Erika no longer a tropical storm, loses steam over Cuba
MIAMI (Reuters) – Erika, a tropical storm that killed 20 people on the Caribbean island of Dominica and at least one person in Haiti, fell apart on Saturday over eastern Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Construction accident closes down major San Francisco freeway
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Emergency work was expected to block off the principal freeway connecting San Francisco to the south for at least 20 hours, after a construction crane crashed into and demolished a tower supporting high-voltage power lines.
Like New Orleans, second-line parades struggle but survive
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – It is fitting that the “second line” parade, a central pillar of New Orleans African-American musical tradition, is playing a prominent role in the events marking the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina 10 years ago.
Police kill bystander when New York undercover gun buy goes bad
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A police officer shooting at a fleeing suspect during an undercover gun buy that went wrong killed a 61-year-old bystander in the New York City suburb of Mount Vernon, police said on Saturday.
Obama heads north to Alaska, where drilling decision looms large
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Saturday defended his decision to allow Royal Dutch Shell to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean under what he said were rigorous standards, fending off criticism by environmental groups.
Funeral for slain Missouri teen as family questions police shooting
(Reuters) – Mourners were gathering on Saturday for the funeral of an 18-year-old black man whose shooting by a white police officer earlier this month re-ignited racial tensions in the St. Louis area.
Hurricane Ignacio rolls across Pacific toward Hawaii
HONOLULU (Reuters) – Hurricane Ignacio was churning across the Pacific on Friday on a path that could take it past Hawaii in coming days, with a second, more powerful storm trailing in its wake, the National Hurricane Center said.
Kentucky clerk seeks Supreme Court help to deny gay marriage licenses
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) – A Kentucky county clerk petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday for an emergency order allowing her to continue to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a move coming two days after a federal appeals court rejected…
New Mexico’s prosecutor charges state official with embezzlement
SANTA FE, N.M. (Reuters) – New Mexico’s Democratic attorney general filed a 64-count criminal case against Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran on Friday, accusing her of embezzlement, money-laundering, campaign finance violations and other offen…
Los Angeles committee gives support to bid to host 2024 Olympics
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to support an effort to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to Los Angeles, ahead of a deadline next month for U.S. Olympic organizers to decide on an American city to bid f…