In the Nation
Wildfire near Yosemite grows
FRESNO, Calif. - A wildfire outside Yosemite National Park more than tripled in size Thursday, shutting down businesses in surrounding communities and leading scores of tourists to leave the area during peak season.
The fire is one of several blazes burning in or near the nation's national parks, and one of 50 major uncontained fires burning across the West.
Fire officials said the blaze near Yosemite, which threatens several thousand homes, hotels, and camp buildings, had grown to more than 84 square miles and was only 2 percent contained Thursday, down from 5 percent a day earlier. Two homes and seven outbuildings have been destroyed. - AP
Outside NYPD watch approved
NEW YORK - The City Council on Thursday voted to create an outside watchdog for the nation's biggest police department and make it easier for people to file profiling claims against it, overriding Mayor Michael Bloomberg's vetoes.
Bloomberg said the legislation will make it more difficult for police officers to protect the city and continue to drive down crime.
Proponents see the legislation as a check on a police force that has come under scrutiny for its heavy use of stop-and-frisk and its extensive surveillance of Muslims. - AP
Police: Murder plot foiled
LAS VEGAS - Police in Las Vegas say a four-month undercover operation foiled a plot by two men to abduct, torture, and kill a police officer to gain attention for their "Sovereign Citizen" cause.
A police report released Thursday says the arrests this week of David Allen Brutsche, 42, and Devon Campbell Newman, 67, scuttled a carefully thought-out operation to kidnap, put on trial and execute a police officer, then dispose of the body. Police say Brutsche is a six-time convicted felon and sex offender from California.
The FBI generally considers Sovereign Citizen extremists to be domestic terrorists. FBI officials in Las Vegas say the federal agency wasn't involved in the Las Vegas investigation. - AP
Elsewhere:
A charter bus bound for a casino overturned in Irwindale, Calif., on Thursday, injuring 55 people and snarling traffic as emergency crews responded. Seven people were taken by helicopter to hospitals, although most injuries were described as minor to moderate.