The Department of Veterans Affairs has revealed that more than 85,000 veterans last year were treated for injuries or illness stemming from sexual abuse in the military, highlighting a crisis that President Barack Obama has called "shameful and disgraceful."

"We will not stop until we've seen this scourge, from what is the greatest military in the world, eliminated," Obama told Pentagon officials last week at the White House. "Not only is it a crime, not only is it shameful and disgraceful, but it also is going to make and has made the military less effective than it can be."

The Associated Press reported on Monday that more than 85,000 veterans had been affected in 2012, based on information released by VA. Of those cases, most of the victims were women, but nearly 40 percent were men. Sexual abuse has been defined by VA as "any sexual activity where you are involved against your will," which can come in various forms – some have reported to have been raped, while others said they were groped or subjected to verbal abuse or other forms of sexual harassment. more >>

In a note found scrawled on the inside of the boat in which he was hiding at the time of his arrest, Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, claimed responsibility for the chilling April 15 attack, dismissed victims as "collateral damage" and looked forward to joining his dead older brother in paradise.

Billed part suicide note, manifesto and justification for the attack, sources disclosed in a CBS News report on Thursday that Tsarnaev scribbled the missive as he bled in hiding from a gunshot wound he suffered during an episode of gunfire with police and his older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

"When you attack one Muslim, you attack all Muslims," Tsarnaev reportedly wrote on a bullet riddled wall on the boat. He further claimed in the note that the bombings were retribution for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. more >>

The news that Ariel Castro might be tried for murder for ending the pregnancies of the women he held captive has brought to the fore an older debate over fetal homicide laws. If ending a pregnancy is murder, what does that say about the legal status of the unborn?

Castro reportedly impregnated Michelle Knight, one of his three kidnapping victims, five times, then forced her to miscarry by starving her and repeatedly punching her in the stomach.

Since 1996, Ohio, like 37 other states, has had a law that intentionally ending a pregnancy is murder. Murder charges can be brought against someone who causes a miscarriage, or murdering a pregnant woman will recognize two victims to the crime. more >>

An inmate is reportedly suing the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for denying him materials he claims are necessary for him to properly express his Wiccan faith.

Daniel LaPlante, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 1987 murder of a Townsend, Mass., mother and her two children, has requested 121 items that he claims will aid him in performing Wiccan rituals.

Among the most interesting of these items include carrot cake, a ritual oil called "Dragon's Blood," various colors of pens, hazelnuts, and Mugwort ritual tea. more >>

Jodi Arias is tweeting again, thanks to the help of a friend who posts messages on her behalf. In one of her latest tweets, Arias spoke about God's love and quoted a prominent Mormon leader.

"God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. – Dieter F. Uchtdorf," Arias posted on Wednesday, as the sentencing phase of her trial began.

Uchtdorf is the second counselor of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was installed on Feb. 3, 2008 but has been a member of the Church since 1962. In addition to being a second counselor, Uchtdorf has given several speeches and addresses as well as written numerous articles, oen of which Arias drew the quote from. more >>

A 19-year-old volunteer with Willow Creek Community Church's special needs child care program has been released from a Cook County, Ill., jail after being arrested and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child.

Robert Sobczak was released on $10,000 cash bond this past Saturday after being arrested and released the prior day for allegedly fondling an 8-year-old boy. The felony charge reportedly came after the family of the alleged victim informed church officials of the child's claim that Sobczak had fondled him.

However, once made aware of the allegation, Willow Creek Community Church immediately contacted the state's Department of Children and Family Services, which in turn notified law enforcement officials. more >>