Federal judge strikes down Virginia’s ban on gay marriage
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal judge struck down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional late on Thursday, saying it denied gay couples a fundamental freedom to marry.
Obama pledges help for drought-stricken California
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will pledge on Friday to speed federal assistance to help California recover from a crippling drought that is threatening the critical agriculture industry in the No. 1 farm state.
Court overturns concealed-carry rule in blow to California gun law
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Thursday struck down a requirement by San Diego County that residents show “good cause” to carry a concealed firearm, a ruling that could force local governments across California to revisit the way th…
As Volkswagen workers vote, Tennessee senator ramps up anti-union talk
WASHINGTON/CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (Reuters) – One of Tennessee’s two U.S. senators ramped up his anti-union rhetoric on Thursday in an attempt to sway workers at Volkswagen AG’s Chattanooga plant who are voting this week on representation by the United…
No verdict Thursday in Florida loud music murder trial
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) – A north Florida jury ended a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict on Thursday in the trial of a middle-aged man who shot and killed a black teenager in an argument over rap music blaring from the yout…
Delaware doctor convicted in ‘waterboarding’ trial
GEORGETOWN, Delaware (Reuters) – A Delaware jury found a prominent pediatrician and best-selling author guilty on Thursday of endangering his stepdaughter in a trial featuring testimony that he subjected the girl to a form of waterboarding to punish he…
U.S. prosecutors to appeal probation for Beanie Babies creator
CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors on Thursday filed an appeal of the sentence of probation that kept billionaire Beanie Babies soft toy creator Ty Warner out of jail for his conviction on tax evasion.
Man charged in Tennessee package explosion that killed his in-laws
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) – The 49-year-old son-in-law of an elderly couple killed when a package exploded at their Tennessee home was charged with murder on Thursday, authorities said.
Storms taking toll on families, schools in Northeast
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A winter storm that froze the U.S. southeast in its tracks pushed north on Thursday, with driving winds and heavy snow snarling travel and closing many schools from Washington to Connecticut, creating havoc for winter-weary parents…
Former Mexican state official in U.S. court on money laundering charges
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) – The former finance secretary for the northern Mexican state of Coahuila appeared in a U.S. federal court in Texas on Thursday to face charges including money laundering, hours after surrendering to U.S. authorities seekin…
