Secret U.S. court issues first order for phone data under new law
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The secretive U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has issued its first order allowing the National Security Agency to collect telephone records under a new electronic spying law Congress passed last year.
Kentucky’s Republican governor calls for probe of Democratic predecessor
LOUISVILLE (Reuters) – Kentucky’s Republican governor on Tuesday called for an investigation into how his Democratic predecessor awarded state contracts and solicited campaign contributions, opening a new round in the feud between the two political fam…
House leader wants review of 9/11 bill that would let Americans sue Saudis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan did not immediately endorse a Senate bill on Tuesday that would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia over the Sept. 11 attacks, saying it should be reviewed to ensure it would not hur…
U.S. chief justice uses sign language as deaf lawyers sworn in
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In an historic first, U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts used sign language from the Supreme Court bench on Tuesday as he welcomed a dozen deaf and hard-of-hearing lawyers who took part in a ceremony authorizing them to argue cases …
New York City watchdog decries ‘irregularities’ in primary voting
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A New York City official on Tuesday ordered an audit of the city’s election authorities, citing “deep concern over widespread reports of poll site problems and irregularities” as voters cast their ballots in the state’s primary ele…
U.S., Iran discuss fulfilling nuclear deal pledges to Tehran
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday discussed ways of ensuring that last year’s historic nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers is implemented the way it was o…
U.S. House committee votes to smooth e-cigarette regulatory path
(Reuters) – A U.S. House of Representatives committee on Tuesday approved an amendment to an agricultural funding bill that would make it easier for e-cigarettes to win regulatory clearance than currently proposed.
Washington, DC lawmakers finalize ban on public pot smoking
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington, D.C.’s city council on Tuesday permanently banned the smoking of marijuana in public or in clubs, a spokeswoman for Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said, voting 7-6 for a second time to approve the prohibition. The co…
U.S. justices weigh federal fraud claim over woman’s death
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struggled with the question of when federal contractors can be sued for defrauding the government in a case involving a 19-year-old Massachusetts woman who suffered a fatal 2009 seizure at a ment…
Sanders opposes Constitution pipeline between Pennsylvania, NY
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday said he opposes a proposed natural gas pipeline between Pennsylvania and New York and called on New York officials to reject the project.
