Gwinnett Daily Post

Ex-neighbor of Clintons on trial in wife's death

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A disbarred lawyer who lived three doors down from the Clintons and was down to $300 in his bank account executed his wife of 30 years to collect her nearly $900,000 life insurance policy, a prosecutor said Friday.

Assistant District Attorney Christine O'Connor said Carlos Perez-Olivo's life was in a 'downward spiral' when he shot his wife, Peggy, in the back of the head as she dozed in their car during a drive home to Chappaqua on Nov. 18, 2006.

Retail sales unexpectedly drop in August

WASHINGTON - Frugal shoppers cut back again in August, driving down sales at the nation's retailers for the second month in a row, further proof the economy is losing traction.

The Commerce Department reported Friday that retail sales dropped by 0.3 percent last month. Economists expected sales to rise by 0.3 percent.

Sales in July also turned out to be even weaker than previously thought, falling by 0.5 percent, the worst showing in five months.

Chicago cops ask court to reverse conviction

DES MOINES, Iowa - About 40 Chicago police officers rode a bus from Chicago to Des Moines in hopes of persuading an appeals court to free a fellow police officer serving a prison sentence.

Officer Michael Mette was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted on an assault charge. The charge was the result of an October 2005 fight in which Mette punched Dubuque student Jake Gothard, who suffered a broken nose, cheek and jaw.

Judge swears in all-white jury for O.J. trial

LAS VEGAS - An all-white jury will judge O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant on kidnapping and robbery charges after defense lawyers lost a contentious courtroom battle to include two black women on the panel.

District Attorney David Roger gave the judge what he called 'race neutral' reasons for removing the two with his peremptory challenges, and defended the final makeup of the jury chosen late Thursday night, saying that two of six alternate jurors are black.