Inmate sentenced to more than 4 years in prison killing of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — An inmate has been sentenced to more than four years in connection with the 2018 prison slaying of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. Paul J. DeCologero was sentenced Thursday. He was accused of being a lookout while another inmate hit the 89-year-old Bulger in the head with a lock attached to a belt while Bulger was in his cell at a troubled West Virginia prison. Bulger was killed hours after he arrived from a Florida prison.

Utah’s near-total abortion ban to remain blocked until lower court assesses its constitutionality

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A near-total abortion ban will remain on hold in Utah after the state Supreme Court ruled that the law should remain blocked until a lower court can assess its constitutionality. With the decision, abortion remains legal up to 18 weeks. The panel wrote in its opinion Thursday that a lower court acted within its purview when it initially blocked the ban. The case will now be sent back to a lower court to determine whether the law is constitutional. The trigger law that remains on hold would prohibit abortions except in cases when the mother’s life is at risk or there is a fatal fetal abnormality.

Japan Osprey crash caused by cracks in a gear and pilot’s decision to keep flying, Air Force says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force says a deadly Osprey aircraft crash last November off Japan was caused by cracks in a metal gear and the pilot’s decision to keep flying instead of heeding multiple warnings that he should land. The Air Force released its investigation report Thursday. The crash killed eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members and led to a monthslong military-wide grounding of the Osprey fleet. The crash has driven renewed congressional investigations into the Osprey’s safety record and a split among the services about the future role for the unique warplane, which can fly like an airplane but land like a helicopter.

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to 6.73%, lowest level since early February

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell this week to its lowest level since early February, easing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers facing record-high home prices. The rate fell to 6.73% from 6.78% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.9%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell this week, pulling the average rate down to 5.99% from 6.07% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.25%, Freddie Mac said. After jumping to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has mostly hovered around 7% this year — more than double what it was just three years ago.