Staff Sgt. Robert Bales Pleads Guilty To Afghan Murders

Patricia Murphy and Jim Gates — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:50:07 +0000

Correction 6/6/2013: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Staff Sgt. Bales was from Lake Tapps, Ohio.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the American soldier from Lake Tapps, Wash., charged with killing 16 Afghan civilians during night time raids on two villages last year, pleaded guilty Wednesday to avoid the death penalty. The judge, Col. Jeffery Nance has accepted his plea agreement which takes the option of the death penalty off the table.

Washington Delegation Supports Vote To Allow Gay Members Into Scouts

Jim Gates — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:05:03 +0000

For the first time in 22 years, openly gay members will be allowed to join the Boy Scouts. Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America voted 61 percent in favor of eliminating sexual orientation as criteria for youth membership.