Your 2 hourly digest for U.S. News

U.S. News Stories from NBC reporters around the country.

DEA agents investigated for hiring prostitutes in Colombia May 22nd 2012, 14:58 By msnbc.com staff and news services At least two U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents reportedly are facing a Justice Department probe for hiring prostitutes in Colombia. The alleged incident took place when Secret Service agents also were in Colombia for President Obama's visit in mid April and hired prostitutes, but they are not directly related, CBS News reported. According to The Associated Press, the investigation of the "allegations about potential misconduct" is based on information provided by the Secret Service, the DEA said. The agency is making its employees available to be interviewed by investigators with the office of the Justice Department inspector general, the DEA said.   Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement that she had been briefed about the involvement of two or more DEA agents on May 4 but was asked to withhold public comment until the agents could be taken out of Colombia and questioned. "It's disturbing that we may be uncovering a troubling culture that spans more than one law enforcement agency," Collins said. Follow @msnbc_us "In addition to the Secret Service scandal, we now learn that at least two DEA agents apparently entertained female foreign national masseuses in the Cartagena apartment of one of the agents. The evidence uncovered thus far indicates that this likely was not just a one-time incident." Rep. King says he won't meet with Colombian prostitute at center of Secret Service scandal According to CBS, the Justice Department is working with the DEA, the U.S. Secret Service, the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service on the investigation. Unlike the Secret Service, the DEA has permanent offices in Colombia. "DEA takes allegations of misconduct very seriously and will take appropriate personnel action, if warranted, upon the conclusion of the [Office of the Inspector General's] investigation," a statement released by a DEA spokesperson to CBS read. Prostitution is legal in Colombia. The Associated Press contributed to this report. More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News: UN nuclear chief: Deal reached with Iran over suspected weapons program Death of Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi 'doesn't close the book' 'Massacre': At least 90 killed as bomber targets military parade rehearsal in Yemen Pakistan blocks Twitter -- but fails to stop tweets US student dies after going swimming at Scottish beach Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world Woman stabs, kills two tourists in Atlantic City, police say May 22nd 2012, 14:10 Police say Antoinette Pelzer, 44, stabbed and killed two Canadian tourists in Atlantic City. By Kelly Bayliss and Dan Stamm, NBC10.com Two Canadian women staying at an Atlantic City casino were stabbed and killed Monday in what appears to be a random attack in broad daylight, Atlantic County prosecutors told NBC10. Police tell NBC10's Ted Greenberg the deadly stabbing happened outside of the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, across from Bally's Casino on Michigan and Pacific Aves around 10 a.m. as the women walked towards The Walk outlet stores. For more, visit NBC10.com Witnesses told investigators that a woman who was later identified as 44-year-old Antoinette Pelzer was trying to rob one of the victims: a 47-year-old and an 80-year-old both from Canada. Follow @msnbc_us Bail is set at $2 million for Pelzer, who was taken to the Atlantic County Jail on Tuesday morning, according to The Press of Atlantic City. Police Officer Jacob Abbruscato was patrolling the area and saw the attack in progress. Investigators say he ordered Pelzer to drop the knife and then arrested her. The victims were rushed into nearby AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with stab wounds to the upper body. Both women died Monday afternoon, according to prosecutors. Police say the attack appeared to be random and unprovoked. Pelzer was being held on $250,000 charged with two counts of aggravated assault, robbery and weapons charges. She has a Pennsylvania license and police were trying to figure out how long she has been staying in A.C. Police say homicide charges are expected to be added. Police are not releasing the names of the victims at this time. More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: Arrest over disappearance of Calif. teen Sierra LaMar; cops suspect murder Man survives plunge over Niagara Falls Video: RFK Jr. absent from estranged wife's memorial Obama to tornado-ravaged Joplin: 'You've grown up quickly' Former Rutgers student gets 30 days in webcam spying case 3 workers killed by explosion at abandoned oil well in Arkansas Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook Media files: 120522-antoinette-pelzer-727a.photoblog400.jpg (image/jpeg)

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions