A 22-year-old Lebanese immigrant accused of placing a backpack he thought contained a bomb near Chicago's Wrigley Field this month is set to appear in federal court.

Sami Samir Hassoun was charged last week with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and an explosive device. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Prosecutors allege Hassoun took a fake bomb given to him by undercover FBI agents and planted it in a trash bin near the home of the Chicago Cubs.

Hassoun's attorney, Myron Auerbach, says his client isn't a terrorist.

Prosecutors say Hassoun has no apparent links to extremists and that he appeared motivated in part by thinking he could profit from bombings.

A lawyer for one of the three men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts in West Memphis told the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday that new scientific evidence in the case merits reopening his client's case.

Damien Echols has maintained his innocence since his arrest in the 1993 killings. Attorney Dennis Riordan told the court that DNA testing conducted after Echols' conviction did not place Echols at the scene and that other scientific evaluation of evidence contradicts statements made by one of the three men during a confession.

Riordan asked the court to send the case back to circuit court for an evidentiary hearing so that the trial judge can sort out the new evidence.

If the hearing is conducted, Riordan said the judge would have to take the next step and order a new trial.

"It is in the interest of the state and Mr. Echols that we get to that point as soon as possible," Riordan said.

The Legislature passed a law allowing DNA testing in cases when the technology wasn't available in the original trial, Assistant Attorney General David Roupp argued the evidence has to prove innocence, not just raise questions.

Armstrong Teasdale LLP is supporting the development of new renewable energy sources by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through AmerenUE’s Pure Power program.

Armstrong Teasdale’s commitment to this voluntary program will help prevent approximately 132,996 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a leading greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere each year. This is equal to the CO2 reduction provided by taking 12 cars off the road for a year.

Pure Power is UE’s voluntary renewable energy program and the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2008 New Green Power Program of the Year Award Winner. It gives residential customers the option to add an extra 1.5 cents/kilowatthour to their monthly bills, offsetting up to 100 percent of their energy usage with clean, renewable energy. Commercial and industrial customers, like Armstrong Teasdale, participate by buying “blocks” of Pure Power, paying an additional $15 a month for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours used.

Pure Power funds are then used to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates from Green-e Energy-certified wind farms and other types of renewable energy projects. In 2009, 100 percent of the RECs purchased for the Pure Power program came from Missouri wind farms. This is projected to be true again in 2010.

Armstrong Teasdale’s level of participation makes it a UE Pure Power Leader--a designation reserved for companies, governments or other large users of electricity who agree to offset at least 3 percent of their energy usage through Pure Power purchases. This purchase also counts toward the City of Clayton’s effort to become the first EPA Green Power Community in the state of Missouri.

About Armstrong Teasdale LLP: Armstrong Teasdale LLP, with nearly 250 lawyers in offices across the U.S. and China, has a demonstrable track record of delivering sophisticated legal advice and exceptional service to a dynamic client base. Whether an issue is local or global, practice area specific or industry related, Armstrong Teasdale provides each client with an invaluable combination of legal resources and practical advice in nearly every area of law. For more information, please visit www.armstrongteasdale.com.

One thing Al Snyder wants to make clear: His boy fought and died for freedom in Iraq, but not for the right of some "wackos" to spew hate at soldiers' funerals under the protection of the Constitution.

"It's an insult to myself, my family and the veterans to say this is what our military men and women died for," Snyder says, barely concealing his anger.

Yet more than four years after the death of his only son, Matthew, Snyder is in the middle of a Supreme Court case that raises almost precisely that issue.

The court is set to decide whether members of a fundamentalist church in Kansas who picketed Matthew's funeral with signs bearing anti-gay and anti-Catholic invective have a constitutional right to say what they want.

A Pittsburgh woman has agreed to plead guilty to allegations she defrauded advertisers and exhibitors out of thousands of dollars with a fake bridal show in Boston.

Federal prosecutors say Karen Tucker on Tuesday agreed to waive indictment on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in exchange for a lenient sentence of up to nearly five years in jail.

Tucker and an uncharged co-conspirator allegedly posed as representatives of a business known as The Boston 411, which promoted a nonexistent home and bridal show in March.

The two allegedly collected advance fees from exhibitors and used most of the money for personal expenses. Authorities say they conducted similar scams elsewhere.

Tucker's attorney says a court date has not been set.

The Washington state woman who falsely claimed a stranger threw acid in her face is due in court in what will be her first public appearance since she held a hospital press conference nearly a month ago with her head swathed in bandages.

Bethany Storro of Vancouver is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday to three theft charges.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Golik says she accepted donations for help with facial burns she suffered Aug. 30. Police say she later admitted putting drain cleaner on her face.

Her lawyer expects Storro will be released after a brief appearance in Clark County Superior Court.

Court records indicate Storro spent about $1,500 of the nearly $28,000 donated. Storro's parents have said the money will be returned.