Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Friend Convicted Of Lying

Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Friend Convicted Of Lying, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s friend was convicted Tuesday of lying to federal agents during the investigation into the deadly 2013 attack.

Robel Phillipos, 21, of Cambridge, was convicted of two counts for lying about being in Tsarnaev’s dorm room while two other friends removed a backpack containing fireworks and other potential evidence three days after the bombing while authorities were looking for the suspected bombers. He looked straight ahead impassively as the guilty verdicts were read.

FBI agents testified that Phillipos told them a string of lies about the night of April 18, 2013, before finally acknowledging he had been in Tsarnaev’s room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth with the two men who removed Tsarnaev’s backpack and computer.

Toronto Elects A New Mayor, Ends Ford Era

Toronto Elects A New Mayor, Ends Ford Era, Toronto elected a moderate conservative as mayor on Monday, ending the Rob Ford era marked by scandals over his illegal drug use and public drunkenness.

John Tory, a former chief executive of major cable company Rogers Communications, had 40 percent of the vote, compared to 34 percent for Doug Ford, brother of outgoing Mayor Rob Ford. Left-leaning Olivia Chow was third with nearly 23 percent, with nearly 100 percent of polling stations reporting.

“The people have spoken and tonight we begin the work of building one Toronto,” Tory told cheering supporters. “Torontonians want to see an end to the divisions that have paralyzed city hall for the last few years. I hear you.”

Rob Ford’s four-year tenure as mayor of Canada’s largest city was marred by his drinking and crack cocaine use. He announced last month that he wouldn’t seek re-election as he battles a rare form of cancer. His brother, a city councilor, ran in his place.

Doug Ford’s supporters booed when he congratulated Tory on his victory. Doug Ford later said the scandals played a part in the loss but said he was “super proud” of his brother.

House Democrats Seek Change To Deportations

House Democrats Seek Change To Deportations, A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives has called on President Barack Obama to suspend deportations of Central American families until problems are resolved at the newly opened detention facilities holding women and children.

The 32 House Democrats, led by Representatives Zoe Lofgren of California and John Conyers of Michigan, wrote Obama on Monday to voice concerns about the legal process at the detention centers and the conditions in those centers.

“We believe it is critical that no detained families be removed (deported) until we can ensure that we are not returning such families to face persecution and torture abroad,” the letter said.