California bill would let birth certificates reflect same-sex parents
(Reuters) – Birth certificates in California would be changed to more accurately reflect families in which parents are of the same gender under a bill passed by the legislature on Wednesday.
Virginia ex-governor takes stand to deny granting favors
RICHMOND Va. (Reuters) – Former Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell took the witness stand in his own defense on Wednesday and denied giving any special treatment to the company at the heart of the bribery and corruption charges against him and his w…
Texas Governor Perry enters ‘not guilty’ plea to felony charges: newspaper
AUSTIN Texas (Reuters) – Texas Governor Rick Perry, a possible Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential race, has entered a not guilty plea to two felony counts of abuse of power, according to a legal document posted on Wednesday by a newspaper.
U.S. Supreme Court puts hold on gay marriage in Virginia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court stopped gay marriage in Virginia from going ahead on Wednesday, staying an appeals court ruling that had struck down a state ban.
U.S. Ex-Im Bank backers pin hopes on temporary reauthorization
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Business backers of the U.S. Export-Import Bank said on Wednesday they hope the institution’s charter will be extended temporarily while Congress hashes out a longer-term reauthorization of the bank, which some lawmakers are bent…
NYC mayor turns to clergy to heal rift over police choke hold
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Mayor Bill de Blasio turned to the city’s religious leaders on Wednesday to help heal relations between minority communities after a black man on Staten Island died last month after police put him in a choke hold.
Republicans see Senate chances bolstered by primary results
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans counting on an unpopular president and a favorable electoral landscape to help them win control of the U.S. Senate could have another asset this year – stronger candidates who are less likely to say embarrassing thing…
McCain calls for dramatic increase in U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State
EDGARTOWN Mass. (Reuters) – Republican Senator John McCain called on Wednesday for a dramatic increase in U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and said the attacks should also extend into Syria.
California Governor decries Calpers vote on pensions
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – California Governor Jerry Brown decried a move by the state’s giant public pension fund on Wednesday to include temporary pay hikes in the way pensions are calculated for newly hired workers.
Judge reviews congressional maps in Florida gerrymandering case
TALLAHASSEE Fla. (Reuters) – A Florida judge held a hearing on Wednesday to review new congressional maps drawn by the legislature in a lawsuit over gerrymandering by Republican leaders, raising the possibility of election delays in some races.
