Detroit loosens latest swaps proposal, to submit debt plan Monday
(Reuters) – Detroit dropped a key requirement in its latest version of an agreement on costly interest rate swaps with two investment banks, which was filed in court late Wednesday.
Maryland local official defies court, opens meeting with prayer
(Reuters) – A county official in Maryland opened an official meeting on Thursday with a prayer referencing Jesus Christ, according to a person who attended the meeting and local media, two days after a federal judge issued an injunction prohibiting suc…
Massachusetts declares heroin emergency, looks to anti-overdose drug
BOSTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Thursday declared a public health emergency over rising heroin and opioid addiction in the state, and announced measures to make overdose reversal medication more widely available.
U.S. couple gets three years in Qatari jail for adopted child’s death
DOHA (Reuters) – A Los Angeles couple was sentenced to three years in jail in Qatar on Thursday for causing the death of their adopted African-born daughter, who was found to have died of starvation, in a case that has raised concern in Washington.
Fourth person dies from crash at South by Southwest in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – An 18-year-old man has become the fourth person to die as a result of a motorist who plowed a car into crowds of people outside the popular South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago, police said on Thursday.
Senate advances bill to renew expired jobless benefits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A White House-backed bill to renew expired jobless benefits for 2.2 million Americans cleared a Republican procedural hurdle on Thursday in the Democratic-led Senate.
Senate panel plans to make losers pay for frivolous patent lawsuits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. senators seeking to curb frivolous patent litigation plan to add a “loser pays” amendment into a bill that many believe has a good chance of becoming law, a leading lawmaker said on Thursday.
Feds charge 21 people in Jersey Shore heroin ring bust
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) – Federal authorities charged 21 people with running a New Jersey heroin trafficking ring after investigators intercepted phone conversations that used coded language and were made on disposable cellphones.
Secret Service agents must tell White House protester they’re sorry
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Pennsylvania woman who protested at the White House will get an apology and a family trip to Washington from the U.S. Secret Service to settle a lawsuit that accused the officers of effectively turning her away.
Agreement on the horizon in New York City union dispute
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Negotiators for New York City and more than 100,000 teachers and school workers could agree on the outline for a deal to end a four-year contract dispute as soon as the end of April, a person with direct knowledge of the talks said…
