CIA terminates whistleblower who prompted sexual misconduct complaints

(AP) — The CIA this week terminated a woman whose whistleblower account of being assaulted in a stairwell at the spy agency’s headquarters prompted a flood of colleagues to come forward with their own complaints of sexual misconduct. The woman’s attorney called the action a brazen retaliation. While the CIA said that accusation was “factually inaccurate,” it declined to explain why the 36-year-old did not make it through the agency’s clandestine officer training program and, unlike many of her classmates, was not offered another job. A CIA spokeswoman said the agency “does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual harassment or whistleblower retaliation.”

Floridians shaken by 4.0 magnitude earthquake about 100 miles off the coast

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say they’re collecting reports from Floridians who felt shaking from a 4.0 magnitude earthquake off the state’s Atlantic coast. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake happened shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday about 100 miles east of Cape Canaveral. Earthquakes have been felt in Florida before. In September 2006, a 5.9 magnitude quake in the Gulf of Mexico was felt in Florida and other states. In parts of Florida, items were knocked off of shelves and some Floridians saw waves in their swimming pools during the 2006 quake.

Texas man sentenced for drugging wife’s drinks to induce an abortion

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas man who drugged his wife’s drinks in an attempt to induce an abortion was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years on probation. Mason Herring, a 39-year-old Houston attorney, pleaded guilty Wednesday to injury to a child and assault of a pregnant person. Catherine Herring has filed for divorce. She told the court the sentence was not long enough. Catherine Herring said their third child was born about 10 weeks premature and attends therapy several times a week for developmental problems.

10 cars of cargo train carrying cooking oil and plastic pellets derail

PITTSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say 10 cars of a cargo train carrying plastic pellets and cooking oil derailed in upstate New York, with two ending up in a river. Authorities say the cars were part of a 94-car train that derailed Wednesday night in the Rensselaer County village of Valley Falls. A spokesperson for Berkshire & Eastern Railroad says no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved. He says the two cars that fell into the Hoosic River were leaking a small amount of cooking oil and resin. He says contractors are on site and the cars should be back on the rails within hours.

Man accused of killing a priest in Nebraska pleads not guilty

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of fatally attacking a priest in a small Nebraska town has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges. Kierre Williams of Sioux City, Iowa, also is accused of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, burglary and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. Williams entered his plea on Thursday. KETV-TV reports that his next court date is March 5. Prosecutors have said there doesn’t appear to be any connection between Williams and the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, who was fatally stabbed on Dec. 10 inside the rectory for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.