New York passes emergency spending plan to avoid shutdown
ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) – New York lawmakers on Monday passed an emergency spending plan authorizing Governor Andrew Cuomo to pay bills and keep the state government operating for the next two months.
Pennsylvania families, fracking company ordered to settle dispute
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – Two Pennsylvania families who claimed their drinking water had been tainted by fracking and the energy company they blamed for it said on Monday they would try to seek a settlement after a judge threw out a $4.2 million jury…
U.S. Southeast on guard for tornadoes after storm kills four
(Reuters) – A powerful storm system in the southeastern United States that killed four people, including a woman swept away by flood waters while she called 911, put much of the region under a tornado watch on Monday and delayed hundreds of flights.
U.S. appeals court sets May hearing on revised Trump travel order
(Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court said on Monday it would hold a hearing in May over a Hawaii federal judge’s order that blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel restrictions on citizens from six Muslim-majority countries.
Florida governor takes prosecutor off murder cases for death penalty stance
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) – Florida Governor Rick Scott on Monday removed a prosecutor from 21 murder cases in the Orlando area because she has said she would not seek the death penalty during her tenure.
Homeland Security announces steps against H1B visa fraud
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced steps on Monday to prevent the fraudulent use of H1B visas, used by employers to bring in specialized foreign workers temporarily, which appeared to fall short of President Donal…
Federal judge blocks Indiana abortion ultrasound measure
(Reuters) – A U.S. federal judge blocked an Indiana measure requiring women to have an ultrasound at least 18 hours before undergoing an abortion, saying that the mandate was unnecessary and a burden to low-income women.
Kansas House fails in attempt to override Medicaid veto
(Reuters) – Lawmakers in Kansas on Monday failed to override Republican Governor Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill expanding eligibility for Medicaid for the poor under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Illinois budget feud deals ‘unconscionable’ blow to police, fire widows
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois owes a group of women whose police officer and firefighter husbands died in the line of duty more than $351,000 apiece for their losses, but the state’s chronic inability to pass a budget has left all of them unpaid like thousands of state vendors.
Fox News, Ailes face another sexual harassment lawsuit
(Reuters) – A Democratic political consultant and Fox News contributor on Monday sued the network and its former chairman, Roger Ailes, accusing them of denying her a permanent hosting job after she rebuffed Ailes’ sexual advances.
