A Pennsylvania court says the secretary of state has the authority to direct counties not to allow “unauthorized third party access” to voting machines or risk having those machines decertified and unable to be deployed for elections.

The Associated Press has learned that the federal Bureau of Prisons is permanently closing its “rape club” women’s prison in California and will idle six facilities in a sweeping realignment after years of abuse, decay and mismanagement.

A prosecutor in Ohio is seeking to exonerate four men convicted three decades ago in the beating death of a woman.

Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images.