PIERRE, S.D. — A judge on Tuesday granted a request from Hyperion Resources to have a state board reopen the permitting process for a $10 billion oil refinery the company wants to build in southeast South Dakota.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Restricted free agent defensive lineman Johnny Jolly has signed his tender offer from the Green Bay Packers.

Weapons training is focus of testimony in racially charged Calif. transit killing trial

Los Angeles Cardinal Mahony’s deposition in clergy sex abuse details treatment of priest

Citing threats, Peruvian defense lawyer for Van der Sloot quits

LIMA, Peru — The recently hired Peruvian defense attorney for accused murderer Joran van der Sloot said Tuesday that he’s quitting after receiving death threats.

APNewsBreak: Brown grad in rape allegation sues, accusing alleged attacker of contract breach

2 teenagers plead not guilty to stealing alpaca from southwest Ohio farm and killing it

Colo. construction worker detained in Pakistan on solo mission to hunt down Osama bin Laden

Police say early portrait by Dutch artist Mondrian has been stolen in the Netherlands

Jamaica offers reward for tips leading to arrest of reputed drug lord

Federal prosecutor says doctor ignored signs of deadly practices in Kansas ‘pill mill’ case

Excerpts from Van der Sloot confession

Excerpts from the signed June 6 confession of Joran van der Sloot, who was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and robbery in the killing of Stephany Flores, a Peruvian business student whom he met while playing poker in a Lima casino.

Northern Calif man who killed alleged molester gets 9-year sentence in vigilante shooting

Japanese fan, China journaliss robbed at World Cup

JOHANNESBURG — Three Chinese journalists covering the World Cup have been robbed at gunpoint inside their hotel, police said.

Police probe money, marriage problems in California murder-suicide, wounding of 3-year-old

Texas Rangers dispute creditors’ claims that they had to take highest bid in selling team

Rwandan court expected to rule Thursday on whether to release Minn. law professor

Afghan district governor among 21 killed in attacks

KABUL - A district governor and two others were killed in a car bombing in southern Afghanistan, while 12 policemen and six civilians were killed elsewhere in the country, officials said Tuesday.

Trial postponed for man with Hitler tattoo in unprovoked beating of elderly black fisherman

Nominee for No. 2 DOJ post at Justice Department defends record before Senate panel

WASHINGTON — The nominee for the No. 2 post at the Justice Department raised a caution flag Tuesday about filing criminal charges against corporations like BP in the Gulf oil spill. The nominee, longtime Washington lawyer James Cole, also rejected suggestions by Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans that he is soft on terrorism.

California Marine accused of Iraqi war crime returns to unit after being released

2 traditional healers in Swaziland fined for using parts of crocodiles, lions and pythons

LA police say another Charlie Sheen Mercedes taken from driveway and rolled off cliff

‘Big Brother 9′ winner expected to change not-guilty plea made last year in federal drug case

Utah Federal judge to hear petition to stay execution of man set to die by firing squad

Texas judge orders DNA test 10 years after execution, raising questions in 2nd death row case

As son sings at Brooklyn mob trial, a once-feared geriatric gangster dozes off in court

Gunmen kill Honduran TV reporter outside his station; 9th journalist slain this year

Utah inmate facing firing squad seeks federal stay after state high court denies appeal

Democrats criticize Iowa lawmaker who says Obama favors blacks over whites