California: City leaders conduct marijuana giveaway

Calling Santa Cruz a sanctuary from federal authorities, medical marijuana advocates joined by city leaders passed out pot to about a dozen sick people at City Hall.

“Santa Cruz is a special place, and today we’re letting the world know how compassionate we can be,” Mayor Christopher Krohn said. “We’re taking a stand.”

More than 1,000 community members jammed into the garden-like courtyard for a supportive demonstration during the giveaway.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Richard Meyer said he was appalled by Tuesday’s event and feared the community was sending a dangerous message to children.

“Marijuana is an illegal drug in this country,” he said.

New York City: Broken affair preceded Times Square shootings

An insurance executive who killed two co-workers and himself had recently received an e-mail from one of the victims ending their relationship, investigators said Tuesday.

The shootings took place at Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s offices near Times Square, where the health insurance company temporarily relocated after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The employees found dead had escaped from the World Trade Center.

John Harrison, a former FBI agent and assistant vice president at Empire Blue Cross, apparently called Vincent LaBianca, 34, and Isabel Munoz, 36, into his office Monday morning. Wielding two semiautomatic pistols, Harrison, 53, fired more than a dozen shots before killing himself.

Police said Harrison had been in a relationship with Munoz. Shortly before Monday’s violence, Munoz sent Harrison an e-mail saying, in effect, that she had not wanted him to leave his wife and that she did not want their affair to continue, investigators said.

Philadelphia: Listeria deaths reported in several NE states

Listeria infections have killed at least 13 people in the Northeast, and although health officials say contaminated food is the likely cause, they’re still trying to determine the source of the infection.

Since an outbreak was first noticed in early September in Pennsylvania, cases have been detected in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Four people have died in Pennsylvania, four in New Jersey and five in New York state. One apparently related death was also reported in Michigan.

Listeria can cause serious, sometimes fatal, food poisoning. In adults, it can cause meningitis. In less-severe cases it can cause headache, high fever, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria sickens about 2,500 people and kills about 500 each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Salt Lake City: Parents charged in death by water

A couple have been charged with killing their 4-year-old adopted daughter by forcing her to drink large amounts of water.

The girl’s parents said she was given the water as part of a form of therapy to promote family bonding. But prosecutors disputed that and said she was being punished for drinking Kool-Aid.

Richard Killpack, 34, and Jennete Killpack, 26, of Springville, were charged Monday with child abuse homicide and child abuse.

Prosecutors said Cassandra Killpack was forced to drink so much water it caused fatal brain swelling. She died June 10.

Defense attorney Philip Danielson said Cassandra was physically and sexually abused before being adopted and was not bonding with her new parents. He said the Cascade Center for Family Growth in Orem promoted forced water drinking for children with attachment disorder. Such children resist loving relationships and are violent and unmanageable.