In brief: Imam ‘exploring’ center options

NEW YORK – It is two blocks from ground zero, but the site of a proposed Islamic center and mosque shouldn’t be seen as “hallowed ground” in a neighborhood that also contains a strip club and a betting parlor, the cleric leading the effort said Monday.

Making an ardent case for the compatibility of Islam and American values, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf reiterated that he is searching for a solution to the furor the project has created. But he left unanswered exactly what he had in mind.

If anything, Rauf only deepened the questions around the project’s future, telling an audience at the Council on Foreign Relations that he was “exploring all options” – but declining to specify them – while also arguing that a high-profile site is necessary to get across his message of moderate Islam.

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana teenager who police say strangled his 10-year-old brother to satisfy an urge to kill that he likened to hunger pleaded guilty to murder Monday, and his defense attorney described him as remorseful.

But a prosecutor called Andrew Conley a psychopath and said the teen should stay in prison for the rest of his life.

Ohio Circuit Court administrator Connie Sandbrink said Conley, 18, who has no deal with prosecutors, faces a minimum sentence of 45 years in prison. His sentencing hearing was scheduled to start Wednesday.

“Bottom line, this is Andrew’s decision and it’s what he wanted to do,” his attorney, Gary Sorge, told reporters Monday. “He’s been very remorseful, and from the beginning he’s wanted to plead guilty, but as defense attorneys we have our job to do, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Feds ask judge to rule on Arpaio

PHOENIX – The Justice Department has asked a federal judge in Arizona to force Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office to provide full and immediate access to records and facilities for a civil-rights investigation without going to trial.

The motion for summary judgment filed Monday also asks the court to force the sheriff’s office to comply with all future requests involving the probe.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department filed an unprecedented lawsuit against Arpaio’s office for refusing to turn over documents or allow federal officials to evaluate jails and interview staff.

The sheriff’s office has challenged whether the Justice Department is entitled to everything it has requested, such as records on booking procedures, language services and arrests.