Cosby to Fight ‘Sexually Violent Predator’ Tag at Sentencing

(AP) Bill Cosby’s sentencing hearing Monday will begin with testimony about his sex offender evaluation and, presumably, a fierce debate over whether the 81-year-old actor should be branded a sexually violent predator. The stakes are high given the lifetime counseling, community alerts and public shaming the designation would trigger. And it could become evidence in…

Thousands Rally Across Russia Against Raising Pension Ages

MOSCOW (AP) — For yet another weekend, thousands rallied across Russia on Saturday to protest the government’s plan to raise the eligibility age for retirement pensions by five years. Several thousand people attended a Moscow rally organized by the Communist Party and other leftist groups, which was authorized by city officials. Communist Party chief Gennady…

Standoff has Kavanaugh Accuser’s Senate Appearance in Limbo

WASHINGTON (AP) — The high-stakes confrontation over whether Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee grinded into Saturday as Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley gave Christine Blasey Ford more time to decide whether to tell her story to his panel and a riveted nation. Grassley had set a Friday night deadline for the…

Evangelicals Push Senate Republicans to Confirm Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON (AP) — Evangelical activists are pressing Republican leaders to act more forcefully to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh’s nomination is a leading issue for faith leaders and activists who are gathering at the annual Values Voter summit in Washington. Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, the organizer of the conference, says…