Texas defunds Planned Parenthood clinics, but Louisiana ordered to pay
DALLAS/NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Texas on Monday barred Planned Parenthood from receiving state Medicaid money, the latest setback for the women’s healthcare provider since it became embroiled in controversy over undercover videos about its handling of f…
Ohio delays executions into 2017 due to lack of lethal drugs
(Reuters) – Ohio on Monday delayed all scheduled executions until 2017 at the earliest because of difficulty obtaining the drugs necessary to carry out lethal injections, the state’s corrections department said.
Illinois credit rating downgraded, budget fight cited
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois’ credit standing took another hit on Monday as Fitch Ratings downgraded the state’s rating for the first time on Governor Bruce Rauner’s watch, citing the deterioration of state finances during a four-month budget impasse.
U.S. Treasury Secretary met with Puerto Rico interest groups
SAN JUAN/NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Monday met with Puerto Rican and Hispanic interest groups to talk about the U.S. territory’s fiscal problems and address the administration’s efforts to help speed its economic recovery,…
Man pleads guilty in bid to stop departing jet at Denver airport
DENVER (Reuters) – A 58-year-old man pleaded guilty on Monday to running onto a secured ramp at Denver International Airport in an unsuccessful attempt to halt a departing plane after he arrived late for a flight to attend his high school reunion, pros…
Michigan governor readies legislation to fix Detroit schools
(Reuters) – Detroit’s public schools should be split between a new community school district and the current district to raise academic performance and avoid financial collapse, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said on Monday.
Judge declares mistrial in criminal trial of ex-Dewey & LeBoeuf executives
(Reuters) – The judge overseeing the criminal case against three former executives of defunct U.S. law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf declared a mistrial on Monday following over three weeks of jury deliberations.
North Dakota oil well spewing after weekend blowout
WHITE EARTH, N.D. (Reuters) – A North Dakota oil well owned by Oasis Petroleum Inc blew out over the weekend and has yet to be capped, leaking more than 67,000 gallons of crude so far and endangering a tributary of the Missouri River, state officials s…
Philadelphia contractor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in building collapse
(Reuters) – A jury convicted a Philadelphia contractor of involuntary manslaughter but acquitted him on murder charges for his role in a 2013 demolition that killed six people when it triggered the collapse of a neighboring building, lawyers said.
One dead, six injured after SUV plows into Texas grocery store
(Reuters) – An elderly woman crashed her sport-utility vehicle into a Houston grocery store on Monday while trying to park in a space reserved for the handicapped, killing one person and injuring six others, police said.