National news briefs

Woman who painted nails while driving is guilty of homicide

CHICAGO (MCT) — After hearing two days of testimony, a Lake County jury has convicted a woman who was painting her nails while driving when she struck and killed a motorcyclist at a red light.

Lora Hunt, of Morris, Ill., was found guilty of reckless homicide in the death of Anita Zaffke in Lake Zurich, Ill., on May 2, 2009.

During his closing argument, Hunt's lawyer said Hunt has admitted that painting her nails while driving was a "stupid, stupid thing." But Jeff Tomczak argued that it was no different than eating a sandwich, talking on a cell phone or tending to a baby.

2 years in prison for ex-N.Y. state senator

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Joseph Bruno, once one of the most powerful political figures in New York, was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison on two federal fraud counts.

The 81-year-old Bruno was the Republican leader of the state Senate for 13 years, controlling that chamber's legislation and billions of dollars in spending. He was convicted Dec. 7 of using his office to help a businessman who paid him as a consultant and in a horse venture, violations of the federal honest services law.

Homeless rights bill passed in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's homeless would have enhanced civil rights protections under a bill passed by the state Assembly.

The legislation approved Thursday would add the state's estimated 157,000 homeless to the list of groups protected from hate-based violence. That would allow them to sue for larger sums of damages if they are targeted in an attack.

The bill's sponsors say California is second in the nation in the rate of violence against homeless people. In 2008, a homeless man was burned alive in Los Angeles.

Woman tries to rob bank near FBI agent

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities in Ohio say a woman tried to rob a bank with a note and then attempted to eat it once she saw a uniformed officer in line behind her.

FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas (trahm-BY'-tuhs) says the woman wearing sunglasses handed the teller the note at a Columbus Chase bank branch Wednesday morning.

Trombitas says in a statement that the off-duty officer wasn't aware of what was going on, but when the woman noticed him, she grabbed the note and fled. He says she tried to swallow the note as she was nabbed, then coughed it up onto the sidewalk.