U.S. House stenographer who ranted about Freemasons being evaluated
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A House of Representatives floor stenographer who stood before the dais ranting about Freemasons was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the U.S. Capitol Police said on Thursday.
Returning U.S. government workers greeted with doughnuts, coffee, anxiety
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Furloughed U.S. government workers returned to their jobs on Thursday, greeted with doughnuts, coffee, pep talks from Obama administration bosses and anxiety over whether they will face another shutdown threat in the new year.
‘Obamacare’ helpers frustrated as tech problems stall enrollment
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Community organizations and non-profit groups that were supposed to help millions of Americans sign up for “Obamacare” are trying to manage mounting frustration with a federal website hobbled by technical problems.
Los Angeles airport worker to be arraigned over dry ice blasts
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A baggage handler accused of setting off two dry ice bombs at Los Angeles International Airport, purportedly as a prank, is due to be arraigned on explosives charges on Thursday, prosecutors said.
New York court to hear Bloomberg’s appeal to restore soda ban
ALBANY, New York (Reuters) – New York state’s highest court agreed on Thursday to hear Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appeal of a decision striking down a ban on large sugary drinks in New York City, setting up the final showdown over one of the outgoing ma…
Florida convicts sought after release on forged orders
ORLANDO (Reuters) – Florida authorities searched on Thursday for two convicted murderers released from prison based on forged court documents that indicated their life sentences had been reduced, state corrections officials said.
San Francisco trains running despite repeated strike deadlines
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Union leaders and rail system management in the San Francisco Bay Area vowed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday, continuing what has become a daily drama over whether commuter train service would be interrupted by a…
FBI arrests third suspect in Georgia teen’s kidnapping
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A third suspect in the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl from her suburban Atlanta home last month has been arrested, while another man sought in the abduction remains at large, a police official said on Thursday.
Wisconsin adds sales tax to Amazon.com shopping cart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Wisconsin next month will become the 14th U.S. state to begin collecting sales tax on online purchases through Amazon.com Inc, joining a trend toward squeezing more revenue from e-commerce.
New Jersey voters elect Democrat Cory Booker to U.S. Senate
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) – Democrat Cory Booker, the charismatic mayor of Newark, was the unofficial winner of a New Jersey special election on Wednesday, handily defeating a conservative Republican to fill the state’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.




