A judge who was caught on video apparently dropping a handgun in a Chicago courthouse has been acquitted of carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited area. Will County Circuit Judge Edward Burmila ruled Tuesday that it wasn’t clear from the surveillance video that the object that fell from Cook… Read More

The woman who created a Thanksgiving staple — the green bean casserole — enjoyed by millions has died at age 92. Dorcas Reilly died on Oct. 15 of Alzheimer’s disease, said Ken Tomlinson of the Hinski-Tomlinson Funeral Home in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Campbell Soup officials said the New Jersey resident… Read More

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” a coming-of-age story about racism and injustice, overpowered wizards and time travelers to be voted America’s best-loved novel by readers nationwide. The 1960 book by Harper Lee emerged as No. 1 in PBS’ “The Great American Read” survey, whose results were announced Tuesday on the show’s… Read More

Taylor Swift has donated $15,500 to a GoFundMe account of a fan whose family is struggling with medical bills. Sadie Bartell’s mother has been in a coma for three years, and the family is worried about losing their Orem, Utah, home because of mounting medical bills. The 19-year-old tweeted that… Read More

This foolproof French toast recipe guarantees crisp, custardy slices by keeping things simple. Stale bread is standard, but we got better (and more efficient) results from oven-dried slices. For the batter, we beat milk, egg yolks, and melted butter for an indulgent coating; brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon added warm,… Read More

The Indianapolis Zoo is trying to determine why a lioness killed her mate. The zoo said Friday that an adult female, Zuri, attacked 10-year-old male Nyack in their outdoor yard Monday before the zoo opened for the day. The zoo says the two had been housed together for eight years… Read More

Ground beef chili is way more convenient than chili made with whole chunks of meat, but a truly great version requires a few tricks. To keep the meat moist and tender, we treated it with salt and baking soda. Both ingredients helped the meat hold on to moisture, so it… Read More

Rae Carruth is a free man. The former NFL wide receiver was released from prison Monday after serving more than 18 years for conspiring to murder the mother of his unborn child. The Carolina Panthers’ 1997 first-round draft pick was released from Sampson Correctional Institution in Clinton, North Carolina, after… Read More