NORTH CAROLINA
Base water linked to birth defects
A long-awaited study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a link between tainted tap water at a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina and increased risk of serious birth defects and childhood cancers. The authors of the study on Camp Lejeune released late Thursday by the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry warned it is based on a small sample size and cannot prove exposure to the chemicals caused specific individuals to become ill. But the study did conclude that babies born to mothers who drank Lejeune tap water while pregnant were four times more likely than women who lived off-base to have such serious birth defects as spina bifida.
SYRIA
Vanishing nuns show up in video
Twelve nuns who vanished from the ancient Aramaic-speaking Syrian town of Maaloula resurfaced Friday in a video, saying that they had left with rebels to escape shelling in the area and were safe with a Christian family in a nearby rebel-held town. The Vatican’s representatives in Damascus and Beirut said they had been in touch with the nuns. They said that it was unclear whether their departure had been an evacuation or an abduction, but they were safe.
COLORADO
Baker ordered to serve gay couples
A baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony must serve gay couples despite his religious beliefs or face fines, a judge said Friday. The order from administrative law judge Robert N. Spencer said Masterpiece Cakeshop in suburban Denver discriminated against a couple “because of their sexual orientation by refusing to sell them a wedding cake for their same-sex marriage.” The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against shop owner Jack Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission last year on behalf of Charlie Craig, 33, and David Mullins, 29. The commission is expected to certify the judge’s order next week.
UTAH
Convicted doctor attempts suicide
A defense attorney credits jailers with saving the life of a Utah doctor who tried to kill himself after he was recently convicted of leaving his heavily drugged wife to die in a bathtub to carry on an affair with another woman. Martin MacNeill was bleeding heavily after he used a disposable razor to cut a major artery around 5 p.m. Thursday, jail officials said Friday. MacNeill, who was given the razor for no more than 15 minutes to shave, broke it apart to get the blade. MacNeill was convicted Nov. 9 in his wife’s 2007 death. He is to be sentenced Jan. 7 and faces 15 years to life.
UNITED KINGDOM
‘Muslim Patrol’ members jailed
Three members of a self-styled “Muslim Patrol” in London who threatened strangers for holding hands, drinking alcohol and other behavior they deemed “un-Islamic” have been sentenced to jail. The three men were sentenced Friday at London’s Central Criminal Court to jail terms of between 24 weeks and 17 months. London’s Chief Crown Prosecutor, Baljit Ubhey, said the trio “aggressively intimidated a couple who were holding hands in the street, a group of friends who were drinking alcohol, and a girl whom they deemed to be dressed provocatively.”
CUBA
Jewish leaders visit jailed U.S. citizen
Cuban Jewish leaders said Friday they celebrated Hanukkah with imprisoned U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross this week, two days after he marked four years in custody. A statement from Beth Shalom Temple said community president Adela Dworin and vice president David Prinstein met with the Maryland man for two hours on Thursday, the last day of Hanukkah, as they have done on other Jewish holidays. Gross, 64, was detained Dec. 3, 2009, convicted of crimes against the state and sentenced to 15 years.
CALIFORNIA
Man linked to cartel sentenced
A man whose brother is believed to be a prolific cartel hit man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder in what authorities said was a plot to kill a mother and son in Southern California who owed a drug debt. Jorge Sillas, 30, apologized in court after his mother and a cousin pleaded for leniency. His attorney said this client was influenced by his older brother and noted his clean criminal history. Sillas, a U.S. citizen, was working on the orders of the Arellano Felix cartel, one of Mexico’s oldest, prosecutors said. U.S. and Mexican authorities said his brother, Juan Sillas, was one of Tijuana’s most violent hit men when he was arrested in 2011.
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