Free Republic

DALLAS - A woman accused of suffocating her 5-month old daughter by using chili powder as a thumb-sucking remedy was convicted of manslaughter Sunday. Angela DiSabella, 21, of Irving, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the 2004 death of her daughter, Kira. DiSabella had been charged with capital murder. Jurors convicted her on the lesser charge after nearly 11 hours of deliberations. According to an affidavit, DiSabella told police she put chili powder on Kira's thumb after getting the idea on the Internet. Police said the child was malnourished and had chili powder in her throat and on...

<p>The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has contributed more than $13 million to political candidates and causes in California over the last four years. The tribe has spread its money around -- to the governor, the attorney general, 107 of the state's 120 legislators, several ballot measures and both major parties. The tribe, which operates a casino in Palm Springs, is the very definition of a major donor under the state's political reform act.</p>