Peru’s justice minister removed amid scandal over pardoning of convicted media executive

Peru president fires justice minister amid scandal

2 off-duty police officers shot to death by gunmen on motorcycle in slum of Haiti’s capital

2 police killed by motorcycle gunmen in Haiti

Suspected Mexican drug lord accused of smuggling drugs into US held in Colo. without bail

No bail for man accused of smuggling drugs into US

Calif. judge allows genetically engineered beet harvest; amounts to half nation’s sugar supply

Judge allows genetically engineered beet harvest

Amnesty calls for freedom of expression, release of political prisoners in Cuba

Amnesty calls for more freedom in Cuba

HAVANA — The human rights group Amnesty international appealed to Cuban President Raul Castro to release political prisoners and scrap laws that restrict fundamental freedoms, using the seventh anniversary of a major crackdown on dissent to call for change.

Judge orders rapper DMX to spend 6 months in Phoenix jail, undergo mental health evaluation

Rapper DMX ordered to 6 months in Phoenix jail

Calif. teacher arrested for investigation of allowing fights at juvenile probation camp

Calif teacher arrested for allowing student fights

French policeman slain in shootout; Spanish media report ETA link

French policeman slain in shootout

PARIS — A French police officer was killed Tuesday in an exchange of fire with assailants east of Paris, and one suspect was taken into custody, a police official said.

Police: Images of 4 missing women may be among pictures found in Calif. serial killer’s locker

Police: Man may have had images of missing women

Autopsy reports point to heat stroke, organ failure in Arizona sweat lodge deaths

Autopsy reports released in AZ sweat lodge deaths

Judge in Arizona issues bench warrant after jailed rapper Lil Wayne fails to appear in court

Warrant issued for Lil Wayne in Arizona case

Better management of gang members urged in report on 2009 prison riot in California

State issues report on 2009 Calif prison riot

Sex scandal hits Brazilian Catholic church after TV broadcasts priest, altar boy having sex

Sex scandal embroils Catholic Church in Brazil

Madoff’s brother, sons seek dismissal of complaints in NY court alleging they were in on fraud

Madoff family challenges NY trustee claims

Effort to keep campaign memos from backers of Calif. gay marriage ban could delay verdict

Evidence skirmish could delay end of Prop 8 trial

Dublin archbishop says Catholic leaders must admit ‘entire truth’ of Ireland’s abuse cover-ups

Dublin archbishop: Catholic Church must tell truth

Authorities: California teacher arrested for allowing fights at juvenile probation camp

Probation camp teacher accused of allowing fights

FBI: Mexico hit men may have gone to wrong place before attacking guests of US consulate party

FBI: No evidence Mexico hit men targeted Americans

US Virgin Islands jury orders newspaper, reporter to pay former judge $240K in libel case

Virgin Islands jury finds newspaper libeled judge

Court: Chicago man accused of scouting Mumbai, India, before 2008 attacks plans plea change

Court: Chicago man in terror case to change plea

Secular challenger overtakes Iraqi PM in overall vote count, trails in province tally

Challenger overtakes Iraq PM in overall vote count

After Tenn. jailer rips gold grill from inmate’s teeth, city could be on hook for $95K

Grill ripped from Tenn. man’s teeth in jail

Attorney: Roethlisberger has yet to be interviewed by Ga. police on assault allegation

Roethlisberger yet to be interviewed by Ga. police

Detroit ex-councilwoman Monica Conyers gets court-appointed lawyer; says she can’t afford one

Conyers gets court-appointed lawyer for appeal

Prosecutors: Ill. man accused of scouting Mumbai, India, before 2008 attacks to plead guilty

Feds: Chicago man to plead guilty in Mumbai plot

Illinois St player Hill charged after alleged sexual assault, suspended from team

Illinois St player charged with assault

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State has suspended a member of its men’s basketball team after he was charged in an alleged sexual assault.

Costa Rica’s president-elect says she will launch crackdown on drug trafficking gangs

The Dalai Lama

Toyota shifts scrutiny of runaway cars to crashed Prius in NY; plans to examine data recorder

Toyota shifts scrutiny of runaway cars to NY Prius

Journalists testify in lawsuit claiming New Orleans police threaten people who film them

Journalists describe New Orleans police run-ins

Police say photos of 4 missing women may be among pics found in Calif. serial killer’s locker

Police: 4 missing women may be among killer’s pics

Nevada judge says son’s DNA can be used at trial to show link between father, crimes

Judge: Son’s DNA can be used at father’s trial

Former exec testifies against ex-KB Home chief in LA stock-option backdating trial

Ex-exec testifies in KB Home fraud trial in LA

AG Holder says Osama bin Laden will never face US trial because he will not be taken alive

Holder: Osama bin Laden will never face US trial

Colorado medical marijuana growers say men broke into home, tied them up, stole pot and guns

Colo. medical marijuana growers report invasion

‘Growing Pains’ executive producer Marshall sentenced to 7.5 years for child pornography

‘Growing Pains’ producer sentenced for child porn

Former coach Tony Dungy takes message of hope to inmates at South Carolina prison

Ex-coach Dungy speaks to inmates in South Carolina

Kansas man accused of attacking Greyhound driver in rural Utah; 6 hurt when bus veers off I-70

Man accused in Utah of kicking Greyhound driver

Investigations implicate scores of Mexican police in killings, kidnappings

Mexican police implicated in killings, kidnappings

Girlfriend of actor Michael Douglas’ son sentenced in NY, gets no new jail time on drug counts

Girlfriend of Michael Douglas’ son sentenced in NY

APNewsBreak: Lawyer says police asking to test exonerated NC man’s clothing for victim DNA

APNewsBreak: Lawyer says cops eyeing freed NC man

Mass. dentist accused of using paper clips in root canals instead of stainless steel posts

AG: Mass. dentist used paper clips in root canals

The feds turn to social networks to fight crime, hoping that tweet will give them a jailbird

When tweets can make you a jailbird

WASHINGTON — Maxi Sopo was having so much fun “living in paradise” in Mexico that he posted about it on Facebook so all his friends could follow his adventures. Others were watching, too: A federal prosecutor in Seattle, where Sopo was wanted on bank fraud charges.

Ark. woman who drove into lake, killing 3 sons, sentenced to prison after pleading guilty

Woman who drove into lake, killing kids, sentenced

Charlie Sheen returns to ‘Two and a Half Men’ after rehab temporarily halted production

Charlie Sheen back at work on ‘Two and a Half Men’

Deputies find 385 plants at burgled home of Washington medical marijuana activist

385 plants at Wash. pot activist’s burgled home

Ex-Harvard student indicted as accessory in 2009 dormitory killing

Ex-Harvard student indicted in dorm shooting death

Ex-Harvard student indicted as accessory in student’s 2008 campus shooting

Ex-Harvard student indicted in shooting death

Defense seeks dismissal of case against ex-SS man over WWII killings of Dutch civilians

Defense seeks end to trial of ex-SS man

AACHEN, Germany — The defense attorney for a former member of the Nazi SS who has confessed to killing three Dutch civilians during World War II says the case against him should be thrown out because he has already been tried in the Netherlands for the same crimes.

UK halts $30 million in primary education aid to Kenyan government over corruption fears

UK halts school aid to Kenyan gov’t over fraud

Ohio police officer fatally shot by man accused of exposing self to neighbor child

Ohio officer fatally shot responding to 911 call