In an attempt to end the war caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to return Alaska to Russia in exchange for Russia pulling its troops from Eastern Ukraine. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said he would agree to the proposal if Trump also returned Fort Ross and the Russian River in California, Russia sold Fort Ross to Mexican citizen John Sutter in 1841.   read more

Solar power has grown in popularity over the past couple of years, so much so that installations of new panels and systems have outpaced the combined installs of the previous three decades. In just the last 18 months, the U.S. has set up more solar energy systems than during the prior 30 years, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Last year was particularly productive for solar developers, with installations up 41% over 2012.   read more

The first-ever commercial promoting medicinal marijuana will soon air in New Jersey, Chicago and Massachusetts on Fox, Comedy Central, CNN, ESPN, AMC, Discovery and the Food Channel. In the ad, a suspicious-looking guy works back alleys to sell sushi. At one point he thrusts opens his trenchcoat to reveal select cuts of sashimi for sale. “You wouldn’t buy your sushi from this guy,” the voiceover says. “So why would you buy your marijuana from him?”   read more

The Obama administration has levied the largest penalty ever for violations of the Clean Water Act against one of the nation’s biggest coal companies. Alpha Natural Resources will pay a $27.5 million penalty for causing pollution in five states, and will spend $200 million to reduce pollution coming out of its coalmines. In many of its 6,000 violations, Alpha failed to properly operate water treatment systems or even install them to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.   read more

It is not illegal in Massachusetts to take photos up the skirts of women without their permission in public places, the state’s highest court has ruled. The justices said the law only applies to victims who are nude in certain locations, like bathrooms and dressing rooms. The decision shocked many. “I am in disbelief that the courts would come to this...decision and outraged at what it means for women’s privacy and public safety," said Senate president Therese Murray.   read more

Secular humanists have been taking legal action against Christian crosses on public property. AHA says Maryland's Bladensburg Peace Cross violates the 1st Amendment clause prohibiting government from establishing a religion. “That cross] was...intended to be a secular memorial to the veterans of World War I,” counters Park & Planning's Kira Lewis. "It [has] plaques... that serve that purpose, but there is no religious language on the cross whatsoever.”   read more

It’s unclear why the two L.A. gangbangers traveled all the way to the Middle East to help Assad. Their whereabouts only became known after they posted a video online showing them fighting on what they claimed was the front lines of the Syrian civil war. “We’re kind of concerned about their recruitment and whatever other associates they have here," said LAPD's Mike Downing. "What we’re worried about is the ones we don’t know about here or coming back to the U.S.”   read more

A new study shows doctors are the No. 1 source for painkillers used by chronic abusers. The CDC found in 27% of cases, physicians were the most common source. The second most common source of painkillers for abusers was family members and friends, responsible in 26% of cases. The crisis of narcotic painkiller addiction was declared an epidemic by the CDC in 2011. Nationally, OxyContin and Vicodin have led the way among prescription-related overdoses averaging more than 16,000 a year.   read more

The plant, located at the Savannah River Site, a Cold War-era nuclear fuel factory, had experienced numerous cost overruns. Instead of needing $1 billion to build, the project was going to consume $10 billion. In addition, it was estimated the MOX facility would require another $24 billion just to operate it over a 15-year period. DOE officials concluded that they could not continue with the plant’s construction, leaving it two-thirds completed. It now will go into “cold-standby.”   read more

Among all cabinet-level departments, Justice will take the biggest hit. Its 2015 budget request is nearly 40% lower than what the department received in the current fiscal year. The Small Business Administration would suffer a 22% loss in funding, while the Army Corps of Engineers’ cut would be 18% if Obama’s budget succeeds. Over at the Pentagon, the defense budget will remain the same from 2014 to 2015.   read more

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair is charged with forced oral copulation with a female captain while on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sinclair admits to having an affair with his accuser, but insists their sexual encounters were consensual. He pleaded guilty to lesser accusations of adultery, trying to obtain nude photos of other female officers, and possessing pornography. If convicted on the rape charge, the general could receive a sentence of life in prison.   read more

Meagan Simmons, a 28-year-old mother of four, was arrested for drunk driving. But her attractive mugshot landed on the Internet with such captions as: “Guilty of taking my breath away,” and “Arrested for breaking and entering your heart.” Simmons went along with the unexpected publicity, gaining thousands of Twitter and Instagram followers and hinting of a possible Playboy layout. But when a company used her mugshot for its online advertising, she decided to sue for damages.   read more

Yet another potential impact of a warmer planet has been discovered: ancient viruses being brought back to life as a result of melting ice. This possible risk was discovered in Siberia, where scientists found a 30,000-year-old virus that became exposed in the melting permafrost. The contagion is a “giant” virus—the largest ever found. Researchers say it may be just the first of other long-gone viruses to return to life, including those that can impact human health.   read more

About 20% of Medicare patients receiving care at skilled nursing facilities have endured various levels of preventable harm by medical professionals, an investigation found. It was learned that 22% of patients experienced adverse events during their stays. Another 11% suffered “temporary harm” events. Problems include overdoses of anticoagulants, falls, blood clots, and infections. The harm was due to substandard treatment, inadequate monitoring, and failure or delay of care.   read more

Mike Anderson was 22 when he helped rob a Burger King. He got caught, was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison. But Anderson never served his time, due to a clerical blunder. Anderson turned his life around. He got a job, married, started a family and began coaching football. By all accounts he was a model citizen. But then the justice system caught up with him. In July 2013, authorities decided it was time to put Anderson, now 36, behind bars.   read more

The U.S. and its allies owe the world an explanation for civilians killed in drone strikes, according to UN official Ben Emmerson, who uncovered at least 37 drone attacks that killed non-combatants. Carried out between 2006 and 2013 by the U.S., the UK and Israel, the attacks resulted in civilian deaths in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Gaza. Emmerson said nations responsible must offer an “explanation for the use of deadly force” impacting civilians in 30 of those attacks.   read more

The high court heard a case this week that challenges the way Florida gauges a person’s intelligence when it comes to capital punishment. Based on the way oral arguments went, a majority of the justices may be inclined to rule against the state. The court ruled in 2002 that executing the mentally retarded violated the Constitution. The case involves Freddie Lee Hall and an accomplice who raped, and killed pregnant 21-year-old Karol Hurst. The men also killed police officer Lonnie Coburn.   read more