California voters to consider raising four-decade-old cap on medical malpractice awards
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – California in November will vote on whether to raise a four-decade-old cap on medical malpractice awards to $1.1 million, from $250,000, officials said on Thursday, likely ensuring a bitter and costly fight between lawyers bac…
Accused Boston bomber’s friend suspected guilt, agent says
BOSTON (Reuters) – A friend of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev took a backpack and laptop from the suspect’s dorm room, then threw them away after he began to suspect Tsarnaev had carried out the attack, a federal agent testified on Th…
New York’s pension ‘smoothing’ may short-change retirement fund
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New Yorkers who rely on the state pension fund for their retirement may be short-changed about $735 million over the next 10 years as a result of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s policy of permitting local authorities to defer fund payments…
Idaho man accused of imprisoning woman as sex slave
SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – An Idaho man was charged with kidnapping and rape tied to a woman’s claims that he forced her to be a sex slave after imprisoning her in a house equipped with chains and locks on walls, floors and doors, authorities said on Th…
Consumer group launches bid to require labels on GMO food in Oregon
PORTLAND (Reuters) – Activists seeking a tighter rein on genetically modified foods said on Thursday they planned to push ahead with a signature-gathering campaign to force a measure onto the ballot in left-leaning Oregon to require labeling on such pr…
U.S. won’t immediately deport man who took refuge in Arizona church
TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – U.S. Immigration and Customs officials will not immediately act to deport a Mexican immigrant who took refuge in an Arizona church to avoid an order of deportation from a country where he has lived illegally for over a decad…
Detroit creditors dealt setback on art plan
DETROIT (Reuters) – A federal judge on Thursday refused to give some of Detroit’s creditors unfettered access to art works and related documents in order to pursue a plan to increase the pot of money available for bankrupt Detroit to pay its debts.
U.S. appeals court stays ruling overturning Idaho gay marriage ban
SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Thursday put on hold a federal judge’s ruling that overturned Idaho’s ban on gay marriage so it could consider motions for a longer stay, blocking same-sex nuptials a day before they would otherwise hav…
Pipeline breaks, spills crude oil into Los Angeles neighborhood
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) – A faulty valve at a petroleum pipeline pump station ruptured early on Thursday in an industrial corner of Los Angeles, spewing crude oil 40 feet into the air, onto the roof of a strip club next door, and leaving four pe…
Chicago could be freed from federal hiring oversight: attorneys
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A Chicago attorney who has fought patronage hiring in the city for 45 years said on Thursday the city has fixed its hiring practices – paving the way for Chicago to be released from federal oversight of its hiring as early as next m…
