Same-sex couples deemed Mormon apostates in renewed exclusion of gays
SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) – The Mormon Church has deemed married same-sex couples to be apostates of the faith and their children ineligible for baptism in a reaffirmation of opposition to gay marriage months after endorsing fair housing and employment …
Two Louisiana officers arrested in shooting of boy, 6, and father
(Reuters) – Two Louisiana police officers were arrested on Friday on charges of killing a 6-year-old boy and critically wounding his father during a car chase that ended in a volley of bullets, state police said.
Arizona woman kills son, herself in hospital room, police say
PHOENIX (Reuters) – A mother killed her 5-year-old son before shooting herself to death early on Saturday in an apparent murder-suicide inside the child’s hospital room in suburban Phoenix, police said.
Texas state judge shot in front of home; shooter still at large
AUSTIN (Reuters) – Police were searching on Saturday for a suspect in the shooting of a Texas state judge in the driveway of her home, authorities said.
California drought shrinks winter digs for migratory birds
LODI, Calif. (Reuters) – With their red heads, 7-foot (2.13 m) wingspan and a trilling call, migrating Sandhill Cranes provide a dramatic sunset spectacle as they land by the thousands in wetlands near Sacramento each night during the fall and winter.
U.S. task force expected to recommend drone registry be free: sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal task force is expected to recommend a Web-based registry for drone owners that would impose no registration fees, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Los Angeles sued over oil well hazards faced by minorities
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Poor, predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles bear a disproportionate brunt of environmental hazards and noise pollution from oil drilling due to a city regulatory system applied in a discriminatory fashion…
Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline in win for greens
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday rejected the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada in a victory for environmentalists who campaigned against the project for more than seven years.
Connecticut pension report to advise trimming return outlook
(Reuters) – A report expected next week on reforming Connecticut’s state employee public pension system will recommend cutting the annual expected rate of return by 1 percentage point to 7 percent, a lead researcher told Reuters on Friday.
U.S. can still close Guantanamo before Obama leaves: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration still has time to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison before the president leaves office, the White House said on Friday, adding that it is continuing to work on transferring detainees from the cente…
