U.S. appeals court grapples with computer seizure case
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday appeared skeptical of the government’s assertion that it can seize computer records as part of a criminal investigation, hold them for years and then later search them to pursue an entirely differe…
Police officer shot dead in struggle at South Carolina mall
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – A South Carolina police officer was fatally shot at a mall on Wednesday during a struggle with a knife-wielding gunman, a law enforcement official said.
Congress averts government shutdown, sends funding measure to Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Ending weeks of infighting, the U.S. Congress on Wednesday voted to avert a government shutdown just hours before a midnight deadline, passing a stop-gap measure to extend funding for federal agencies until Dec. 11.
Pope’s meeting with Kentucky clerk divides public after U.S. visit
(Reuters) – A Kentucky county clerk who had been jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples secretly met Pope Francis in a move that disappointed many liberal Catholics and encouraged officials who support her stance.
Virginia man charged in students’ deaths waives right to speedy trial
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Reuters) – A Virginia man charged with abducting and killing university student Hannah Graham waived his right to a speedy trial on Wednesday in a second murder case involving a female student.
Judge orders halt to Virginia execution pending hearing on drug
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal judge in Virginia on Wednesday ordered a temporary halt to a serial killer’s execution scheduled for Thursday so a hearing could be held about one of the drugs that would be used to put him to death.
Oregon bakery owners fight order to pay damages to lesbian couple
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) – The owners of a Portland-area bakery who refused on religious grounds to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple are fighting a court order to pay the pair $135,000 in damages, Oregon officials said on Wednesday.
Wyoming court issues injunction against fracking rules for public lands
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Wyoming judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction against the federal government’s regulations for hydraulic fracturing on public lands, handing a victory to oil and gas producers who had vehemently opposed the rules….
Caitlyn Jenner will not be charged in fatal car crash: prosecutors
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Former Olympic champion and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner will not be charged in connection with a crash in Malibu earlier this year that killed a 69-year-old woman, Los Angeles prosecutors said on Wednesday.
House votes to defund Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives, continuing its fight against women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, on Wednesday voted to strip the organization of its funding.