NY state joins with Visa, MasterCard to curb payday lending
(Reuters) – New York state’s main banking regulator said on Wednesday it had teamed up with card payment companies Visa Inc and MasterCard Inc to curb illegal payday loans through debit card transactions.
U.S. economy stalls on inventories, trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy barely grew in the first quarter as the severe winter hampered exports and led businesses to curtail investment spending, but activity already appears to be bouncing back.
Altria to appeal revived $10.1 billion ‘light’ cigarette verdict
(Reuters) – An Illinois state appeals court has reinstated a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA in a lawsuit accusing the Altria Group Inc unit of misleading consumers about the risks of smoking “light” cigarettes. Philip Morris USA said i…
Guard in critical condition after Georgia FedEx facility shooting
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A security guard for a FedEx Corp facility in suburban Atlanta was in critical condition on Wednesday, a day after police said he was shot by a co-worker who also wounded five others in a blast of gunfire before killing himself.
Florida legislators seek to give parents say on school textbooks
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – The Florida Legislature is likely to pass a bill this week giving parents more influence over school textbook choices, in a move that opponents say is rooted in anti-Muslim bias.
Hawaii lawmakers vote to increase hourly minimum wage to $10.10
HONOLULU (Reuters) – Hawaii lawmakers voted late on Tuesday to raise the U.S. state’s hourly minimum wage to $10.10 from the federal minimum $7.25 at a time of heated national debate over wages and rising income inequality.
Father of teenage stowaway arrives in Hawaii: state official
(Reuters) – The father of a 15-year-old Somali boy has arrived in Honolulu, where his son is in a hospital after surviving a trip from California to Hawaii stowed away in the wheel well of a jet, Hawaii officials on Tuesday.
Muslims, Sikhs object to headscarf ban at California go-kart parks
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Three Muslim families have filed complaints against an amusement park chain in California that they say barred them from riding go-karts wearing headscarves, family advocates said Tuesday.
Second man charged with murder of missing Tennessee student
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – A second man was charged on Tuesday with murder and aggravated kidnapping in the disappearance of a Tennessee nursing student from the driveway of her rural home three years ago.
Minnesota man convicted in killing of unarmed teens
LITTLE FALLS, Minnesota (Reuters) – A Minnesota man whose killing of two teenagers who broke into his home was captured on an audio recording he made was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday.
