U.S. judge halts fracking plan for federal lands in California
HOUSTON (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Wednesday halted a plan to allow fracking on public lands in central California, saying a federal agency’s environmental plan should have taken a “hard look” at the potential impact of the process.
Oklahoma teen gets life in prison for killing five family members
(Reuters) – An Oklahoma teenager pleaded guilty on Wednesday to murdering his parents and three siblings with weapons including knives and a hatchet, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a court official said.
Florida politicians urge use of Intrexon GM mosquitoes for Zika
(Reuters) – Intrexon Corp said on Wednesday a bipartisan coalition of Florida politicians had urged the U.S. government to step up efforts to fight Zika, including sanctioning the emergency use of the company’s genetically engineered mosquitoes.
Jury selection opens in Bundy brothers takeover case in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) – Jury selection began on Wednesday in the case of ranchers Ammon and Ryan Bundy and five other anti-government activists who led an armed 41-day takeover of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said….
Mural depicts Maine governor as Klansman, Mickey Mouse
(Reuters) – A graffiti artist lampooned Maine Governor Paul LePage in a mural depicting the two-term Republican wearing a Ku Klux Klan cape and hood, two weeks after he left a profane voicemail for a Democratic lawmaker he believed had called him a rac…
Party lines split U.S. on terror threat 15 years after 9/11: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks nearing, Americans are sharply divided on party lines over the threat of a major terrorist attack on the United States, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
‘Bridgegate’ names can remain secret: U.S. appeals court
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected an effort by news media to force prosecutors in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal known as “Bridgegate” to disclose the names of unindicted co-conspirators.
U.S. appeals court deals setback to Uber drivers’ cases
(Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday shifted most of a lawsuit challenging background checks performed by Uber Technologies Inc on its drivers to arbitration, a ruling likely to affect a larger case over whether they should be considered emplo…
U.S. House to vote on bill allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudis: source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives will vote this week on legislation that would allow the families of Sept. 11 attack victims to sue Saudi Arabia’s government for damages, a House leadership source said on Wednesday.
Ferguson, Missouri, protest leader found shot dead in burning car: police
(Reuters) – Missouri detectives have not determined a motive or identified any witnesses in an investigation into the death of a man who led protests in the city of Ferguson following the fatal 2014 shooting of Michael Brown by a law enforcement office…
