Ex-city officials in California accept plea deal in corruption case
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Five former elected officials from the scandal-plagued California city of Bell pleaded no contest on Wednesday to corruption charges, as cases wind to a close against a number of officials found to have stolen nearly $11 million…
Same-sex couples facing illness sue North Carolina for marriage recognition
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) – Three lesbian couples facing urgent health issues sued on Wednesday to force North Carolina to acknowledge their same-sex marriages and allow access to insurance, tax and inheritance benefits.
Obama returns to Fort Hood for second memorial service in five years
FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) – As the U.S. flag snapped at half-staff in a stiff breeze, President Barack Obama for the second time in five years attended a solemn memorial service on Wednesday for victims of a tragic shooting at Fort Hood Army base.
N.Y. court dismisses claims over Saudi billionaire’s alleged fraud
(Corrects first name of attorney for Al-Sanea, to Robert instead of Richard, in eighth paragraph.)
U.S. university drops plan to honor critic of Islam
BOSTON (Reuters) – Brandeis University has decided not to award an honorary degree to a Somali-born women’s rights activist who has branded Islam as violent and “a nihilistic cult of death.”
US urges oil-by-rail sector to agree a safer tank car
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Wednesday asked oil-by-rail leaders to create a tank car fit to carry the kinds of fuel involved in recent fiery derailments even as he dodged lawmaker questions about when such a pla…
New Jersey’s top court to hear violent rap lyrics case
TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) – The use of rap lyrics as evidence in their author’s attempted murder trial came under fire on Wednesday in New Jersey’s highest court, where justices and lawyers debated the possible risk to freedom of speech.
Body found in lake confirmed as missing Michigan doctor
(Reuters) – A body recovered on Sunday from a northwestern Indiana lake has been confirmed as that of a Michigan doctor who went missing early in December and likely drowned, authorities said on Wednesday.
Charges reduced for woman who drove kids into ocean off Florida
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – A pregnant woman who drove a minivan with her three children into the ocean off a Florida beach no longer faces charges that she had planned to kill them, court papers filed on Tuesday show.
Marine shooting death at North Carolina base appears accidental: spokesman
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) – A “negligent discharge” by a U.S. Marine on guard duty is likely to blame for the shooting death of a fellow sentry at a base in North Carolina, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.
