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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The sister of former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati has arrived in Germany to meet him following his release from Iran as part of a prisoner swap. Sarah Hekmati, was upbeat as she arrived today at Frankfurt airport before heading toward a U.S. military hospital where her brother is being treated along with Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian (reh-ZY'-ahn) and pastor Saeed Abedini (sah-EED' ah-beh-DEE'-nee). The three Americans arrived in Germany late yesterday via Switzerland. A fourth stayed in Iran. The prisoners were exchanged for pardons or charges dropped against seven Iranians.
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The National Guard is boosting its presence in Flint, Michigan, as part of an effort to assist in dealing with the city's drinking water crisis. The state says about 70 guard members will be stationed today in Flint, more than double the earlier number in place. Officials say teams visited nearly 5,000 Flint homes yesterday, providing free bottled water, filters, replacement cartridges and water testing kits. The water became contaminated after Flint switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River as a cost-cutting move. The corrosive water lacked adequate treatment and caused lead to leach from old pipes.
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — When police dispatchers in Danville, Ohio, heard that an armed man was looking to kill a police officer, they tried to reach Officer Thomas Cottrell. But they were too late. He was found dead on the ground behind the Danville Municipal Building just before midnight. Authorities had received a call about 20 minutes earlier from a woman saying that her ex-boyfriend, Hershel Jones, was hoping to kill an officer. Jones was captured after a short foot chase.
BERLIN (AP) — Authorities in Germany have arrested a 26-year-old Algerian man on suspicion of committing a sexual assault in Cologne during New Year's celebrations. They say the asylum-seeker was arrested at a refugee home over the weekend. He's the first person to be held on sexual offense related charges, after a string of assaults in Cologne that sparked a debate about Germany's ability to integrate refugees.
NEW YORK (AP) — A deal to reduce the number of horse-drawn carriages in New York City and to permanently move stables to Central Park will now go to the City Council for approval. Mayor Bill de Blasio, the City Council speaker and the union representing carriage drivers say they've reached a deal that would reduce the number of horses from about 180 to 95. It's unclear whether the deal would include compensation for carriage drivers who lose their jobs. De Blasio pledged to end the popular carriage rides when he was sworn in two years ago.
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