Florida Lionfish ban, nation’s first, goes into effect
MIAMI (Reuters) – Florida’s ban on importing invasive lionfish, the first of its kind in the nation, goes into effect on Friday as wildlife managers look for a way to control the spread of the barbed, red-and-white striped fish.
Trappers search for Washington state otter that attacked swimmers
(Reuters) – Wildlife trappers in Washington state searched on Friday for a river otter blamed for a rare attack on humans that sent a boy and his grandmother to the hospital, wildlife experts said.
Arizona professor gets probation for scuffle with campus police
MESA Ariz. (Reuters) – An Arizona professor was sentenced on Friday to nine months’ probation for scuffling with campus police after being stopped for walking in the middle of a street at night.
U.S. court upholds Guantanamo detainee search policy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld the Obama administration’s new search procedures for Guantanamo Bay detainees, rejecting the argument that invasive practices such as frisking of anal and groin areas discouraged consultation…
Legal complication clouds medical marijuana rollout in Florida
ORLANDO Fla. (Reuters) – Prospective medical marijuana growers in Florida are struggling to figure out a legal way to obtain starter cannabis plants under a new state law allowing for limited medical use, the bill’s sponsor and other experts say.
Monsoon rains cause floods, but fewer wildfires, in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE N.M. (Reuters) – In normally drought-stricken New Mexico, near-historic levels of monsoon rains this month caused a sharp rise in flash flood warnings, but have dampened the risk of devastating wildfires, experts said on Friday.
Girl accused of setting California wildfire ordered to have mental exam
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A teenage girl charged with setting a California wildfire that burned 2,000 acres (800 hectares) and destroyed some 40 structures north of San Diego in May has been ordered by a judge to submit to a mental competency exam, prose…
Museum celebrating ‘Big Bang’ of country music opens in Virginia
BRISTOL Va (Reuters) – A museum celebrating 10 days in 1927 that helped introduce the mountain music of Appalachia to mainstream America opened in Virginia on Friday.
Q&A: U.S. Justice Ginsburg on Hobby Lobby, gay marriage, retirement
WASHINGTON D.C. (Reuters) – In an interview (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/01/us-usa-court-ginsburg-idUSKBN0G12V020140801) with Reuters late on Thursday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 81, was not just defiant about calls for …
N.J. Governor Christie creates public pension study commission
(Reuters) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Friday created a panel to recommend reforms to the state’s pension and health benefits for retired public employees.
