In first NYC budget, de Blasio pushes pre-K, retiree healthcare
(Reuters) – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio included a tax on the wealthy to pay for universal pre-kindergarten in his first budget and proposed restoring $1 billion to a retiree healthcare fund that his predecessor’s plan would have drained.
U.S. states risk losing grants over rape in prisons
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration is moving to put into effect a 2003 law that was designed to eliminate rape in U.S. prisons, and it warned states on Wednesday that they may lose grant money this year if they do not cooperate.
Bill to extend U.S. debt limit clears Senate hurdle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Legislation to extend U.S. federal borrowing authority for a year cleared a critical procedural hurdle in the Senate on Wednesday, moving the measure to a final vote.
1.3 million ‘like’ friendless Michigan boy’s Facebook birthday surprise
(Reuters) – A Michigan mother’s attempt to cheer her 10-year-old son, who suffers from a disorder similar to autism and told her he had no friends, with a Facebook page has won the boy some 1.3 million fans on the social media site by Wednesday.
Kroger accused of being not-so-honest in ‘Simple Truth’ 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.
Kansas House advances bill to deny same-sex couples social services
(Reuters) – Kansas businesses, individuals and government employees could refuse an array of social services and benefits to same-sex couples based on “sincerely held religious beliefs” under a bill approved on Wednesday by state House of Representativ…
U.S. court hears suit to overturn same-sex marriage ban in Texas
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) – Lawyers for two gay couples challenging a Texas constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage told a federal court in opening arguments on Wednesday the measure is an “abhorrent violation of human and (U.S.) constitu…
Judge sets November trial for accused Boston bomber
BOSTON (Reuters) – The accused Boston Marathon bomber will face trial in November, a U.S. judge said on Wednesday, denying a request by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s attorneys for more time to prepare a defense on charges tied to the largest mass-casualty attack…
Two workers hurt at Tesoro California refinery; unit shut
(Reuters) – Tesoro Corp said two workers were injured following a chemical release at its 166,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Golden Eagle refinery in Martinez, California, on Wednesday.
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.
