Nation, world briefs 9/22/15

Carson claims boost from Muslim remark

WASHINGTON -- Republican White House contender Ben Carson refused Monday to back off his weekend charge that Muslims shouldn't serve in the presidency. The political fallout is a distraction at least as the retired neurosurgeon tries to capitalize on recent momentum in the GOP field. But it highlights a sentiment among voters in both parties who agree with Carson's reluctance to elect a Muslim to the nation's highest office. Carson's campaign reported strong fundraising and more than 100,000 new Facebook friends in the 24 hours after he told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation." His campaign manager Barry Bennett said Monday: "While the left wing is huffing and puffing over it, Republican primary voters are with us at least 80-20."

Chicago readies for property-tax hike

CHICAGO -- After watching for years as their city's financial troubles piled up, Chicago homeowners will be told this week it's time for them to start paying the tab. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to propose a large increase in property taxes to help eliminate billions of dollars in pension and other debt and to repair the school system's credit rating. Residents may face more taxes and fees on garbage collection, sugary drinks and other services. The steps would help reverse the city's financial slide but could dent Chicago's reputation for a relatively affordable cost of living.

Man found guilty of pushing wife off cliff

DENVER -- A federal jury Monday convicted a man of murder for pushing his wife to her death off a cliff as they hiked in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate their wedding anniversary, rejecting his claim her fall was an accident. It took the jury about 10 hours to find Harold Henthorn, 59, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his second wife, a wealthy Mississippi native. She died after plummeting about 130 feet off a cliff in a remote, rocky area where the couple had been hiking Sept. 29, 2012, their 12th wedding anniversary. Henthorn told investigators his wife paused to take a photo of the view and fell face-first over the ledge. Prosecutors argued Henthorn carefully staged Toni Henthorn's death to look like an accident because he stood to benefit from her $4.7 million in life insurance policies she didn't know existed.

Coup leader will hand back power

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- The Burkina Faso general who seized power in a coup last week apologized to the nation Monday and said he would hand over control to a civilian transitional government after the military warned its forces would converge on the capital and forcibly disarm the soldiers behind the power grab. Gen. Gilbert Diendere said his presidential guard unit "confirms our commitment to giving power back to civilian authorities" in a communique issued to journalists. That was one of the key conditions of a draft agreement that resulted from weekend negotiations with regional mediators.

-- From wire reports