Chicago: McDonald’s apologizes for mislabeling fries

McDonald’s Corp. has agreed to donate $10 million to Hindu and other groups to settle lawsuits filed against the chain for mislabeling french fries and hash browns as vegetarian.

The vegetable oil used to prepare the fries and hash browns was not pure, but contained essence of beef for flavoring purposes.

“We sincerely apologize for any hardship that these miscommunications have caused among Hindus, vegetarians and others,” the company said in an apology posted June 1 on the Web site.

New York City: 17 alleged members of crime family indicted

Seventeen alleged members of the Gambino crime family, including two brothers of John Gotti, were arrested Tuesday and charged with such offenses as shaking down a longshoremen’s union and trying to extort money from tough-guy movie star Steven Seagal.

Prosecutors in Brooklyn said that convictions in the case would deal a crushing blow to Mafia infiltration of unions and businesses along New York City’s waterfront.

Those charged included Peter Gotti, brother of the imprisoned Dapper Don. Peter Gotti was identified as the Gambino family’s current boss. Another Gotti brother, Richard V. Gotti, and a nephew, Richard G. Gotti, were charged as well.

Connecticut: Skakel jury breaks after six hours

Michael Skakel’s fate went to the jury Tuesday as deliberations began on whether the Kennedy family cousin beat his 15-year-old neighbor to death with a golf club in 1975.

The jury ended for the day after six hours of deliberations.

Deliberations began the morning after prosecutors closed their case by displaying a projected photo of a smiling Martha Moxley that dissolved into a grim crime scene photo.

Skakel, 41, is accused of killing Moxley when they were 15-year-olds living in a wealthy gated community in Greenwich. A murder conviction is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.

San Diego: Trial starts in case of kidnap, murder

The neighbor accused of kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam went on trial Tuesday with prosecutors saying for the first time that the girl’s hair and carpet fibers from her house were found in the defendant’s motor home.

David Westerfield, 50, is accused of snatching the second-grader in February from her home two doors down from his and dumping her body east of San Diego. He could get the death penalty if convicted.

Danielle was discovered missing from her home on Feb. 2. An intense search of the region surrounding their suburban home ended Feb. 27 with the discovery of her body along a rural road east of San Diego.

Iowa: Heavy rains cause flooding in 3 states

Heavy rain near the borders of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin pushed creeks and rivers out of their banks Tuesday.

Gov. Tom Vilsack declared seven eastern Iowa counties disaster areas. In Dubuque County, Sheriff’s Capt. Don Vrotsos said 5 inches of rain fell overnight.

In Illinois, more than 6.58 inches of rain fell in Morrison, according to the National Weather Service.

At Chicago O’Hare International Airport, flight delays of up to two hours were reported, said Monique Bond, spokeswoman for the city Department of Aviation.

Across the state line in Wisconsin, water flooded homes and caused gas tanks to dislodge from buildings in the Cassville area, officials said.

About 20 to 25 homes were evacuated, four vehicles washed into the road, and seven or eight liquid petroleum gas tanks were dislodged.