NEW ORLEANS – A civil rights law firm has put a Louisiana District Attorney’s Office on notice of a possible lawsuit over allegations the office excludes black people from juries because of their race. The MacArthur Justice Foundation on Monday released a copy of a letter it sent to Caddo …

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Ocheesee Creamery in the Florida Panhandle produces all-natural skim milk from grass-fed cows with absolutely nothing added, yet the state says they have to call it “imitation.” And while they argue about it, the dairy is dumping hundreds of gallons of skim milk down the drain …

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – A lightning strike has hospitalized sixteen soldiers on an Army training exercise in North Carolina. Master Sgt. Patrick Malone, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, says 60 soldiers were gathered to discuss the day’s training when lightning struck nearby around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Fifteen soldiers …

MEXICO CITY – A Mexican federal court has denied home detention to former teachers’ union head Elba Esther Gordillo, once a feared political operator who has been in jail since 2013 on charges of embezzlement and organized crime. The 6th Court of Federal Criminal Proceedings says it made the ruling …

Dear Hillary, It’s too bad you didn’t have time to talk last night, or the night before. I was miffed when Huma first texted to say you were unavailable, whatever that means. When she did it again last night, I was furious. Can’t you call me yourself and explain what’s …

AURORA, Ill. – The police department in Illinois’ second largest city is going to compile a “habitual drunkard” list to help fight public intoxication. Aurora Police Department Sgt. Tom McNamara says the list will have “certain clientele” whom police and fire departments see regularly. The (Aurora) Beacon-News reports (http://trib.in/1IhxoVp ) …

LONDON – British police say a 33-year-old woman and her four children aged 4 to 12 may be trying to reach an Islamic State group-controlled area of Syria. The Metropolitan Police says Zahera Tariq and her children left their London home on Tuesday and flew to Amsterdam. A relative reported …

CHISINAU, Moldova – The leader of a pro-Russian separatist republic has announced that his foreign minister is resigning to take up another position: she’ll become his wife. Leader of Trans-Dniester, Yevgeny Shevchuk, said in a news conference Monday that Nina Shtanski was quitting her post. “She will leave for another …

DAKAR, Senegal – An alliance to save great apes says authorities have arrested Guinea’s former wildlife director for allegedly playing a key role in trafficking chimpanzees and other endangered wildlife. The Great Apes Survival Partnership said Tuesday that Ansoumane Doumbouya, who was also Guinea’s representative to the Convention on International …

UNITED NATIONS – The selection of the U.N. secretary-general has been largely secretive for 70 years. A vote in the General Assembly next week could begin to change that. A draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press and finalized late Wednesday, outlines how the U.N. should begin making the process …