Jessica Chasmar

Over 150 crocodiles, alligators, caimans kept as pets rescued from Toronto home

More than 150 adult crocodiles, alligators and caimans were rescued this week from the Toronto home of a man who reported that he could no longer care for them, according to the reptile rescue zoo that took in the animals.

August 14, 2015

Jenna Bush Hager welcomes baby Poppy — nickname of George H.W. Bush

Jenna Bush Hager gave birth Thursday to her second daughter with husband Henry Hager, naming the baby girl after her grandfather and former President George H.W. Bush.

August 14, 2015

Pranksters revving leaf blower terrify California moviegoers; theater evacuated

Four pranksters turned themselves into police Tuesday after revving a leaf blower and terrifying moviegoers inside a California theater.

August 13, 2015

GAO employees indicted, accused of stealing lunch money from needy kids

Five employees of the U.S. Government Accountability Office were indicted Tuesday after prosecutors said they fraudulently obtained reduced-price school lunches for their children.

August 12, 2015

Barvetta Singletary, Obama aide, charged with shooting at police officer boyfriend

The White House has placed an aide to President Obama on unpaid leave after she was charged with shooting a gun at her boyfriend, an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, during an argument.

August 10, 2015

Seattle City Council advances new gun, ammunition tax

The Seattle City Council is expected to cast a final vote Monday on legislation that adds new taxes and regulations on firearms and ammunition sold in the city.

August 10, 2015

Wal-Mart’s pay raise backfires: ‘It is pitting people against each other’

Wal-Mart's minimum-wage hike this year, intended to improve morale and retain employees, is having the opposite effect for many senior workers who didn't get a raise, according to a new Bloomberg report.

August 7, 2015

Service dog in Philadelphia dials 911, saves blind owner from house fire

A service dog is being hailed a hero after she dialed 911 Thursday morning and saved her blind owner from a house fire in Philadelphia.

August 7, 2015

Tennessee Army, Air National Guard can now carry handguns

Army and Air National Guard members with valid Tennessee concealed weapons permits can now carry handguns at state armories and facilities, Tennessee's adjutant general announced Thursday.

August 6, 2015

Lesbian couple torched own home in hate crime hoax

A lesbian couple burned down their Tennessee home and then tried to cover it up as a hate crime in an effort to collect a $276,000 insurance pay out, a federal jury has concluded.

August 6, 2015

Roy Klingler, Idaho sheriff, defends use of concealed permit fees to revamp office

An Idaho sheriff is defending the use of fees collected from concealed weapons permits to buy his office new tile and carpet.

August 6, 2015

UPS stands firm amid Cecil uproar, will continue shipping big-game trophies

The United Parcel Service has refused to cave to pressure in banning the shipment of big-game trophies, despite several airlines announcing a ban amid an international uproar over the killing of Zimbabwe's Cecil the lion.

August 6, 2015

Larry Hogan, Maryland governor, calls out columnist who blamed cancer for ‘nasty’ politics

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan took to Facebook Monday to hit back at claims by a local columnist that baldness and chemotherapy treatments are to blame for his "nasty" politics in closing the Baltimore City Detention Center.

August 5, 2015

Anjem Choudary, radical Muslim cleric, charged in U.K. with supporting the Islamic State

Radical Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary was charged in the U.K. Wednesday with "inviting support" for Islamic State militants, U.K. prosecutors said.

August 5, 2015

Cecil the Lion Beanie Baby hitting shelves to ‘raise awareness’: Ty Warner

A "Cecil the Lion" Beanie Baby is due to hit store shelves next month with proceeds going toward wildlife conservation, Ty Warner has announced.

August 5, 2015

Les Snodgrass, Florida church pastor, tackles armed robber during sermon: ‘We’re targets’

A Florida pastor jumped into action Sunday morning after a man pulled out a fake gun in the middle of a sermon and pointed it at the pastor's mother's head, demanding money.

August 4, 2015

Florida girl, 12, shot by father during gun safety lesson

A 12-year-old Florida girl is in recovery after her father accidentally shot her in the arm while teaching her about gun safety Sunday night.

August 4, 2015

Jeff Mizanskey, Missouri man serving life sentence for marijuana, faces first parole hearing

A Missouri man serving out a life sentence for what he believes is a victimless crime faces his first parole hearing this week, thanks to a limited commutation granted by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

August 4, 2015

Huntington Park appoints two illegal immigrants as commissioners

Huntington Park is the first city in California to appoint two illegal immigrants as commissioners, a councilman said Monday.

August 4, 2015

Scott Walker accidentally poses with activist’s fake check from Koch brothers

A climate activist holding a "Walker 4 President" sign tricked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker into posing for a photo Monday, just before flipping the sign to reveal a fake $900 million check from the Koch brothers.

August 3, 2015