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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: FBI agent’s murder conviction tossed

From Wire Reports

WASHINGTON – A Florida state court on Wednesday tossed out the murder conviction of an FBI agent tied to Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger. But prosecutors are expected to appeal the decision in an effort to keep John J. Connolly Jr. in prison.

The three-judge appellate panel cited a legal error in ruling that Connolly was wrongly convicted of participating in a plot to kill a Florida businessman in 1982 at Bulger’s behest. They ordered his release pending an appeal by prosecutors.

Connolly was turned over to state authorities in 2011 to begin a 40-year prison sentence, after serving nine years in federal prison on a separate charge.

Bulger was a fugitive for 16 years and was captured in 2011 while living in hiding in a Santa Monica apartment.

Lice Shield maker settles with FTC

NEW YORK – The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday that the maker of Lice Shield shampoos and sprays has settled charges its ads misled consumers.

The FTC said cosmetics company Lornamead has agreed to pay $500,000 and to stop saying in ads and on packaging that its products can prevent head lice. The agency said Lornamead doesn’t have enough proof that its Lice Shield shampoos, sticks and sprays can prevent kids from getting head lice.

Lice Shield is sold in CVS, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and other stores, according to the FTC.

CDC: Illinois man not infected with MERS

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday an Illinois man did not contract MERS from an infected business associate.

The case, announced May 17, was believed to have been the first instance of human-to-human transmission of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus on U.S. soil. But upon further analysis, it wasn’t, said Dr. David Swerdlow, the epidemiologist who is leading the CDC’s response to MERS.

Initial blood tests “indicated the possibility that the unidentified Illinois resident had been previously infected with MERS-CoV,” Swerdlow said in a statement. But now that the results of a more definitive test are in, the CDC has concluded the man was never infected.