SALT LAKE CITY – A death row inmate set to be executed by firing squad Friday is scrambling to block his execution after losing an appeal at the Utah Supreme Court and failing to persuade the state parole board to grant him clemency.

Ronnie Lee Gardner's lawyers said Tuesday that they will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution and review the Utah court's decision.

Attorney Andrew Parnes said he'll argue in the appeal that Gardner's constitutional rights will have been… Continue

NEW YORK – A widow who for decades denied arranging her real estate tycoon husband's slaying admitted it after learning that prosecutors had incriminating tapes of her talking on a jail telephone, her lawyer said.

Barbara Kogan pleaded guilty in April to manslaughter and other charges in the October 1990 death of her estranged husband, George, in a plot that prosecutors say was driven by jealousy and greed. His widow, now 67, faces up to 25 years in prison at her sentencing, set for… Continue

CLEVELAND – A new analysis of a 40-year-old audio recording reveals that someone ordered National Guard troops to prepare to fire on students during a deadly Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in 1970, two forensics experts said.

The recording was enhanced and evaluated by New Jersey-based audio experts Stuart Allen and Tom Owen at the request of The Plain Dealer newspaper. Both concluded that they hear someone shout, "Guard!" Seconds later, a voice yells, "All right, prepare to… Continue

Quick: Name a leader of the national Hispanic community.

That's not easy for some Hispanics, let alone other Americans. Even as the Arizona immigration debate has highlighted concerns of the nation's more than 40 million Latino citizens, it has revealed a lack of name-brand recognition for those dedicated to serving America's largest minority group.

This relative obscurity is largely due to the diversity of Latinos, who come from many countries and cultures with unique concerns that… Continue

ATHENS, Greece – Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Greece's capital Thursday after lawmakers approved drastic austerity cuts needed to secure international rescue loans worth euro110 billion ($140 billion).

Demonstrators, banging drums and shouting anti-government slogans through loudspeakers, unfurled a giant black banner outside parliament. More than 30,000 demonstrators filled downtown streets, chanting "They declared war. Now fight back."

The protest followed violent… Continue