Backpage executives to be sentenced after testifying against site founder about the site’s sex ads

PHOENIX — Two former executives for the now-shuttered classified site Backpage.com are scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in Phoenix for conspiring to facilitate prostitution by selling sex ads. A prosecutor has recommended five years of probation and restitution payments for former CEO Carl Ferrer and sales director Dan Hyer, both of whom pleaded guilty to … Read more

Archdiocese agrees to $230M settlement in clergy sex abuse case, attorneys say

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Archdiocese on Monday agreed to a $230 million proposed settlement for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, attorneys for some of the survivors said Monday. The agreement paves the way for a final resolution to yearslong negotiations amid a series of similar settlements from the Catholic Church. The archdiocese had … Read more

Drug dealer whose sentence was commuted found guilty of violating terms of release

NEW YORK — A convicted New York drug dealer whose federal prison sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump has been found guilty of violating the terms of his release after being arrested and charged in connection with several recent crimes. Jonathan Braun now faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced Oct. … Read more

Thune says Senate will change the rules to push through Trump’s blocked nominees

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he’s ready to change the chamber’s rules to allow quick confirmations of dozens of President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees, moving this week to speed up votes after months of Democratic delays. Thune says he’ll start the process of changing the rules when the Senate goes into … Read more

White House’s review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide

High school history teacher Katharina Matro often pulls materials from the Smithsonian Institution website as she assembles her lessons. She trusts its materials, which don’t require the same level of vetting as other online resources. She uses documents and other primary sources it curates for discussions of topics like genocide and slavery. As the White … Read more

Hurricane Kiko is weakening on a forecast path expected to take it north of Hawaii

HONOLULU — A weakening Hurricane Kiko is expected to track north of Hawaii in coming days, reducing the threat of strong winds and heavy rain on the islands but still bringing potentially dangerous surf conditions, forecasters said Sunday. Kiko was about 635 miles (1,025 kilometers) east of Hilo on the Big Island on Sunday and … Read more

Potential federal intervention poses challenges for Chicago police on the ground

CHICAGO — As President Donald Trump threatens to expand immigration raids and deploy the National Guard, Chicago has become the latest flashpoint in a broader national struggle over how far the federal government can push local authorities to cooperate with its immigration agenda. For the Chicago Police Department, the challenge is acute. The force must … Read more