Alex Murdaugh's defense team says they're "cautiously optimistic" about getting a new trial as the Supreme Court prepares to hear appeals in February.

A man who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a fatal shooting over a dog petting argument had his conviction overturned by an appeals court Tuesday, according to records obtained by KSAT.

The U.S. 9th Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court order requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to build more than 2,500 units of housing on its West Los Angeles campus and invalidating a prestigious private school's lease there.