Obama cuts short the sentences of 111 federal inmates

Obama cuts short the sentences of 111 federal inmates

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama cut short on Tuesday the sentences of 111 federal inmates in another round of commutations for those convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug convictions, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said the commutations underscored the president’s commitment to using his clemency authority to give deserving individuals a second chance. He said that Obama has granted a total of 673 commutations, more than the previous 10 presidents combined. More than a third of the recipients were serving life sentences.

Los Angeles police arrest Chris Brown

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles police said they arrested singer Chris Brown on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Police Lt. Chris Ramirez said Brown was arrested Tuesday and was being taken to downtown Los Angeles for booking.

The arrest came after a lengthy search of Brown’s home.

Brown said in video posts on Instagram that he’s innocent and rebutted reports that he had barricaded himself in his home.

Baylee Curran told the Los Angeles Times that Brown pointed a gun at her face in his home early Tuesday. She said another man at his home and Brown became angry with her when she admired the man’s diamond necklace.

Brown has been in repeated legal trouble since his felony conviction in the 2009 assault of his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.

Study: Complication risks rose after Ohio passed abortion law

Women seeking medical abortions in Ohio experienced a higher rate of complications after the state implemented a law that put new restrictions on doctors who performed the procedure, according to a study published Tuesday.

The law, which took effect in 2011, requires abortion providers to adhere to specific guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when giving patients a combination of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. The drugs have been shown to terminate early pregnancies safely and effectively.

The FDA protocol was set in 2000, with specific dosages of mifepristone and misoprostol. Within a few years, however, doctors realized that using a lower dose of mifepristone and a higher dose of misoprostol produced better outcomes for their patients.

Poll: Man jailed in sex case leads race for Richmond mayor

RICHMOND, Va.

A flamboyant former Virginia lawmaker who was jailed in a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old girl is the current front-runner in the crowded race for Richmond mayor, a new poll shows.

The poll from Christopher Newport University says Joseph Morrissey has support from 28 percent of the city’s voters, putting him far ahead of seven other candidates.

Morrissey holds a large advantage in three of the city’s nine precincts. He must win a majority in five of them to avoid a runoff election.

CNU professor Quentin Kidd said the real contest looks to be for second place behind Morrissey if he fails to win the election outright, setting up a runoff election.

Combined dispatches