U.S. Congress approves debt limit hike after Senate drama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress approved an increase in the country’s debt limit through March 2015, bowing to President Barack Obama’s demands for a debt limit increase without any conditions, but only after a dramatic Senate vote on Wednesda…
Kentucky must honor out-of-state same-sex marriages -judge
(Reuters) – Kentucky must recognize the legal same-sex marriages of residents who wed outside the state, a federal judge said on Wednesday in the latest of a string of rulings that expand gay rights following a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year.
Analysis: Judge throws manufacturers a lifeline with asbestos ruling
WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) – A judge who found what he called a “startling pattern” of abuse by plaintiffs’ lawyers may have shifted the landscape of asbestos litigation with a ruling in favor of manufacturers.
Storm, bringing deadly ice and snow, slams U.S. South
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A deadly winter storm potentially more destructive than the one that paralyzed Atlanta just two weeks ago gripped the southern United States on Wednesday, crippling travel, knocking out power to more than 330,000 customers and encas…
Kroger sued for not telling ‘Simple Truth’ on chicken labels
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Kroger Co, the biggest U.S. supermarket operator, faces a lawsuit claiming it deceived consumers by marketing a store brand as humanely raised chicken products when the animals were raised under standard commercial farming.
Portland, Maine, panhandling ban violates First Amendment: judge
BOWDOINHAM, Maine (Reuters) – A Portland, Maine, city ordinance banning people from panhandling in the median strips of roads violates the U.S. Constitution, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.
Florida jury starts deliberations in loud rap murder trial
JACKSONVILLE (Reuters) – A middle-aged software engineer opened fire on a black teenager because he felt disrespected when the 17-year-old refused to turn down the rap music blaring from his car, a prosecutor told a Florida jury in closing arguments on…
Former New Orleans mayor guilty of graft in Katrina recovery
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – A federal jury on Wednesday found former New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin guilty of accepting bribes and trading on the public trust during the critical years of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005.
Rhode Island proposes legalizing recreational marijuana
BOSTON (Reuters) – Two Rhode Island legislators introduced a bill on Wednesday that could make the state the third in the United States to legalize recreational marijuana for adults.
Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages from other states: judge
(Reuters) – Kentucky must recognize the legal same-sex marriages of residents who wed outside the state, a federal judge said on Wednesday in the latest of a series of rulings that expand gay rights following a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year.
