Mormon leaders reaffirm faith’s exclusive commitment to heterosexual marriage
(Reuters) – Mormon leaders are reaffirming their faith’s belief that only heterosexual marriage is ordained by God, in a letter to be read to congregations this holiday weekend following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that legalized gay nuptials.
Man badly bitten by shark in latest North Carolina attack
(Reuters) – A shark attacked a 68-year-old man swimming off a North Carolina beach on Wednesday and bit him repeatedly, causing injuries to his torso, hip, leg and hands, authorities said.
Human cause suspected in destructive Washington state grass fire
(Reuters) – Investigators suspect human activity, rather than lightning, sparked a grassland fire that has destroyed at least 29 homes near the eastern slopes of the Cascades in central Washington, officials said on Wednesday.
Michigan sets formal fiscal review of Detroit’s county
(Reuters) – Wayne County, home to Detroit, was under “probable financial stress,” the state of Michigan said on Wednesday and announced plans to start a formal fiscal review.
Maine lawmakers tighten foreclosure rules in win for consumers
AUGUSTA, Maine (Reuters) – Homeowners in Maine gained stronger protection against bank foreclosures under legislation approved late on Tuesday over the objections of some of the United States’ largest lenders in what consumer advocates called a win for…
Judge upholds ex-NFL star Hernandez’ murder conviction
BOSTON (Reuters) – A Massachusetts judge on Wednesday rejected a request by lawyers for former National Football League player Aaron Hernandez to overturn his conviction for the 2013 murder of an acquaintance.
Connecticut to pay $50,000 reward to man who testified in murder case
MILFORD, Conn. (Reuters) – Connecticut has agreed to pay a rare $50,000 reward to a man whose testimony led to his cousin’s conviction for the brutal murder of an actress who had appeared on the TV drama “Law & Order,” state officials said Wednesday.
Woman falls 400 feet to death in Colorado’s Royal Gorge
DENVER (Reuters) – A 44-year-old woman plummeted 400 feet (120 meters) to her death from an observation deck overlooking the Royal Gorge canyon in the mountains of south-central Colorado, authorities said on Wednesday.
U.S. campaign highlights stress of fireworks on combat veterans
(Reuters) – Every Independence Day for the past eight years, Shawn Gourley and her family have left their Indiana home for remote campgrounds to escape the fireworks that trigger her veteran husband’s wartime memories.
Ex-N.Y. state senator gets seven years in prison for bribery
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former Democratic state senator in New York was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in federal prison for a bribery scheme, in one of a series of public corruption cases brought by U.S. prosecutors against state lawmakers.
