U.S. lawmakers hope for vote on compromise defense bill this week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Armed Services committees have agreed on a slimmed-down defense authorization bill and want the House to vote on the measure before it leaves on its year-end holiday recess …
U.S. Korean War veteran released by North says made ‘confession’ under duress
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – An elderly U.S. Korean War veteran released from detention in North Korea said on Monday that his videotaped “confession” was given under duress, adding that he believed he may have been held in a misunderstanding over his inter…
California seeks to send water south via tunnel, restore depleted delta
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) – California pledged on Monday to restore 80,000 acres of the depleted Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta as part of a massive project to send fresh water from mountain streams in the north to farmers and residents in t…
Texas law safeguards Christmas cheer in schools
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) – Texas lawmakers sent notices to schools on Monday informing them that new legislation allows students and teachers to dress in festive garb and say “Merry Christmas” all they want without fear of punishment.
U.S. university drops claim Chinese dissident Chen was spied on
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York University withdrew its claim on Monday that a close supporter of Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese dissident affiliated with the university through this summer, had tried to spy on Chen by giving him an iPad and iPhone loaded wi…
Former San Diego mayor sentenced to home confinement
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned his post after a string of sexual harassment allegations, was sentenced on Monday to probation and three months of home confinement on false imprisonment and battery charges involvin…
Icy weather sends Texas’ December power use to new record
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Freezing weather across Texas set two December power use records over the weekend as residents worked to stay warm, according to preliminary data from the state’s power grid operator.
New York City cockroach can survive frigid winters -study
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A species of cockroach native to Asia that has been seen crawling around an outdoor tourist destination in New York City can survive the city’s often brutal winters, according to a new study.
U.S. justices weigh airline pilot’s defamation case
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday seemed poised to throw out an appeals court ruling that upheld a $1.4 million jury verdict that a former airline pilot won against his employer.
Central Florida’s suburban sprawl bumps into resurgent bears
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – Guess who’s coming to dinner? In the leafy far suburbs of Orlando, the uncomfortable answer increasingly is a Florida black bear.
