National Roundup

New Mexico Game of Monopoly leads to knife attack in Santa Fe SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- A Santa Fe woman has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly stabbing her boyfriend over a game of Monopoly. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports police arrested 60-year-old Laura Chavez Wednesday after finding a 48-year-old man with stab wounds and bleeding heavily from his head and right wrist. According to a probable cause statement from Santa Fe police, Chavez and the victim began fighting because Chavez thought he was cheating. Chavez was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery on a household member with a deadly weapon, battery upon a peace officer and assault upon a peace officer. New York Man gets prison for punching karaoke singer, 79 CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) -- A western New York man has been sentenced to 2? years in prison for punching a 79-year-old through a tavern window after complaining about the older man's karaoke singing. The Daily Messenger of Canandaigua reports that an Ontario County Court judge sentenced 42-year-old Paul Collen on Wednesday after reviewing photographs of the injuries the victim suffered when Collen punched him in the face inside the bar at the Naples Hotel during karaoke last March. Authorities say the older man's head went through a plate glass window and he broke his nose and other facial bones. Collen was convicted of assault after a four-day trial earlier this month. He was prosecuted under a state law that raises the level of an assault when the victim is 65 years of age or older. Arizona Lawyers for Tucson suspect want interviews taped PHOENIX (AP) -- Lawyers for the suspect charged in the Tucson shooting rampage are again asking that his formal interviews with a prison psychologist be videotaped. Lawyers for Jared Lee Loughner want U.S. District Judge Larry Burns to reconsider his August order that denied their earlier request. Attorney Judy Clarke argued in a filing made public late Wednesday that Loughner's mental status has improved so much that the psychologist wants to conduct a formal mental competency assessment by Nov. 12. The 23-year-old suspect is being forcibly medicated at a federal prison facility in Springfield, Mo. Experts are trying to make him psychologically fit to stand trial. Loughner has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges stemming from the Jan. 8 shooting that left six people dead and wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others. Colorado Man reports date as burglar when girlfriend shows COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Colorado Springs police say a man's girlfriend unexpectedly came home just before another woman was due to visit, so he called police to report his new acquaintance as a burglar. The Gazette reports that 24-year-old Kevin Gaylor was cited with a misdemeanor of false reporting to authorities. Police say Gaylor had invited a woman he met online to come to his home after 3 a.m. Wednesday so they could get better acquainted, but his girlfriend came home first. Police say that when the other woman arrived, Gaylor called police and falsely reported an intrusion. Gaylor has an unlisted phone number and couldn't be reached for comment. New Hampshire State Supreme Court upholds judge's correction CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The New Hampshire Supreme Court says a judge's lengthening of a sentence given a child rapist minutes after handing down the original sentence did not violate the convict's rights. Forty-seven-year-old Hector Ortiz of Nashua will continue serving a 25-50-year sentence for repeatedly raping the 10-year-old daughter of his girlfriend in the mid-1990s. The trial judge originally sentenced him to 15 years to 30 years in prison because he mistakenly read his notes wrong to have one sentence run concurrent with the others. Nine minutes later, the judge returned to the bench to increase the sentence by 10 years, saying he meant to say "consecutive" when he had said concurrent. The Supreme Court says a sentencing judge always has the authority to correct a clerical error. Massachusetts Gay and lesbian service members sue government BOSTON (AP) -- A group of married gay current and former military personnel has sued the federal government, seeking equal recognition, benefits and the same support as married heterosexual couples. The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Boston says the government's Defense of Marriage Act violates their constitutional rights and asks the military to recognize their marriages. The suit was filed by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis says gay and lesbian service members deserve the same protections as heterosexual couples because they make the same sacrifices. Under current law, the Pentagon is required to ignore same-sex marriages. The lawsuit names as defendants the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A Pentagon spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. New York 11 charged in NY rail pension probe NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities in New York say 11 people -- including two orthopedists -- face federal charges in a long-running investigation of alleged fraud in the Long Island Rail Road's pension system. A criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in Manhattan says a retired LIRR engineering manager often played tennis and golf while collecting about $105,000 a year in combined pension and disability payments. The defendants were expected in court Thursday. In 2009, an investigative arm of Congress found that the system approved nearly 100 percent of claims filed by retired LIRR workers -- a rate much higher than other commuter railroads. A 2008 New York Times investigation prompted several criminal investigations. LIRR President Helena Williams has said a federal agency acted as a rubber stamp without consulting the railroad. Published: Fri, Oct 28, 2011