Phillip Swarts

Communist prom theme chosen for U.S. high school: ‘Prom-munism’

Students at an Albuquerque, N.M., school decided that communism should be the theme for their prom — now dubbed "Prom-munism."

March 7, 2015

Robert Menendez responds to federal corruption charges, says he’s ‘not going anywhere’

Responding to reports that the Justice Department is preparing to charge him with criminal corruption, a defiant Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat, said he is "not going anywhere."

March 7, 2015

Joe Biden: Denying climate change ‘almost like denying gravity’

Vice President Joe Biden slammed those who question climate change, saying that ignoring the scientific evidence is "almost like denying gravity now."

March 7, 2015

Eric Holder: Dismantling Ferguson Police Department still an option

Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday that dismantling the Ferguson Police Department is still an option if the city does not take steps to reform.

March 6, 2015

Robert Menendez to face federal corruption charges: report

The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, alleging that he used his office to benefit the business of a donor and friend.

March 6, 2015

Ferguson names employee in racist e-mail scandal

The city of Ferguson named an employee Friday who was fired for sending racist e-mails to co-workers that were uncovered by a federal investigation.

March 6, 2015

Michael Brown’s family has good chance to win civil suit against Ferguson PD, lawyer says

A leading criminal defense attorney said Friday that Michael Brown's family has a good chance of winning their civil lawsuit against the Ferguson Police Department.

March 6, 2015

Refugee advocate calls for greater international attention for displaced women

Ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday, the director of the International Organization for Migration called upon nations to recognize the plight that refugees and displaced women are facing in conflicts around the globe.

March 6, 2015

California man gets 24 years in prison for $6 million housing scam

A California man will serve 24 years in prison after prosecutors said he preyed upon non-English speakers to scam them out of their mortgages, causing them to lose their houses.

March 6, 2015

Darren Wilson, George Zimmerman Justice Department cases raise civil rights questions

Neither police officer Darren Wilson in Missouri nor neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Florida was indicted on civil rights violations in their shootings of unarmed young black men, bringing into question why the Justice Department investigated in the first place and whether the bar is set too high to convict on such statutes.

March 4, 2015

James Knowles, Ferguson mayor, promises change after damaging report

James Knowles, the mayor of Ferguson, Missouri, said he has fired one police officer and suspended two others after a Justice Department report revealed that law enforcement personnel had sent in racist e-mails.

March 4, 2015

Eric Holder: Ferguson police routinely violated citizens’ rights

Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday the Justice Department has found a "pattern of excessive force" and financial exploitation by law enforcement agencies in Ferguson, Missouri.

March 4, 2015

Darren Wilson cleared by Justice Department in Ferguson case

Former Officer Darren Wilson has been cleared of all civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, following a Justice Department investigation.

March 4, 2015

Justice Dept.: U.S. report finds racial bias in Ferguson police

The Justice Department will conclude that there is a "pattern of police bias and excessive force" at the Ferguson, Missouri, police department, but is unlikely to directly charge former Officer Darren Wilson in the death of teenager Michael Brown, reported news agencies who were briefed on the report Tuesday.

March 3, 2015