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• Oklahoma House panel OKs bill to punish licensing of gay marriage
• Oklahoma lawmakers aim to halt Advanced Placement history course
• Trial set for June 29 for suspect in killing of Virginia student Hannah Graham
• Refinery blast sprays ash, forces students to shelter in place
• Schools told to 'shelter in place' after incident at Exxon Torrance refinery
• U.S. refinery strike enters 18th day as talks restart
• Scott Walker dismisses 'elitist' criticism that he dropped out of college
• Consumers 'in line' for Obamacare can still enroll by Feb. 22: HHS' Burwell
• Defense to present first full day of ' Sniper' trial testimony
• CSX says oil train cars still on fire after West Virginia derailment
• Tennessee man charged with fraud for fake Newtown charity
• Philadelphia could get first new charter schools in seven years
• Ukraine president says troops have withdrawn from Debaltseve
• Kate Brown set to be sworn in to replace embattled Oregon governor
• Terror Inc.: How IS became a branding behemoth
• Iraq to UN: Islamic State might be harvesting organs
• Native Americans fight to keep family names on Facebook
• U.S. Coast Guard rescues 26 from vessel stuck in Antarctic ice
• New defense chief vows to protect troops
• Live from the Westminster dog show
• U.S. delays Obama's immigration steps after judge's rebuke
• Police wanted Guard in Ferguson neighborhood
• Oil train accident brings calls for tougher safety rules

Oklahoma House panel OKs bill to punish licensing of gay marriage Posted: 18 Feb 2015 01:33 PM PST By By Heide Brandes OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - An Oklahoma bill to punish any local or state employee who issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples will be heading to a vote in the state House of Representatives after a committee approved the legislation this week. It also says that those who issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples can be subject to removal from office. The bill's author, Representative Sally Kern, a Republican, said the measure is a response to U.S. courts overstepping their authority by forcing Oklahoma to recognize gay marriage. Representative Emily Virgin, a Democrat who voted against the measure in committee on Tuesday, said: "No other state in the union has seen more anti-LGBT legislation introduced during this legislative session.

Oklahoma lawmakers aim to halt Advanced Placement history course Posted: 18 Feb 2015 11:39 AM PST By Heide Brandes and Jon Herskovitz OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma lawmakers are trying to block funding for Advanced Placement U.S. history courses, saying the curriculum is not patriotic enough, as they aim to join others in halting a program designed to prepare top students for college. Cultural conservatives blast the changes they see as questioning American exceptionalism, while supporters say the course offers students a balanced way to analyze how American history has unfolded. This week, a bill to cut funding for Advanced Placement U.S. History courses in the state passed an Oklahoma House committee along party lines, with 11 Republican voting for the measure and 4 Democrats opposed. Opponents say the revised guidelines for the history course cast the United States in a harsh light by giving undue emphasis to topics such as slavery and the treatment of Native Americans, while distorting events such as the U.S. involvement in World War Two.

Trial set for June 29 for suspect in killing of Virginia student Hannah Graham Posted: 18 Feb 2015 11:23 AM PST By Gary Robertson RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) - The man accused of murdering University of Virginia student Hannah Graham will go on trial starting on June 29 in Charlottesville, officials said on Wednesday. The trial of Jesse Matthew Jr., a 33-year-old Charlottesville hospital worker, is scheduled to last three weeks, an Albemarle County Circuit Court spokesperson said. "I won't know whether the trial will actually go forward on June 29 or whether the defense will ask for a continuance," Albemarle County prosecutor Denise Lunsford told reporters after a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Matthew was indicted this month on charges of first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile.

Refinery blast sprays ash, forces students to shelter in place Posted: 18 Feb 2015 11:08 AM PST A fire is raging at Exxon Mobil Corp's Torrance, California, refinery after an explosion.

Schools told to 'shelter in place' after incident at Exxon Torrance refinery Posted: 18 Feb 2015 10:20 AM PST (Reuters) - Students in about 30 schools were told to shelter in place after a possible incident at Exxon Mobil Corp's Torrance, California, refinery on Wednesday, a report on the CBC Los Angeles news website said. In a filing with state pollution regulator, the 149,500 barrel-per-day Torrance refinery reported "an incident" that caused flaring at the refinery.

U.S. refinery strike enters 18th day as talks restart Posted: 18 Feb 2015 09:48 AM PST The largest U.S refinery workers strike since 1980 entered its 18th day on Tuesday as union and oil company representatives prepared to renew face-to-face negotiations over pay and safety on Wednesday, after a week's hiatus. Face-to-face talks between representatives of the United Steelworkers union (USW) and lead oil company negotiator Royal Dutch Shell Plc have been on hold as the company compiled a reply to an information request from the union and weighed a counterproposal from the union.

Scott Walker dismisses 'elitist' criticism that he dropped out of college Posted: 18 Feb 2015 09:32 AM PST The Republican governor is dismissing "elitist" critics who say his lack of a college degree could work against him should he run for president.

Consumers 'in line' for Obamacare can still enroll by Feb. 22: HHS' Burwell Posted: 18 Feb 2015 08:59 AM PST U.S. consumers who are already in the process of enrolling in the federal health insurance marketplace will have until Feb. 22 to complete their application, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said on Wednesday. Fewer than 150,000 people were "in line" to get health insurance coverage through the marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act, Burwell said at a news conference. HHS will also decide within the next two weeks whether to allow another special enrollment period for consumers, Burwell said in response to a question about consumers who may not realize until after the April 15 tax-filing deadline that they will face a penalty without health coverage.

Defense to present first full day of ' Sniper' trial testimony Posted: 18 Feb 2015 08:44 AM PST STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — Defense attorneys are set to present their first full day of testimony Wednesday in the trial of a former Marine accused of fatally shooting two men including the author of "American Sniper."

CSX says oil train cars still on fire after West Virginia derailment Posted: 18 Feb 2015 08:28 AM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - CSX Corp said tank cars from a derailed train were still on fire in West Virginia on Wednesday after an explosive accident on Monday saw 25 cars come off the rails, a company spokeswoman said. (Reporting By Edward McAllister)

Tennessee man charged with fraud for fake Newtown charity Posted: 18 Feb 2015 07:09 AM PST By Richard Weizel MILFORD, Conn. (Reuters) - A Tennessee man who U.S. prosecutors contend set up a fraudulent charity tied to the 2012 massacre at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school will face wire-fraud charges, federal officials said. Robert Bruce, a 34-year-old personal trainer from Nashville, will be indicted in U.S. District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, on six counts of wire fraud on Monday for what prosecutors contend was a scheme in which he collected an unspecified amount of donations intended for victims' families and school safety that he spent on himself. Adam Lanza, 20, killed 26 children and educators in the December 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown before turning a gun on himself.

Philadelphia could get first new charter schools in seven years Posted: 18 Feb 2015 04:18 AM PST By Daniel Kelley PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Philadelphia's financially distressed school district, one of the country's biggest battlegrounds over the expansion of charter schools, will learn on Wednesday whether new charter schools will be approved for the first time in seven years. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission, formed in 2001 as part of a state takeover of the city's education system due to financial problems and low test scores, is slated to vote on applications for 39 charter schools. The district already has 86 charter institutions, public schools that operate independently and offer an alternative to schools run by the local school district. Proponents say charters can help get students out of low-performing schools, while critics blame them for worsening the district's finances. The American Federation of Teachers has fought against the nation's expansion of mostly non-unionized charter schools, including in Philadelphia.

Ukraine president says troops have withdrawn from Debaltseve Posted: 18 Feb 2015 03:47 AM PST Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday that government forces had withdrawn from the flashpoint town of Debaltseve, where pro-Russian rebels have been battling troops for weeks. "This morning the Ukrainian armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organised withdrawal from Debaltseve. The Ukrainian leader said he had given the order to pull out Tuesday and was now heading to the front line to "meet those who have left Debaltseve". "These actions have confounded Russia, which only yesterday demanded that Ukrainian soldiers lay down their arms, raise the white flag and surrender," Poroshenko said.

Kate Brown set to be sworn in to replace embattled Oregon governor Posted: 18 Feb 2015 03:12 AM PST By Shelby Sebens PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown is set to be sworn in as governor on Wednesday, taking over from an embattled fellow Democrat who saw his decades-long political career crumble because of an influence-peddling scandal involving his fiancée. Governor John Kitzhaber said on Friday he would resign after federal and state corruption probes stemming from allegations that his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, used her role in his office for personal gain. His resignation is expected to take effect on Wednesday morning, paving the way for Brown to become the country's first openly bisexual governor when she is sworn in during a ceremony in Oregon's capital. Elected to an unprecedented fourth term in November, Kitzhaber has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to step down following criticism from prominent fellow Democrats, once strong allies.

Terror Inc.: How IS became a branding behemoth Posted: 18 Feb 2015 02:56 AM PST The group has quickly evolved into a highly sophisticated multimedia organization.

Iraq to UN: Islamic State might be harvesting organs Posted: 18 Feb 2015 12:59 AM PST "We have bodies. Come and examine them," Iraq's U.N. ambassador says.

Native Americans fight to keep family names on Facebook Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:43 PM PST Native Americans say Facebook has been blocking access to their accounts because the social media giant is overly skeptical that their traditional last names are authentic.

U.S. Coast Guard rescues 26 from vessel stuck in Antarctic ice Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:57 PM PST By Curtis Skinner (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued an Australian fishing vessel carrying 26 people that had been stranded in icy Antarctic seas since last week, the Coast Guard said on Tuesday. The crew was saved on Sunday by the Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, which broke through some 150 miles (240 km) of thick ice on its way to the 207-foot (63-meter) Antarctic Chieftain vessel, the Coast Guard said in a statement. ...

New defense chief vows to protect troops Posted: 17 Feb 2015 06:53 PM PST Ash Carter, sworn in Tuesday as President Barack Obama's fourth secretary of defense amid multiple global threats, pledged to offer his most candid strategic advice and carefully consider decisions about sending troops into harm's way.

Live from the Westminster dog show Posted: 17 Feb 2015 05:35 PM PST

U.S. delays Obama's immigration steps after judge's rebuke Posted: 17 Feb 2015 04:17 PM PST By Jeff Mason and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration on Tuesday delayed implementing his unilateral steps to shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation after a judge blocked the actions at the urging of 26 states accusing Obama of exceeding his powers. In a setback to the president, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville, a city along the Texas border with Mexico, issued a temporary court order on Monday stopping Obama's executive actions that bypassed a gridlocked Congress. "The law is on our side and history is on our side," Obama told reporters in the Oval Office. The president said the administration will comply with the judge's order and delay accepting applications from some of the illegal immigrants for deportation relief and work permits that had been set to begin on Wednesday.

Police wanted Guard in Ferguson neighborhood Posted: 17 Feb 2015 04:02 PM PST St. Louis area authorities planning for a grand jury announcement sought unsuccessfully to station National Guard troops and armored Humvees in a Ferguson neighborhood where Michael Brown had been shot by a policeman, according to records released Tuesday detailing the state's preparations.

Oil train accident brings calls for tougher safety rules Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:56 PM PST By Patrick Rucker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A fiery oil train derailment in West Virginia this week exposes lax safety standards and strengthens the case for tougher U.S. rules governing such shipments, safety advocates said on Tuesday. "These incidents are making the case for us," said Karen Darch, mayor of Barrington, Illinois. This month, the U.S. Department of Transportation sent a safety plan to the White House for final review.     That proposal would have oil trains fitted with advanced braking systems to prevent pileups and tougher shells akin to those carrying volatile propane gas on the tracks. The American Petroleum Institute and Association of American Railroads have worked together on oil train safety and are eager to see the final safety plan, a spokesperson for each trade group said.

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