’s air campaign backing a Syrian government offensive has killed hundreds of militants.

A U.S. official said the downed drone was Russian, but Moscow staunchly rejected the claim.

The incident underlined the potential dangers of clashes involving Russian, Syrian and U.S.-led coalition planes in the increasingly crowded skies over Syria. Russian and U.S. military officials have been working on a set of rules to prevent any problems.

Family: Odom is awake, speaking

LAS VEGAS

Lamar Odom has regained consciousness, and he is communicating – speaking and even giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed – just days after being found in extremely critical condition at a Nevada brothel, loved ones said.

It’s the first significant update on Odom’s health since he was found unconscious and facedown at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, on Tuesday afternoon.

Odom spoke a greeting and gave a thumbs-up Friday morning, his first communication since being hospitalized in Las Vegas, said Alvina Alston, publicist for JaNean Mercer, Odom’s maternal aunt and godmother.

“He woke up, and he spoke,” Alston said.

US curbing Arctic offshore drilling

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

The Interior Department announced Friday it is cancelling future lease sales and will not extended current leases in Arctic waters off Alaska’s northern coast, a decision that significantly reduces the chances for future Arctic offshore drilling.

The news follows a Sept. 28 announcement by Royal Dutch Shell that it would cease exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas after spending upward of $7 billion on Arctic exploration. The company cited disappointing results from a well drilled in the Chukchi and the unpredictable federal regulatory environment.

Hungary closes border with Croatia

BUDAPEST, Hungary

Hungary shut down its border with Croatia to the free flow of migrants today, a move experts say could leave thousands of people on their way to western Europe stranded in the small Balkan nation.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced the decision after a meeting of the national security Cabinet and the border, reinforced with a razor-wire fence, was closed from midnight.

Associated Press