Washington, D.C.
IRS officials knew agents targeted tea party groups
WASHINGTON – Senior Internal Revenue Service officials knew agents were targeting tea party groups as early as 2011, according to a draft of an inspector general’s report that seemingly contradicts public statements by the IRS commissioner.
The IRS apologized Friday for what it acknowledged was “inappropriate” targeting of conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status. The agency blamed low-level employees, saying no high-level officials were aware.
The Treasury Department’s inspector general for tax administration is expected to release the results of a nearly yearlong investigation in the coming week. On Saturday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement that President Barack Obama is concerned that “a small number” of IRS employees may have fallen short of the high level of integrity expected of public servants.
Texas
Texas EMT to plead not guilty to explosives charge
WACO, Texas – A lawyer for a Texas paramedic arrested on charges of possessing bomb-making material says his client will plead not guilty and had no connection to the fertilizer plant explosion that killed 14 people last month.
Waco attorney Jonathan Sibley said in a prepared statement Saturday that his client, Bryce Reed, anxiously awaits his next court appearance Wednesday, which will include a detention hearing.
Authorities arrested Reed on Friday, but stressed that he has not been linked to the April 17 explosion in West.
The statement said Reed remained “heartbroken” about the explosion, in which he lost friends, and wants to continue to help his community rebuild.
Reed was a first responder, but two days after the explosion was “let go” from West EMS for unknown reasons.
Michigan
Chrysler recalls almost 470,000 Jeep SUVs
DETROIT – Chrysler is recalling 469,000 Jeep SUVs worldwide because they can shift into neutral without warning on startup.
The recall affects 2005 to 2010 Grand Cherokees and 2006 to 2010 Commanders.
U.S. safety regulators say cracks in a circuit board can cause a faulty signal as the SUVs are being started. If the vehicles shift into neutral they can roll away.
Chrysler says the problem has caused 26 crashes and two injuries.
Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update software to take care of the problem. Chrysler found cracks in a circuit board that turns the four-wheel-drive system on and off.
Repairs will be made at no cost to owners.
Tennessee
Nuclear plant protesters to stay in jail until fall
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A judge has ruled that a nun and two other protesters must remain in jail until they are sentenced in September for breaking into a nuclear weapons plant in Tennessee.
Sister Megan Rice and protesters Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed were convicted Wednesday of sabotaging the plant and damaging federal property last year at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.
The sabotage charge carries a maximum prison term of up to 20 years. The damaged property charge has a penalty of up to 10 years.
Associated Press
