Seattle-area blast levels home, shatters school windows; two missing
SEATTLE (Reuters) – An explosion so strong some people thought it was an earthquake leveled a mobile home in western Washington state on Tuesday, possibly trapping two residents and shattering windows at a nearby elementary school, authorities said.
Pennsylvania fracking trial begins, pitting families against driller
SCRANTON, Pa. (Reuters) – Cabot Oil & Gas Co contaminated drinking water for two Pennsylvania families in its rush to begin fracking operations during the state’s natural gas boom, a lawyer told a federal jury in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday at the start of a civil trial.
Michigan Senate approves $30 million to help pay Flint water bills
(Reuters) – Residents of Flint, Michigan, one of the poorest cities in the United States, will get $30 million to help pay their water bills after a lead contamination crisis, under a bill unanimously approved by the Michigan Senate on Tuesday.
U.S. government, Apple take encryption case to court of public opinion
(Reuters) – Apple Inc on Monday urged the creation of a government panel on encryption, the latest salvo in a standoff over a locked iPhone linked to the San Bernardino shooting that has escalated into a public relations battle between the revered tech…
Tech, business leaders protest ‘discriminatory’ U.S. visa waiver changes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than 30 U.S. business leaders urged Congress on Tuesday to undo visa restrictions that make it harder for citizens of some countries to visit, saying they were discriminatory and made U.S. companies less competitive.
Michigan Uber driver admits role in deadly shooting spree: police
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Reuters) – A man working as an Uber driver admitted to the fatal weekend shootings of six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a police detective testified on Monday in a case raising questions about how the car service vets its drivers.
Canadian man gets probation for smuggling Chinese dinosaur fossils
PHOENIX (Reuters) – A Canadian dealer in prehistoric artifacts was sentenced on Monday to five years on probation and fined $25,000 in U.S. federal court in Arizona for smuggling dinosaur fossils from China to be sold at a Tucson gem show.
Pentagon to submit plan to Congress for closing Guantanamo prison
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon is expected to submit to Congress on Tuesday President Barack Obama’s long-awaited plan for closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, setting up a battle with lawmakers who oppose his efforts.
U.N. agency bans lithium-ion batteries on passenger aircraft
MONTREAL (Reuters) – The U.N. aviation agency on Monday prohibited shipments of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft, following concerns by pilots and plane makers that they are a fire risk.
California lawmaker aims to reduce eating disorders among fashion models
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – Fashion models who want to work in California would need a doctor to attest that they are of healthy weight and not suffering from an eating disorder under a proposal announced by a state lawmaker on Monday.
