The Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck must serve nearly two years in jail, a judge ordered Wednesday. Ethan Couch, who turned 19 Monday, was making his first appearance in adult court. Initially, state … Source: Claims Journal

The U.S. is less capable of managing security issues within its borders than 32 other nations, including France and Belgium, according to a new global ranking. Singapore is the most capable of maintaining domestic security in the world, while Nigeria … Source: Claims Journal

U.S. Senator Al Franken asked federal regulators and Medtronic Inc for detailed information about injuries associated with the company’s bone graft Infuse following a newspaper report that Medtronic hid thousands of adverse events linked to the product. The Minneapolis Star … Source: Claims Journal

A federal appeals court has upheld an estimated $1 billion plan by the NFL to settle thousands of concussion lawsuits filed by former players, potentially ending a troubled chapter in league history. The decision released Monday comes nearly a year … Source: Claims Journal

Drivers are faced with a number of distractions today. Consider that more than 587,000 people driving at any given time are holding cell phones, according to a National Occupant Protection Use Survey conducted in 2014. According to Distraction.gov, a joint … Source: Claims Journal

The U.S. government is bringing together top airline and auto company executives to discuss aviation industry practices such as safety data sharing that automakers could adapt to help reduce car accidents, a leading cause of death in America. The U.S. … Source: Claims Journal

In a flood, nature can steal everything: lives and homes, delicate Christmas ornaments, a favorite flannel shirt, a special fishing hole. The historic rains and floods that battered South Carolina in October claimed 19 lives, destroyed more than $1 billion … Source: Claims Journal

Greenland’s massive ice sheet this week started melting freakishly early thanks to a weather system that brought unseasonably warm temperatures and rain, scientists say. While this record early melt is mostly from natural weather on top of overall global warming, … Source: Claims Journal

Companies that drill for oil and gas in U.S. waters should be required to work more closely with rig workers and regulators, as they do in Norway and the United Kingdom, to reduce the risk of accidents, the U.S. Chemical … Source: Claims Journal

The robots are coming – to help run your life or sell you stuff – at an online texting service near you. In coming months, users of Facebook’s Messenger app, Microsoft’s Skype and Canada’s Kik can expect to find new … Source: Claims Journal