Illinois’ unpaid bill pile grows as budget battle drags on
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois’ pile of unpaid bills is on track to top $8.5 billion by year-end as payments mandated by state law or courts in the absence of an enacted budget exceed available revenue, the state comptroller said on Wednesday.
Bankrupt ex-teen heartthrob David Cassidy to auction Florida home
MIAMI (Reuters) – Former TV star and teen idol David Cassidy is auctioning off his Florida home on Wednesday after a bankruptcy filing, the breakup of his third marriage and several arrests for drunken driving.
Three children found dead in van across street from Los Angeles school
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Three children were found dead on Wednesday in a van across the street from an elementary school in Los Angeles, and a man at the scene with stab wounds was taken to a hospital, police said.
Thousands of Seattle teachers, staff strike as pay talks fail
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Seattle teachers and support staff marched in picket lines on Wednesday during what was supposed to be the first day of school, waging their first such strike in three decades after contract talks between the district and union fail…
Cincinnati police chief fired amid low department morale
(Reuters) – Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell was fired on Wednesday, according to a memo from the city manager citing low department morale and a hostile work environment.
Wife of slain Oklahoma commissioner seeks seat under ‘widow’s clause’
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) – The wife of Oklahoma’s slain labor commissioner, who was stabbed to death in August, has requested the governor consider her to take over his elected office under a state provision known as the “widow’s clause.”
Immigrants’ artifacts to return to New York’s Ellis Island
NEW YORK (Reuters) – More than 200 artifacts telling stories of early 20th century immigrants to the United States will be returned to New York’s Ellis Island immigration museum on Thursday following repairs needed after Superstorm Sandy in 2012, feder…
Group urges Republican candidates to defund Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An influential conservative group is calling on Republican presidential candidates to vow they will veto any future funding for women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, which is under fire from abortion opponents.
Arizona police report nine possible shootings along interstate highway
PHOENIX (Reuters) – The number of possible vehicle shootings along a stretch of freeway in Phoenix has jumped to nine over the last 10 days, the head of Arizona’s state police said on Tuesday.
Oregon judge accused of blocking gay marriage applicants, hanging Hitler picture
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) – An Oregon judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages is facing multiple complaints in a state ethics investigation, including that he put up a picture of Adolf Hitler in the Salem courthouse, a state judicial commission …
