Families of victims of fatal Texas festival crash sue organizers
(Reuters) – Families of the victims and survivors of a fatal March crash outside the popular South by Southwest festival in Austin sued the organizers on Thursday, according to court documents and local media.
In North Dakota, countdown looms for $5.3 billion oil tax break
BISMARCK, N.D. (Reuters) – Tumbling U.S. oil markets hit an important if obscure milestone on Thursday, closing for the first time at a price that could trigger a $5.3 billion, two-year tax break for North Dakota oil drillers as soon as next summer.
White House releases snapshot of plan to rate U.S. colleges
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Friday released a draft of its plan to rate U.S. colleges and tie federal aid to performance as a way to coax institutions to pull up their socks.
Louisville lawmakers approve minimum wage hike
LOUISVILLE, Ky (Reuters) – Louisville, Kentucky officials on Thursday approved an increase to the city’s minimum wage, boosting it from the federal rate of $7.25 to $9 an hour by 2017, becoming the 12th city to approve a hike this year.
Massive Los Angeles construction fire was arson, authorities say
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A construction fire that gutted an entire city block of downtown Los Angeles and caused up to $30 million in damages was an act of arson, authorities said on Thursday.
Colorado boy, 14, sentenced to 10 years for dad’s murder
DENVER (Reuters) – A 14-year-old Colorado boy who admitted shooting his father dead and concealing the death by calling the man’s work for five days to say his dad was ill was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Washington governor pushes capital gains tax in face of budget gap
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Washington state Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday proposed a new tax on capital gains to try to close a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 billion, rolling back on a no-new-taxes campaign pledge.
Uber’s fight of California data-sharing rule highlights its bumpy road
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Uber argued Thursday that it should not have to turn over ride data in a California regulatory standoff that shows how the transportation service is falling afoul of officials who could threaten its expansion.
Exclusive: Creditor to oppose San Bernardino bankruptcy plan favoring Calpers – source
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A major capital markets creditor of bankrupt San Bernardino, California, will oppose any exit plan that is more favorable to Calpers, California’s public pension fund, a source familiar with the creditor’s strategy said on Thurs…
Journalist sues over arrest at protest in Ferguson, Missouri
(Reuters) – A Washington-based journalist has sued St. Louis County and one of its police lieutenants, saying his rights were violated when he was arrested while covering protests over the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer …
