Postal Service seeks to fire copter pilot

RUSKIN, Fla. – A man who flew a gyrocopter through some of America’s most restricted airspace before landing at the U.S. Capitol says his employer, the United States Postal Service, is taking steps to fire him.

Doug Hughes said Wednesday the agency intends to fire him for “unacceptable conduct” in the wake of his April 15 flight to call attention to campaign finance reform.

The Postal Service released a statement saying it does not comment on pending employee disciplinary matters.

U.S. gives body count from IS airstrikes

BEIRUT – A U.S. official said Wednesday that more than 10,000 Islamic State fighters have been killed by American-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in nine months, offering a body count for a campaign that has yet to blunt their advance.

Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s figure came after a Paris conference on how to stop the extremists ended without any new strategy to halt their campaign. It also comes months after the Pentagon dismissed such counts as “simply not a relevant figure” in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Associated Press