Los Angeles: Judge frees convict under new state law

A woman who served more than 17 years in prison for killing her abusive husband was freed after a judge ruled that the outcome of her trial may have been different had evidence of battered women’s syndrome been presented.

Marva Wallace, 44, is believed to be the first person freed under a new state law that allows inmates to petition for their release in cases where evidence of battered women’s syndrome was not permitted at trial.

Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley overturned Wallace’s 1985 murder conviction and ordered her release Friday pending a new trial. Another court appearance was set for Monday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not decided whether to retry the case, said Deputy Dis. Atty. Hyman Sisman.

New York: Microsoft apologizes for decal blanketing

Microsoft Corp. apologized to New York City for blanketing public property with hundreds of butterfly decals used to promote the company’s new MSN 8 Internet service.

On Thursday, Microsoft plastered hundreds of butterfly decals, measuring 12 to 20 inches in width, on sidewalks, doorways, traffic signals and stop lights, predominantly in midtown.

City officials said they accepted Microsoft’s apology.

In addition to the apology, Microsoft offered to cover the cost of cleaning up the plastic decals, held in place by static electricity, city officials said.

Microsoft received a single $50 summons for the plasterings, although it could have been fined for each decal.

California: Authorities warn ravers of deadly Thai drug

The latest drug to hit California’s underground club scene is sweet, colorful and deadly.

The drug, a form of methamphetamine called ya ba, a Thai name meaning “crazy drug,” has made its way into raves and is said to be significantly more powerful and dangerous than the current club drug of choice, Ecstasy.

“The scary thing about these is that they are adding color to them and adding flavor, which could give the perception that these drugs are less dangerous than they really are,” says Will Glaspy, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Packing a potent mix of highly addictive methamphetamine and caffeine, ya ba can keep users awake for days and has hallucinogenic effects. The drug can be fatal, and common side effects include increased heart rate, dehydration, paranoia and depression.

Atlanta: Criticism of research leads prof to resign

An Emory University professor resigned after an academic panel skewered his research for a controversial book about the history of guns in America.

Michael Bellesiles, a history professor, said the controversy surrounding his book, “Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture,” had made it impossible for him to continue his research and teaching.

The 40-page report, released Friday, concluded that Bellesiles was “guilty of unprofessional and misleading work” in his research.

The report, written by scholars from Harvard, Princeton and the University of Chicago, said Bellesiles’ failure to cite sources for crucial data “does move into the realm of ‘falsification.”‘ It also suggested he omitted other researchers’ data that contradicted his arguments.

Bellesiles denied the charges.

Florida: Principal admits to thefts at school

An elementary school principal has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $30,000 from the school system and its PTA.

Barbara Brokenburr, 51, pleaded guilty Friday to four counts of grand theft and one count of official misconduct.

The suspended principal at Jewett School of the Arts in Winter Haven must pay $30,374 in restitution by Dec. 19 or face up to a year in jail. She is also sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay $1,100 for the State Attorney’s Office investigation, and will lose her teaching certificate.

An official in the Polk County school system said Brokenburr, who began her career 29 years ago as a teacher’s aide, would be fired.

Kentucky: High-profile care home flunks inspection

A nursing home whose owner claims Gov. Paul Patton tried to ruin her business after she ended their affair failed an inspection to get back into the Medicare and Medicaid programs, officials said.

The manager of the nursing home, Birchtree Healthcare at Clinton, said Friday that the inspection report was heavy on “paperwork deficiencies.” He said a request for reinspection would be personally delivered on Tuesday to federal health officials in Atlanta.

Patton carried on a two-year affair with Birchtree’s owner, Tina Conner. State and federal authorities now are investigating her claim that Birchtree got help from Patton’s administration during the affair, then was hounded nearly out of business by regulators after she ended the romance.

Patton has acknowledged the affair but denied abusing his power to help or hurt Birchtree.

Utah: F-16 fighter pilot’s body is recovered

Searchers found the remains of a pilot whose F-16 crashed in the desert following a midair collision, the Air Force said Saturday.

The body of the pilot, whose name was not released, was found early Saturday afternoon several miles from where his plane crashed Friday, said Col. Steve Hoog, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the young pilot,” Hoog said. “Our next focus is to figure out the how and why behind this accident.”

The plane collided with an F-16 piloted by Capt. David Roszmann, who ejected safely from his craft. He was treated at a clinic at Hill Air Force Base.

Los Angeles: Surgically separated twins about to go home

Twin girls born joined at the head and separated in a complex, 23-hour surgery may soon return home to Guatemala after more than two months of recovery.

Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Quiej Alvarez could leave Los Angeles as early as Tuesday, doctors at Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles, said Friday.

Doctors remain optimistic the twins will fully recover and lead normal lives.

The departure date depends on Maria de Jesus’ recovery from a recent surgery to clean and close her scalp incisions, UCLA spokeswoman Elaine Schmidt said.

Maria Teresa, whose recovery has lagged behind her sister’s because of follow-up surgeries, has shown signs of improvement.

California: 21st moon discovered orbiting around Uranus

An international group of astronomers announced the discovery of a new moon of Uranus, boosting the planet’s tally of orbiting satellites to 21.

The moon, unofficially called S/2001 U 1, is between six and 12 miles across and thought to be a remnant of an ancient collision when the solar system’s nine planets first formed.

The moon and five others circle Uranus in irregular, eccentric orbits. The 15 other moons orbit on the same plane.

The moon was discovered in August 2001 by a collaboration of 11 astronomers.