In emotional farewell speech, Michelle Obama praises diversity
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – First lady Michelle Obama made an impassioned case for embracing diversity and welcoming all religious groups on Friday in a not-so-veiled message to her husband’s successor two weeks ahead of Inauguration Day.
Four ordered held without bail over Chicago torture shown on Facebook
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Four African-Americans accused of attacking an 18-year-old white man with special needs while making anti-white racial taunts in an assault broadcast on Facebook were ordered held without bail by a Chicago judge on Friday.
South Carolina jury to deliberate church shooter’s fate next week
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – Jurors could begin deliberating on Tuesday whether white supremacist Dylann Roof should be sentenced to death or life in prison for killing nine black people at a historic church in Charleston, South Carolina, a federal jud…
Oklahoma revenues battered by low energy prices in 2016
(Reuters) – Gross receipts collected during 2016 by Oklahoma’s Treasury shrank 7.4 percent from the prior year as weak oil and natural gas prices weighed on the state’s finances, officials said on Friday.
Pennsylvania to close two prisons as budget shortfall looms
HARRISBURG (Reuters) – Pennsylvania will close two state prisons by June 30 to help offset a projected $600 million revenue shortfall in this year’s budget, state officials said on Friday.
Trump blasts ‘Apprentice’ ratings; Schwarzenegger cites Lincoln
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday mocked his “Apprentice” successor Arnold Schwarzenegger over ratings for the TV show, sparking a Twitter fight between America’s two biggest celebrities-turned-politicians.
Anarchists threaten to disrupt Trump inauguration, police say ready
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Anarchist groups have threatened to shut down Republican Donald Trump’s swearing-in as U.S. president, but police in Washington said on Friday they believe the thousands of security officers assigned to the event will be able to …
Winter storm hits U.S. South with rare snowfall
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A storm packing heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hit the U.S. South on Friday, bringing winter weather to a region unaccustomed to it and leading to traffic snarls and widespread school closures.
U.S. approves first fix for 70,000 polluting VW diesel vehicles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a fix for about 70,000 polluting Volkswagen diesel vehicles, involving an initial software change available now, it said on Friday.
Four charged with hate crimes over Chicago beating shown on Facebook
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Four African-Americans accused of attacking an 18-year-old man with special needs while making anti-white racial taunts and broadcasting the assault on Facebook were charged with hate crimes in Illinois on Thursday.
