U.S. will not prosecute families for paying hostage ransom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government will no longer threaten to prosecute families who try to pay ransom to win the release of American hostages held overseas, and the United States will directly negotiate with militants holding them but will not…
New York agrees on early budget, boosts police force
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York City’s mayor and City Council have reached agreement on early adoption of a more than $78.5 billion budget that includes hiring nearly 1,300 police officers by the end of next fiscal year in July 2016, city leaders said on…
Battered, orange pick-up sought in northern Colorado shootings
LOVELAND, Colo. (Reuters) – Federal investigators said on Tuesday a faded orange pick-up truck could be linked to a recent string of shootings that has mystified and worried residents in northern Colorado.
Swede gets 4-3/4 years in U.S. prison over BlackShades software
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The leader of an organization called BlackShades was sentenced to 4-3/4 years in a U.S. prison on Tuesday for distributing software that authorities say was used to hack into half a million computers worldwide.
Pennsylvania teen pleads guilty in rock-throwing case that injured teacher
LEWISBURG, Pa. (Reuters) – A Pennsylvania teenager on Tuesday admitted throwing a rock at a passing car on an interstate highway, severely injuring a passenger, and faces as much as 20 years in prison.
LG to lower U.S. headquarter’s height after environmental fight
(Reuters) – A long-running battle between LG Electronics Inc and environmentalists ended on Tuesday when LG agreed to halve the height of its planned North American headquarters so it will not obstruct views of the New Jersey Palisades cliffs.
Branson says Virgin Cruises will sail out of Miami in 2020
MIAMI (Reuters) – Richard Branson’s Virgin Cruises will take delivery of three ships capable of carrying nearly 3,000 passengers each starting in early 2020, the British entrepreneur told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday.
Exclusive: Major U.S. flag maker to stop making Confederate flags
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – One of the most prominent U.S. flag makers said on Tuesday it will stop manufacturing and selling Confederate flags in the wake of last week’s attack on worshipers at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Chicago to see new Ferris wheel at Navy Pier in 2016
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago will enjoy a new 196-foot-tall (60 m) Ferris wheel on its lakefront next year, almost 50 feet taller than its current wheel, the city announced on Tuesday.
Illinois bill delaying Chicago school pension payment advances
CHICAGO (Reuters) – An Illinois House committee approved on Tuesday a bill that would give the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools (CPS) an extra 40 days to make a $634 million payment to its pension fund.
