Prosecutors are appealing the dismissal of anti-paparazzi driving charges that had been filed against a photographer accused of recklessly chasing Justin Bieber in California.

The appeal filed Wednesday argues that a criminal court judge erred last month when he dismissed two counts filed under California’s 2010 anti-paparazzi law against Paul Raef, a freelance photographer.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Rubinson ruled the statute was overly broad and violated the First Amendment.

The appeal claims the ruling could set a precedent that newsgatherers can engage in reckless driving without facing stiff penalties.

The law targeted those found guilty of unsafe driving in pursuit of a photo for commercial use.

Raef still faces traditional reckless driving charges for the July chase involving Bieber on a freeway.

Tobacco companies have introduced almost no cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products in the U.S. in more than 18 months because the federal government has prevented them from doing so.

An Associated Press review has found that the Food and Drug Administration has not ruled on nearly 3,500 product applications. About 90 percent have lingered for more than a year, much longer than the expected 90-day review process.

FDA officials say the applications have languished because of “significant deficiencies” and because the agency is taking extra care in reviewing products that pose public health risks.

Industry executives say cigarettes haven’t changed in any meaningful way and the delays don’t make sense. At the same time, tobacco watchdogs say there are signs cigarette makers are skirting the process with some new products.

A North Texas man is accused of carving a pentagram on his 6-year-old son’s back, telling a 911 dispatcher that he did it because “it’s a holy day.”

Richland Hills police say Brent Troy Bartel faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He’s jailed in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Sgt. Nathan Stringer says Bartel called 911 early Wednesday morning and said he’d shed innocent blood. Wednesday’s date is 12-12-12, a once-in-a-century event.

Officers in the Fort Worth suburb say they arrived and found that most of the child’s back was covered with a large pentagram. Richland Hills police also recovered a box cutter they believe was the weapon used to cut the boy.

The child was taken to a hospital. His condition was not immediately released.

A Los Angeles judge revoked Lindsay Lohan’s probation and scheduled a violation hearing that could result in more jail time for the 26-year-old “Liz and Dick” star.

The actress faces three counts of reckless driving, lying to a police officer and obstructing an officer from performing duties after an accident in which Lohan’s Porsche slammed into the back of a dump truck in June.

Authorities allege Lohan lied about being behind the wheel before the accident and the charges could prompt a probation violation in her 2011 necklace theft case.

Lohan did not appear in court Wednesday. She was represented by her attorney.

The hearing is set for Jan. 15.

A New Jersey girl who started a campaign calling for an Easy-Bake Oven in gender-neutral colors is planning to meet with the people who design it.

Toy maker Hasbro says it has invited 13-year-old McKenna Pope and her family to meet with the Easy-Bake team Monday at its Pawtucket headquarters.

Hasbro’s Julie Duffy says they invited McKenna in to listen to her thoughts and ideas.

McKenna was prompted to start an online petition after she wanted to buy an Easy-Bake Oven for her 4-year-old brother and found them only in purple and pink. Several top chefs, including Bobby Flay, have since asked Hasbro to make them in more colors.

Duffy says Hasbro has made the toy in gender-neutral colors in the past and believes it’s great for girls and boys.

A Delaware store manager is suing the Boy Scouts of America and the Mormon church over childhood sexual abuse committed by the scoutmaster at his church-run troop.

Melvin Novak’s lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Philadelphia. It charges that newly released Boy Scout “perversion files” show the organization hid abuse claims for years.

Novak’s abuser, Vance Hein, is in prison for a parole violation related to his 1999 conviction in Novak’s case.

The 28-year-old Novak says the abuse made him “a quitter” when it came to school and jobs and plunged him into years of substance abuse. The Newark, Del., man has also quit the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Associated Press does not usually identify people who report sexual abuse, but Novak agreed to make his name public in an effort to publicize the crime and prevent other abuse.

A law enforcement official says the suspect in the Oregon mall shootings is 22 years old and has no prior criminal record.

The official spoke only on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak about an ongoing criminal investigation.

Police say the gunman who opened fire on shoppers at the mall in Portland on Tuesday had no connection to the two people he fatally shot and wanted to kill as many people as possible. Police have not released the gunman’s identity of the gunman.

Nebraska is offering a new mobile app that lets users know of places to fish and hunt around the state.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the app allows users to purchase permits and provides the latest news and calendar events from the agency.

Other features include information on regulations, maps, species guides and state records.

The free app is available for Apple and Android users at https://outdoornebraska.gov/multimedia.asp#mobileApps.

 

Omaha police have towed 188 illegally parked vehicles from city streets in an effort to clear streets for snow removal.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the Omaha Police Department says it recently conducted a citywide sweep of unlawfully parked vehicles for towing, with each of the four police precincts participating.

The department says dead-storage vehicles violating local storage laws were tagged for removal, and towed after 48 hours if they were still in violation. Unregistered vehicles were towed immediately.

Officers tagged more than 430 vehicles, issued tickets for more than 200 violations and towed 188 vehicles.

The National Weather Service reports there is a chance of snow in Omaha on Saturday.

The condition of former President George H. W. Bush remains stable at a Houston hospital, where he is being treated for a bronchitis-related cough.

Bush has been in the Methodist Hospital for almost three weeks. Spokesman George Kovacik said Wednesday that the ex-president’s condition has not changed. No additional information was provided.

The 88-year-old Bush also spent about week in the hospital in early November for the same ailment, described by doctors as non-life threatening.

Bush and his wife, Barbara, split their time between residences in Houston and Kennebunkport, Maine.