Miami man pleads guilty to smashing Ai Weiwei museum vase
MIAMI (Reuters) – A Miami man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to destroying a $10,000 vase by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei in February, agreeing to make an apology and pay restitution for the cost of the artwork, according to court documents.
Thunderstorms spark more fires in U.S. Northwest, causing a death
PORTLAND (Reuters) – Severe thunderstorms that rolled through the Pacific Northwest overnight sparked dozens of new wildfires in parched forests in Washington and Oregon, while heavy rain led to flooding and the drowning death of one person, officials …
New York suburbs hit by flash floods after record rainfall
NEW YORK (Reuters) – More than a foot of rain hit parts of New York’s Long Island on Wednesday, enough to set a preliminary state record, triggering flash floods and swamping cars on major roads that were turned into rivers during the morning rush hour…
U.S. appeals court declines to block Virginia gay marriage ruling
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday declined to delay its ruling striking down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage, meaning gay people in the state will be able to get married unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes.
U.N. experts grill U.S. on racial discrimination
GENEVA (Reuters) – United Nations experts grilled U.S. officials on Wednesday about what they said was persistent racial discrimination against African-Americans and other minorities in jobs, housing, education and the criminal justice system.
More middle-aged U.S. women having babies outside marriage: CDC
ATLANTA (Reuters) – More single U.S. women over the age of 35 are having children, even as the overall birth rates for unmarried women in the United States have dropped, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.
Dog the Bounty Hunter to join Nevada manhunt for professional fighter
(Reuters) – Reality television star Duane Chapman, better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, said Wednesday he was joining the manhunt for a professional mixed martial artist whose ex-girlfriend has accused him of a brutal attack on her and a friend.
California breakup plan would create rich and poor states: report
SACRAMENTO Calif. (Reuters) – A long-shot proposal to break California into six separate states would also divide rich and poor, according to a legislative analysis released on Wednesday.
Two dead in North Georgia shooting
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A person was killed and three others injured in a shooting spree in North Georgia on Tuesday, local media reported.
Former NBA top pick Oden trial date set on battery charges
(Reuters) – Former No. 1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden must stay away from an ex-girlfriend and remain on a GPS monitor as he awaits trial on battery charges but may travel outside Indiana, a judge ruled on Wednesday.
