U.S. News Topics Overviews

Digests of U.S. NEWS stories

Saturday

June-01 -- Fla. pig using wheelchair becomes an inspiration
"Chris P Bacon was born with malformed hind legs," Dr Lucero said.
A little piggy with an unusual condition - and a set of wheels - hogs the limelight and secures a book deal. More...

June-01 -- Spelling Bee apps to the test: Speaking Spelling Bee, Miss Spell's Bee, Times ...
OXON HILL, Md. -- As red and yellow confetti floated into his hair, the champ just stood there and cracked his knuckles, hardly the type of celebration expected from a 13-year-old.
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June-01 -- Small plane crashes into garden apartment in Herndon
HERNDON, Va. (WUSA9) -- A pilot and a resident were taken to the hospital after a small plane nosedived into the living room of an apartment building in the 2200 block of Astoria Circle in Herndon at approximately 12:17 a.m., according to Virginia State police.
"Larson and Alejandro work for an aerial photography company and had been in the air taking infra-red photographs, when the plane experienced electrical problems and the engine cut off," Geller said. More...

June-01 -- Tamerlan Tsarnaev Was an Asshole at the Gym Before Boston Bombing
Law enforcement sources initially said Todashev stabbed the agent with a knife, but said Thursday there was confusion over what object Todashev used in the attack.
Russia withheld details from U.S. officials about suspicions of Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011, a U.S. law enforcement official told CNN. More...

Friday

May-31 -- Oprah speaks at Harvard commencement
Oprah Winfrey is spending the day at Harvard's 362nd commencement ceremonies in Cambridge, Mass. She was given an an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the university during Thursday morning exercises on campus.The media mogul is the featured speaker during the afternoon part of the exercises, when she will address the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association. ( Live stream available.)
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May-31 -- Poll: Amid scandals, Obama's approval dips
The unwillingness of the White House and the State Department to provide information to Congress is not unique to the Obama administration.
May 28, 2013 Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gets far too little credit for the history-making shift she made from the largely ceremonial roles of First Lady, in Arkansas and then in the White House, but shift she did: First as a United States Senator from her adopted home state of New York, then as a serious presidential candidate, and most recently as secretary of state. More...

May-31 -- Hagel May Cut Benefits for Veterans
WASHINGTON — Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel will reassure allies in a trip to Asia this week that the United States intends to '"follow through" on its promised strategic shift to the Pacific region, officials said Tuesday.
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May-31 -- Rev. Andrew Greeley dies; outspoken UA professor, best-selling author
CHICAGO -- The Rev. Andrew Greeley, an outspoken Roman Catholic priest, best-selling author and longtime Chicago newspaper columnist who even criticized the hierarchy of his own church over the child sex abuse scandal, has died.
Greeley was born Feb, 5, 1928, in Oak Park. More...

Thursday

May-30 -- Using search firms to hire athletic director, like Rutgers did, is multi-step process
Despite consistent claims of a transparent and comprehensive process which led to the hiring of new Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann, sources tell Tara Sullivan of NorthJersey.com that's not the case.
The new athletic director, Julie Hermann, was unveiled two weeks ago, soon to be followed by a scathing piece of investigative reporting in Newark, N.J.' s Star-Ledger last weekend. More...

May-30 -- Immigrants Give More to Medicare Than They Receive, a Study Finds
The pervasive wisdom is that immigrants, many of whom are low-income, unauthorized and uninsured, rely on uncompensated care and Medicaid and drain medical resources that are predominantly contributed by native-born Americans though taxes.
The average expenditure was $3,923 for immigrant enrollees and $5,388 for U.S. born enrollees, a difference "of borderline significance," according to the paper, written by Zallman and health professors at the City University of New York and Harvard Medical School. More...

May-30 -- Obama Back in Chicago to Raise Money for House Democrats
According to an invitation obtained by CNN, ticket prices range from $1,000 per person to attend the reception to $50,000 for a table, preferred seating, and a photo opportunity at the following dinner.
Right now that's the only bright spot on the horizon for the Blue Team. More...

May-30 -- JC Penney billboard with Hitler teapot leaves commuters steamed
Instead of spotting either an old crone or beautiful young woman , a JCPenney billboard in West L.A. bears, depending on whom you ask, either the image of a sleek tea kettle or Adolf Hitler delivering a Nazi salute.
Not a great comparison for an already struggling JCPenney, which took the incident in stride and tweeted at one follower : "If we had designed it to look like something, we would have gone with a snowman or something fun." More...

Wednesday

May-29 -- Court serves defeat to Tennis Channel in Comcast match
The three-judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously overturned a decision by the Federal Communications Commission that would have forced Comcast to broadly distribute the Tennis Channel.
Stoops showed up at a site in Moore that was hit by an EF5 tornado last week. More...

May-29 -- Photos: Bob Stoops Anonymously Volunteers In Oklahoma Cleanup Effors
On the campus of the University of Oklahoma, President David Boren opened the doors of the school's dorms for homeless families.
MOORE, OK (KFOR/CNN) - More than a week after deadly tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, residents are slowly beginning the process of cleaning up and moving on. More...

May-29 -- Suspicious vehicle prompts closure of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge was shut down for more than an hour late Monday by an abandoned SUV that brought traffic to a halt as New York City police investigated whether the vehicle posed a threat to Memorial Day travelers.
An investigation is underway to verify the vehicle identification number and owner records, and to determine why the vehicle was abandoned on the bridge, a New York Post report said . More...

May-29 -- Planned Parenthood prevails at Supreme Court
The court's decision strikes down a 2011 Indiana law.
''While the state has been trying to score political points and wasting taxpayer dollars, we've been standing up for the Hoosiers who count on us every day. More...

Tuesday

May-28 -- Groups Targeted by IRS Tested Rules on Politics
Under the law, 501(c)(4)s cannot be "primarily engaged" in electioneering activity.
In one article, the IRS is being criticized for focusing attention on the tea party groups and their claim to be entitled to tax-exempt status. More...

May-28 -- Woman receives diary of World War II soldier boyfriend 70 years after his death
This photo provided by the National WWII Museum shows a photo of 22-year-old Marine Cpl. Thomas "Cotton" Jones, who died in the bloody assault on a Japanese-held island during World War II. Before Jones died, he wrote what he called his "last life request" to anyone who might find his diary: Please give it to Laura Mae Davis, the girl he loved.
An estimated 10,900 Japanese were killed; 19 soldiers and sailors became prisoners of war. More...

May-28 -- Obamacare Partisan Fights Affecting Public Opinion, Capitol Hill, Health ...
The organization's Biennial Health Insurance Survey of 2012, released last month, found that 46 percent of adults between the ages of 19 and 64-an estimated 84 million people-did not have insurance for the full year or were underinsured and consequently unprotected from high out-of-pocket costs.
In 2009, President Obama set out on a brave new experiment. More...

May-28 -- Skagit River bridge collapse: Not the only one waiting to happen
The north end of the Interstate 5 bridge crossing the Skagit River lies collapsed in the water on Friday, in Mount Vernon, Wash. A truck carrying an oversize load struck the four-lane bridge on the major thoroughfare between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the span and two vehicles into the Skagit River below Thursday evening.
A finance plan is not in place. More...

Monday

May-27 -- Republicans call President Obama 'tone deaf' for suggesting an end to post-9/11 ...
Even with drones, the number of strikes has been dropping in recent months.
Durbin cautioned against the dangers of perpetual warfare, but Graham argued radical Islamist groups were retrenching. More...

May-27 -- NY hot dog vendor accused of prostitution
Long Island's so-called "Hot Dog Hooker," Cathy Scalia, was arrested again Friday in a prostitution bust, according to Nassau County Police.
The cop contacted her, requesting a "massage" at a Red Roof Inn at around 5:15 pm, according to cops and court documents. More...

May-27 -- Rolling Thunder rumbles into Washington
HARTFORD, Conn.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Aetna (NYSE: AET ) announced a major sponsorship of the XXVI Rolling Thunder ride, which benefits Rolling Thunder® Charities Inc. Aetna will present the sponsorship to Rolling Thunder following the ride May 26 in Washington, D.C. This year marks the fifth consecutive year Aetna has sponsored the event.
The Memorial Day weekend events aim to "honor the nation's living and deceased service members," according to a news release from the Combat Veterans of America Motorcycle Club. More...

May-27 -- Arrests down a tick at mellow Memorial Day Weekend on Miami Beach
The Miami Beach Police Department's plan to patrol South Beach during this Memorial Day Weekend is a lot like last year's, but this time they'll have a new tech addition: a cutting-edge light tactical all-terrain vehicle.
Four bystanders were wounded by the gunfire, according to published reports. More...

Sunday

May-26 -- Newark archdiocese official resigns following priest's arrest
"The investigation found that the strong protocols we presently have in place were not always observed."
The Rev. Michael Fugee poses with two boys during a pilgrimage to Canada in 2010. More...

May-26 -- How Long Will The Rain & Chilly Temps Last??
As an upper level low begins to form over the Mid Atlantic coast today, a wave of low pressure developing along the cold front will intensify over the New Jersey coastal waters by this afternoon.
Sunny and calmer with lower 70s Monday. More...

May-26 -- Obama forgets Marine One salute
The president may have forgotten something as he boarded Marine One this morning.
Later Friday morning, Mr. Obama was forced to endure light rain sans umbrella while delivering the commencement speech to roughly 1,000 midshipmen. More...

May-26 -- Teen girls' murder plot shocks West Virginia town
The truth emerged when one of Neese's friends admitted plotting with another teenage girl to kill her, a revelation that shocked even police.
The small town never believed the girl had any intentions of returning home and immediately suspected foul play. More...

Saturday

May-25 -- Broadwell expresses remorse for Petraeus affair
The biographer whose extramarital affair with then-CIA director David Petraeus triggered his resignation says she regrets the relationship and the harm and grief it caused her family.
"Even when you've made mistakes in life you can still contribute and pick up the stuff and move on." More...

May-25 -- 16 hurt in shuttle bus crash near Atlanta airport
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) -- Eighteen people were taken to the hospital Friday, at least two in serious condition, after they were hurt in a crash between a hotel shuttle bus and a tractor-trailer near Atlanta's airport, officials said.
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May-25 -- Apple unlikely to settle e-book price-fixing case
In rare pre-trial "tentative view," Judge Denise Cote said the U.S Department of Justice will likely be able to prove that Apple colluded with major book publishers to falsely inflate the prices of e-books sold through the iBookstore.
The Justice Department sued Apple and five publishers in the matter in April of last year . More...

May-25 -- Hurricane center: Beware of the storm surge
In comparison, a normal season produces 12 named storms, including six hurricanes and three major ones.
Strong winds, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes often threaten inland areas far from where the storm first makes landfall." More...

Friday

May-24 -- Mexican drug cartel commander pleads guilty in 2011 ambush
In a speech that also detailed the government's use of drones to kill American citizens acts which were originally made public through leaks of classified information Obama said reports of investigations targeting journalists had him worried for the future of a watchdog press.
Justice seized the records as part of an investigation into national security leaks. More...

May-24 -- Obama orders review of press freedom guidelines in wake of recent scandals
In a speech that also detailed the government's use of drones to kill American citizens acts which were originally made public through leaks of classified information Obama said reports of investigations targeting journalists had him worried for the future of a watchdog press.
The president also reiterated his call for Congress to pass a new media shield law that would allow journalists to challenge the subpoena of phone records and provide greater protections against criminal prosecution. More...

May-24 -- Man charged with mailing ricin letter to judge in Washington state
FBI agents arrested Matthew Ryan Buquet on Wednesday afternoon, and he made his initial court appearance in Spokane later in the day, the federal agency's Washington state office said in a news release.
Van Sickle is a senior federal judge serving in the Eastern District of Washington State, with offices in Spokane. More...

May-24 -- Swim coach sentenced to 7 years for sex abuse
DesJarlais, a physician before he ran for Congress, said the medical ethics board had largely absolved him of complaints that he said were politically motivated.
A review of DesJarlais' record last fall showed no prior disciplinary action against the doctor. More...

Thursday

May-23 -- Advocacy group accuses Exxon of anti-gay hiring practices
For years, Exxon has repeatedly refused to the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies, including all major ones in the gas and oil industry, that have adopted and implemented explicit policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
We are reviewing the complaint filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights by Freedom to Work, a non-profit organization." More...

May-23 -- Faith healers charged with murder after 2nd death
Catherine and Herbert Schaible, the Philadelphia faith healing couple once convicted of manslaughter for allowing their sick son to die, were charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of another son, Brandon, in April.
The couple could face five to 10 years in prison for probation violations in addition to the potential criminal charges in Brandon Schaible's death. More...

May-23 -- This Oklahoma atheist isn't thanking the Lord
Popular CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer was in Moore, Oklahoma interviewing survivors and victims of the devastating tornado that hit on Monday (May 20) when he ran into a survivor named Rebecca Vitsmun.
For many people who live on either coast of the U.S., there is a stereotype of the kind of person who lives in the middle of the country and it's very often incorrect. More...

May-23 -- Senate Leaders Millionaires in Financial-Disclosure Data
Republican Conference Chairman John Thune of South Dakota reported assets of between $173,000 and $596,000.
More...

Wednesday

May-22 -- Jacksonville man pleads guilty to killing Chicago Bears fan
The man accused of murdering William Pettry pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges on Tuesday.
Matthew Reid Hinson, 28, pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder and could get life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Suzanne Bass on May 28, officials said. More...

May-22 -- Peace Corps to open applications to same-sex couples
"Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience for Americans who want to make a difference around the world," Carrie Hessler-Radelet, deputy director of the Peace Corps, said Tuesday.
About 7 percent of overseas assignments are currently filled by married volunteers who serve together. More...

May-22 -- LAPD officer charged with molesting two girls at his home
Miguel Schiappapietra, 28, was being held on $100,000 bail and will appear in court on Tuesday, reports KTLA .
Schiappapietra is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal LAPD investigation as well as the ongoing sheriff's department criminal investigation, according to Detective Gus Villanueva. More...

May-22 -- Governor signs school finance legislation that awaits tax vote
Legislators on Monday howled for perhaps the most bipartisan legislation of the entire session when Gov. John Hickenlooper signed two bills aimed at the state's furriest friends.
I will leave the moral judgments about capital punishment to the moralists and say simply that, as a matter of public policy I have come to believe, strongly, that Colorado should approach sentencing in a more enlightened way. More...

Tuesday

May-21 -- Bigotry against Jews and Muslims on the rise, says US
Ira Forman, who led President Obama's reelection campaign in the Jewish community, was appointed as the State Department's envoy to combat anti-Semitism.
The report said expressions of anti-Semitism by government officials, religious leaders and the media were of great concern, particularly in Venezuela, Egypt and Iran. More...

May-21 -- Police: Suspects Mistakenly Dial 911 During Crime
"Get the bolt and give me the hammer just in case," one man said, as the dispatcher heard the apparent smashing of a car window to get at drugs inside the vehicle, KXTV-TV (http://on.news10.net/14xiYik) reported, citing a tape of the call.
After the mistaken "pocket" call, a police dispatcher was able to hear a rambling 35-minute conversation that went from trying to find a way to get drugs to breaking into a car. More...

May-21 -- WH: 'Entirely appropriate' that senior staff didn't tell Obama about IRS probe
The letter echoed concerns that, despite a comprehensive inspector general report made public Tuesday, the public still does not know who exactly was behind the creation of the special screening program which left Tea Party groups in limbo for months, and sometimes years.
Although Obama's approval rating hasn't fallen, the poll showed that Americans do take seriously the recent controversies dealing with the IRS targeting conservatives, the Benghazi attack and the Justice Department's seizure of journalists' phone records. More...

May-21 -- WATCH: Highlights from Stephen Colbert's UVA Commencement Address
The host of the Emmy Award-winning show "The Colbert Report" gave the valedictory address at the University of Virginia Saturday.
"If you must find your own path and we have not left you an easy path, then decide now to take the hard path that leads to the world and the life that you want," Colbert said. More...

Monday

May-20 -- Ex-roommate suspected in death of missing Army veteran in California
Ramos' body was discovered late Thursday in an area near Modjeska Canyon in Southern California.
Body Found In Remote Modjeska Canyon Raises Speculation About Missing Woman « CBS Los Angeles You are using Internet Explorer 6. More...

May-20 -- House bill to have more stringent immigrant controls: aides
Maybe House leaders figure that to close this deal, they need someone good with people and a sidekick good with numbers.
Sen. Fred Mills, R-Breaux Bridge, questioned the House's proposal to remove nearly $50 million in state funding Jindal had sought for an increased use of services expected in the Medicaid program. More...

May-20 -- First lady bemoans culture of African Americans aspiring to be 'a baller or a rapper'
First lady Michelle Obama called on the graduates of historically black Bowie State University to lead the charge in encouraging more young African Americans to follow in their footsteps and focus on education.
Some of the school's alumni had argued against the move to the Comcast Center on the campus of the University in Maryland, College Park because of the historical relationship between the universities, the school's student newspaper reported. More...

May-20 -- Oakland: Mourners gather to remember Malcolm X's grandson
Shabazz, who also was the father of a young girl, wanted to help build mosques and education centers across America, Ali said.
Hernandez and Perez were arrested on Monday. More...

Sunday

May-19 -- The President's Umbrella Scandal Folded Before It Could Take Off
Unfortunately that scandal died before it could really take off.
Well, now you know -- Presidents can ask Marines to shield them from rain. More...

May-19 -- LEGISLATURE: Budget deal reached
Under Friday's deal, the $2 billion in water funding will come from the state's Rainy Day Fund, a reserve made up mostly of oil and gas taxes.
Thursday morning, House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) accused Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) of pressuring Republicans to move the goalposts on school funding, an allegation the governor's office denies. More...

May-19 -- GOP: Anyone doubt Obama's IRS is out of control?
WASHINGTON -- The House passed a repeal of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday night, at once a crowning achievement for House conservatives like Michele Bachmann, who sponsored the bill, and somewhat of an afterthought in a week that saw GOP attention turn sharply elsewhere.
"Mike Rogers and Justin Amash are far more interested in scoring partisan political points than helping middle class Michiganders, and voting for the 37th time to repeal health care reform proves it," said Justin Barasky, spokesman for the DSCC. While neither Amash or Rogers has announced a Senate campaign, they have long been favored as potential candidates. More...

May-19 -- Analyst disputes Brown's budget outlook as too glum
SACRAMENTO -- The state's independent budget analyst said Friday that California will take in $3.2 billion more than Gov. Jerry Brown estimated, providing Democratic lawmakers an argument to funnel more money into state programs and setting up a spending showdown with the administration.
"When you have more than 50% of kids in poverty or speaking another language, that is an extra barrier," Brown said. More...

Saturday

May-18 -- Hitchhiker Kai, arrested in murder, was recognized by neck tattoo
Caleb McGillvary, who is better known as "Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker," has been charged with the murder of 73-year-old Joseph Galfy in Clark, NJ. He was arrested at a Philadelphia bus station, said Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow.
An autopsy completed Tuesday determined Galfy died of blunt force trauma, the prosecutor said. More...

May-18 -- Treasury Knew of IRS Inquiry in 2012, Official Says
J. Russell George, the Treasury Department's Inspector General, disclosed during Congressional testimony on Friday that Obama administration officials in the Treasury Department knew about inappropriate targeting of conservative groups during the 2012 election.
In all, the report found that 160 of the 296 applications in question were never processed, and that some had remained open for more than three years. 28 applications were withdrawn by groups, presumably due to intense scrutiny, while the other 108 were approved. More...

May-18 -- GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law
Comstock Images/Thinkstock (WASHINGTON) -- Despite her congressional testimony, the Internal Revenue Service on Friday denied that the former commissioner of tax exempt and government entities -- now running the agency's health care office -- was in charge of the unit's day-to-day operations after Dec. 2010.
Sarah Hall Ingram was appointed as Commissioner of the Tax-Exempt and Government Entitles Division of the IRS in 2009 and made sure conservatives were silenced before the 2012 election. More...

May-18 -- President Obama Asks Marine to Hold Umbrella, Sparks Controversy
Did you know that the U.S. Marine Corps has a policy on umbrella holding? Uniform regulations state that a male Marine can't hold an umbrella (ella, ella) while wearing his uniform, presumably because he can't salute at the same time.
During the press conference under a light drizzle, Obama allowed the First Head to be protected from the elements by an umbrella held by a male Marine corporal. More...

Friday

May-17 -- Boston Suspect: Bombing Was Retribution For US Actions - VOA
The information was first reported by CBS, which described the note as scrawled with a pen on the interior wall of the boat's cabin.
Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev reportedly left a message in the Watertown, Mass., boat that authorities found him in last month. More...

May-17 -- LA-area schools return to normal after gun threat
Police arrested a college student accused of making telephone threats that sparked security alerts across the Los Angeles area on Thursday, including the evacuation of a community college and the lockdown of a second college campus and numerous public schools.
According to local media reports, the phone call was received at about 7:14 am local time and the authorities took preventive actions immediately, including evacuations of the schools and closing of nearby roads. More...

May-17 -- President Obama privately dreams of 'going Bulworth': report
WASHINGTON-- It takes a keen and measured political mentality to go from little-known state senator, to U.S. senator, to two-term president in just a few short years.
President Obama will never go Bulworth but that doesn't mean that there isn't a desire for an honest politician. More...

May-17 -- Top appeals court nominee sails toward confirmation - USA Today
If Srinivasan is confirmed, there would be four Republican and four Democratic nominees serving there.
Citing the court's lighter workload when compared to other federal courts, Republican senators said they will need to be convinced that other vacancies need to be immediately filled. More...

Thursday

May-16 -- Judge Dismisses Charges Against Officer in Unarmed Teenager's Death
A Bronx judge threw out the manslaughter indictment against NYPD police officer Richard Haste, who fatally shot 18-year-old Ramarley Graham last year, over an error in court proceedings, according to ABC News.
One photograph that showed Davis lying face down in a pool of blood did escape, an image many feel is emblematic of the value the NYPD places on life in communities of color. More...

May-16 -- Hospitals, South Carolina sued over child's sex surgery - USA Today
A Columbia couple is suing the Medical University of South Carolina, Greenville Hospital System and the S.C. Department of Social Services on behalf of their 8-year-old son for performing “medically unnecessary” sex assignment surgery on the child in 2006.
The disorder is also known as hermaphroditism, where a baby is born with ovaries and testicles, a rare intersex condition. More...

May-16 -- Sources: Weiner To Launch Mayoral Campaign Next Week
Anthony Weiner is still mulling whether to mount a run for mayor of New York this fall, and the former Democratic congressman's latest campaign filings do not indicate any concrete movement in that direction that haven't previously been disclosed.
Politico reported last night that Mr. Weiner's campaign manager will be Danny Kedem, a recent Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee adviser who worked briefly on Mark Murphy's failed bid to unseat GOP Rep. Michael Grimm last year. More...

May-16 -- Women in Lopez sex harass case want reforms
ALBANY -- A special prosecutor has cleared grabby Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez of criminal charges but slammed top state leaders for trying keep a lid on the sexual harassment scandal.
The JCOPE report found no evidence that Schneiderman had personally been informed of the settlement talks. More...

Wednesday

May-15 -- Paroled swindler Billie Sol Estes says wheeler-dealer days are over
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Billie Sol Estes, a flamboyant Texas huckster who became one of the most notorious men in America in 1962 when he was accused of looting a federal crop subsidy program, has died.
"Estes' name was synonymous with Texas-sized schemes, greed and corruption. More...

May-15 -- US Defense Department civilians to go on unpaid leave for 11 days
Most of the U.S. Defense Department's civilian employees will be forced to take 11 days of unpaid leave before the end of September to help the Pentagon slash its spending, Defense officials said today.
The furloughs will save $1.8 billion, according to two defense officials who briefed reporters today on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the plans. More...

May-15 -- Judge likely to allow James Holmes insanity plea in theater shooting
James Holmes will learn May 31 whether he can plead insanity to charges of murdering 12 people in a shooting rampage at a Colorado movie theater, a judge said.
The death penalty sought by prosecutors along with Samour's expected acceptance of the insanity plea will "stop the clock" on the case and likely delay a trial scheduled for February 2014 while Holmes undergoes psychological testing, Steinhauser said. More...

May-15 -- Hard to separate the IRS from Benghazi
On Tuesday's broadcast of Thomas Robert's 11 a.m. MSNBC program, NAACP President Emeritus Julian Bond defended the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of tea party groups, which he described as "admittedly racist."
There's no way Media Matters qualifies as a nonpartisan, tax-exempt group. More...

Tuesday

May-14 -- Rubio's PAC Releases Ad Defending Kelly Ayotte On Guns
This cell phone video shows part of the police response at the Cleveland home where three women were held captive for years.
"Michelle Knight has been discharged from MetroHealth," the hospital said in a statement. More...

May-14 -- Cell phone camera records Cleveland rescue of kidnapping victims Amanda ...
The residents of Seymor Avenue, one of Cleveland's oldest neighbourhoods - Tremont in the U.S., woke up to the noises of police cars and sirens and a buzzing crowd on May 6, 2013.
Castro forced Knight to deliver Berry's daughter and threatened to kill Knight if the baby died, according to a police report. More...

May-14 -- Photos: The rise and fall of OJ Simpson
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- It's been more than four years since O.J. Simpson was handcuffed in a Las Vegas courtroom and hauled off to prison for nine to 33 years.
"An O.J. case is never like any other case." More...

May-14 -- Biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history - Philly.com
Since there was no winner of the Powerball jackpot on May 8, the annuity prize for the game of Saturday May 11 will be $270 million, and the lump sum payout is an estimated $175.8 million.
After posting a whopping jackpot of $270 million, no one was able to correctly pick all six winning numbers, failing to bring home the prize. More...

Monday

May-13 -- Sen. Rand Paul laying groundwork for possible presidential run
Enter Rand Paul : Still almost 1,000 days before the first votes in the 2016 contest, Republicans right now are split into two camps about how to move forward after their two-straight presidential losses.
Rand, who is the son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, was against the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA and the Obama administration's use of drones. More...

May-13 -- Interstate 95 northbound in Laurel has one lane open, traffic to continue for hours
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has lost two of his major financial backers for his Fwd.US project, which is pushing for immigration reform in the U.S., after it bankrolled adverts in the home states of a number of Senators who support the campaign, including those who advocate oil-drilling.
"FWD.us remains totally committed to supporting a bipartisan policy agenda that will boost the knowledge economy, including comprehensive immigration reform." More...

May-13 -- Washington Politics Splits Silicon Valley On Keystone XL
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has lost two of his major financial backers for his Fwd.US project, which is pushing for immigration reform in the U.S., after it bankrolled adverts in the home states of a number of Senators who support the campaign, including those who advocate oil-drilling.
"FWD.us remains totally committed to supporting a bipartisan policy agenda that will boost the knowledge economy, including comprehensive immigration reform." More...

May-13 -- Overheated Transformer Forces The Evacuation of The West Wing of The White ...
WASHINGTON -- White House offices were evacuated briefly yesterday morning when an electrical transformer near the West Wing malfunctioned and set off a smoke alarm, a White House official said.A Secret Service official said President Barack Obama was not in the area at the time.
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Sunday

May-12 -- 3D-printed gun blueprints pulled from Internet, at request of State Department
The reason for the takedown is that the State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance wants to check the files "for compliance with arms export control laws," according to a letter Defense Distributed provided to Forbes .
The State Department, Greenberg also reports , has sent the company a letter, calling for them to take down the computer-aided design, or CAD, files, citing a potential violation of export control laws. More...

May-12 -- GOP pushes paid time off in lieu of overtime
Labor advocates, however, are worried that because the measure would decrease overtime costs to employers, employers would pressure workers into opting for comp time in lieu of additional pay.
Time to be parents and not just employees. More...

May-12 -- One by one, homes in Calif. subdivision sinking - USA Today
LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) -- Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March.
Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March. More...

May-12 -- Some Pa. state schools allow guns amid review - Newsday
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Students on some of Pennsylvania's college campuses might be carrying more than books.
Per Kutztown University's policy, any employee or student with said legal permit and "compelling" personal safety reasons can request authorization from campus security. More...