Washington is limited in its response to North Korea over Sony hack
WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) – U.S. determination that North Korea was behind the hacking of Sony Corp. unit Sony Pictures again exposes the limited leverage that Washington has on one of the world’s most isolated and impoverished countries should it decide to respond.
U.S. House Speaker sets January 20th for Obama speech to Congress
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama has been invited to deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress on Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. ET (0200 GMT Jan. 21).
U.S. green groups sue EPA over stormwater regulations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two environmental groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for what the groups said was failing to comply with a court order requiring the agency to strengthen regulations preventing pollution from stormwater run…
Guardian of New Hampshire’s presidential primary ready for another round
CONCORD, N.H. (Reuters) – As New Hampshire braces for another wave of White House hopefuls next year seeking votes in the first-in-the-nation nominating primary, much of the credit for the state’s hold on that position goes to one man: Secretary of Sta…
In North Dakota, countdown looms for $5.3 billion oil tax break
BISMARCK, N.D. (Reuters) – Tumbling U.S. oil markets hit an important if obscure milestone on Thursday, closing for the first time at a price that could trigger a $5.3 billion, two-year tax break for North Dakota oil drillers as soon as next summer.
White House releases snapshot of plan to rate U.S. colleges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Friday released a draft of its plan to rate U.S. colleges and tie federal aid to performance as a way to coax institutions to pull up their socks.
Louisville lawmakers approve minimum wage hike
LOUISVILLE, Ky (Reuters) – Louisville, Kentucky officials on Thursday approved an increase to the city’s minimum wage, boosting it from the federal rate of $7.25 to $9 an hour by 2017, becoming the 12th city to approve a hike this year.
With Cuba decision, Obama hands Hillary Clinton a gift
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton knows a political gift when she sees one.
Washington governor pushes capital gains tax in face of budget gap
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Washington state Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday proposed a new tax on capital gains to try to close a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 billion, rolling back on a no-new-taxes campaign pledge.
Not known yet if Cuba deal might bring some U.S. fugitives home
CHICAGO (Reuters) – When he heard that United States and Cuba plan to restore diplomatic ties, retired New York City police detective Tom Nerney says he was struck with hope that a convicted killer he helped bring to justice but who escaped to the Cari…
