In the Nation

LOUISIANA

2 deputies indicted in 6-year-old's death

A grand jury in Louisiana indicted two deputy city marshals on second-degree murder charges Thursday in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old autistic boy last month while he was strapped into the front seat of his father's vehicle.

The Avoyelles Parish grand jury's indictment charged Derrick Stafford, 32, and Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, with one count each of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Police say Stafford, a full-time police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former police officer, were moonlighting as deputy city marshals in Marksville on Nov. 3 when they fired at least 18 rounds at a car driven by Chris Few. Few was severely wounded, and his son, Jeremy Mardis, was killed.

Jonathan Goins, a lawyer for Stafford, said evidence will show his client "acted in a very lawful way." - AP
WASHINGTON

Protester sentenced

A serial protester whose shouts disrupted the Supreme Court's historic arguments over same-sex marriage this year was sentenced Thursday to 21 days in jail and ordered to stay out of the courthouse for a year. Rives Miller Grogan, 50, of Mansfield, Texas, pleaded guilty in September to one misdemeanor charge of unlawful picketing or parading relating to his shouting during the high court's April 28 session: "If you support gay marriage, then you will burn in hell." - Washington Post
WASHINGTON

Air Force drones

The Air Force says it plans to more than double the number of squadrons that fly drones, and will spread them out in more locations across the U.S. and overseas. The decision would add about 3,000 personnel, including at least 700 more pilots, 700 sensor operators, and other maintenance and crew. There are currently eight squadrons. - AP