| U.S. offers highest-ever reward for Russian hacker Posted: 24 Feb 2015 01:11 PM PST  By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department and FBI on Tuesday announced a $3 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Russian national Evgeniy Bogachev, the highest bounty U.S. authorities have ever offered in a cyber case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued a "Wanted" poster for Bogachev, who is charged in the United States with running a computer attack network called GameOver Zeus that allegedly stole more than $100 million from online bank accounts. Bogachev has been charged by federal authorities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy, computer hacking, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering in connection with his alleged role as administrator of GameOver Zeus.
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| Defying GOP, Obama vetoes Keystone XL pipeline bill Posted: 24 Feb 2015 12:55 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has vetoed a Republican bill forcing construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
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| Wearing wigs and makeup, MI5 officers testify in U.S. trial Posted: 24 Feb 2015 12:38 PM PST  By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - British MI5 officers, wearing wigs and makeup to hide there identities, testified in U.S. court on Tuesday about their surveillance of an accused al Qaeda operative who is charged with plotting an attack in England. The four men and one woman with Britain's domestic counter intelligence agency who testified in federal trial in Brooklyn, New York, of Pakistani-born Abid Naseer were not identified by name, only by number. The officers testified that as part of "Operation: Pathway," they in 2009 observed Naseer and others in Manchester, England, going to a mosque, cyber cafe and the city center. Prosecutors say Naseer, who was arrested that month, used a cyber cafe to send messages to a Pakistan-based al Qaeda facilitator to discuss a plot aimed at a shopping center in Manchester that was never carried out.
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| Aaron Schock's spending problem isn't going away Posted: 24 Feb 2015 11:49 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock, a rising Republican star already facing an ethics inquiry, has spent taxpayer and campaign funds on flights aboard private planes owned by some of his key donors, The Associated Press has found. There also have been other expensive travel and entertainment charges, including for a massage company and music concerts.
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| U.S. conservatives urge Boehner to hold firm on immigration Posted: 24 Feb 2015 10:10 AM PST  By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative Republicans urged House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner not to capitulate in a fight with Democrats over President Barack Obama's immigration policy that threatens a partial Homeland Security shutdown later this week. The conservative lawmakers, led by Representative Jeff Duncan, circulated a letter to Boehner and other House leaders telling them to hold the line in opposing Obama's executive actions shielding millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, a Duncan aide said on Tuesday. The House last month attached provisions to block spending on Obama's immigration orders to a $39.7 billion bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
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| Metrolink train strikes truck in Southern California Posted: 24 Feb 2015 08:34 AM PST  OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Dozens of people have been injured in the crash of a Southern California commuter train and a truck northwest of Los Angeles.
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| NJ's Christie, teachers mend relations to address pension gap Posted: 24 Feb 2015 07:45 AM PST  (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has won agreement from the state's teachers union on a "roadmap" for addressing its massive pension problem, a dramatic turn in a long-bitter relationship between the two camps. Christie, a Republican weighing a bid for the White House in 2016, will reveal the development formally in his annual budget address on Tuesday afternoon in Trenton, the state capital, his office said in a statement. Christie and the New Jersey Education Association have had an acrimonious relationship since he was elected governor in 2009, repeatedly clashing over his efforts to curtail benefits and overhaul tenure rules.
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| 'American Sniper' murder trial could soon go to Texas jury Posted: 24 Feb 2015 07:28 AM PST  By Jon Herskovitz STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas jury could begin deliberations as early as Tuesday in the trial of a former Marine charged with murdering Chris Kyle, the former U.S. Navy SEAL whose autobiography was turned into the blockbuster movie "American Sniper." Eddie Ray Routh, 27, is accused of fatally shooting Kyle and Kyle's friend Chad Littlefield multiple times at a gun range about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Fort Worth in February 2013 and then fleeing in Kyle's pickup truck. Defense attorney are trying to have Routh declared innocent by reason of insanity and called a psychiatrist who testified he is a paranoid schizophrenic and showed signs of psychosis that could not be faked. The trial has focused renewed attention on Kyle, who is credited with the most confirmed kills of an U.S. military sniper, and on the movie "American Sniper." Routh, who served with the Marines in Iraq and Haiti, had been admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals after his service to treat mental illness.
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| Wintry mix in U.S. South creates slick conditions for commuters Posted: 24 Feb 2015 07:11 AM PST  In North Carolina, crews were out salting roads but transportation officials warned that car crashes were increasing as the morning snow began to freeze. "Conditions are slick," said Mark Mueller, a spokesman for the state's transportation department. In Durham, North Carolina, some school children who had boarded buses were returned back home after school officials announced a delayed start and then complete closure for the day. Crews in northern Georgia and the Atlanta area worked overnight to treat roads ahead of the snow, sleet and rain that hit the area on Tuesday, said Natalie Dale, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
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| Chicago's Mayor Emanuel hopes to avoid run-off in election Posted: 24 Feb 2015 05:17 AM PST  By Mary Wisniewski CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will easily take first place in Tuesday's municipal election, but polls show he may miss the 50 percent mark needed to avoid a run-off in the race to lead the financially challenged, third-largest U.S. city. Emanuel, 55, a former adviser to President Barack Obama seeking a second term as mayor, has already spent millions of dollars in the non-partisan race against four challengers, and a second round will mean six more weeks of expensive campaigning. Emanuel is close to the mark, getting 48.3 percent of the vote in a recent Ogden & Fry poll. His nearest opponent is Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia at 26.5 percent, followed by businessman Willie Wilson with 15.2 percent.
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| Axelrod takes on Giuliani Posted: 24 Feb 2015 04:43 AM PST  Axelrod takes on Giuliani
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| Big U.S. majority favors mandatory vaccinations: Reuters/Ipsos poll Posted: 24 Feb 2015 04:27 AM PST  By Alistair Bell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A large majority of Americans favor mandatory vaccinations of children, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday, apparently unswayed by some senior Republicans who have raised fears the medical shots could lead to autism. Seventy-eight percent of respondents in the online survey said all children should be vaccinated unless there is a direct health risk to them from vaccination. Only 13 percent opposed vaccinations. "The numbers are absolutely overwhelming in favor of vaccinations with a consistent minority in opposition," said Ipsos pollster Julia Clarke.
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| Alaska becomes 3rd state with legal marijuana Posted: 24 Feb 2015 03:52 AM PST  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska on Tuesday became the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but organizers don't expect any public celebrations since it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in public.
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| Alaska allows recreational marijuana as campaign spreads Posted: 24 Feb 2015 03:37 AM PST  By Steve Quinn JUNEAU, Alaska (Reuters) - Smoking, growing and owning small amounts of marijuana became legal in Alaska on Tuesday, as a growing decriminalization movement reached the United States' wild northwest frontier. Anyone aged 21 or older can now possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Alaska and can grow up to six marijuana plants, three of which can be flowering. President Barack Obama's Justice Department has cautiously allowed the experiments to proceed, saying it would look to prosecute a narrower range of marijuana-related crimes, such as sales to children. Supporters of the measure say it reflects a sense of personal freedom that resonates with residents in Alaska, a state with a libertarian streak.
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| VA secretary apologizes for misstating military record Posted: 23 Feb 2015 10:37 PM PST  VA chief Robert McDonald apologizes for mistakenly saying he served in the special forces.
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| Chief justice could again swing Obamacare case in government's favor Posted: 23 Feb 2015 10:21 PM PST  By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three years ago, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts cast the tie-breaking vote in a ruling that saved President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform. As the high court prepares to weigh another challenge that could shatter Obamacare, a review of Roberts' recent votes and opinions suggest he could again sway the case the government's way. The conservative challengers in the case aim to persuade Roberts and the other eight justices that the federal government has overreached by providing tax subsidies to millions of people in 34 states that didn't create their own insurance exchanges. He has also recognized the need to consider the overall context of a law, not just an isolated phrase. The government says the Obamacare law, read as a whole, shows the subsidies were intended to be available nationwide. Oral arguments are set for March 4, with the ruling expected by the end of June.
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| Ice storm hits parts of Texas, canceling flights, crippling traffic Posted: 23 Feb 2015 08:43 PM PST  By Lisa Maria Garza DALLAS (Reuters) - An ice storm battered parts of Texas on Monday, knocking out power to thousands of homes, causing hundreds of traffic accidents and prompting more than 1,500 airline flight cancellations. The storm, packing high winds and freezing rain, coated highways with sheets of ice, and authorities advised commuters to stay off the roads. Snow and freezing rain fell in parts of New Mexico and Colorado, while Utah and northern Arizona were also under winter storm warnings, the weather service said. At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest in the United States and a hub for American Airlines, nearly 1,100 flights were canceled as of Monday afternoon, according to tracking service FlightAware.com.
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| No talks expected this week in refinery strike: sources Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:06 PM PST  By Erwin Seba HOUSTON (Reuters) - Talks to end the largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years are not expected to resume this week, sources familiar with the negotiations said on Monday after the number of plants hit by walkouts increased over the weekend. Face-to-face meetings between the United Steelworkers union (USW) and lead refinery owner representative Shell Oil Co, the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, might remain on hold until the second week of March, the sources said. The halt in talks comes after the USW pulled workers from three Motiva Enterprises LLC [MOTIV.UL] refineries in Louisiana and Texas co-owned by Shell after oil companies balked at a possible settlement. About 6,550 workers are walking picket lines at 15 plants, including 12 refineries that account for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity.
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| Texas court halts man's execution after petition challenges trial evidence Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:17 PM PST By Jon Herskovitz STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas court on Monday halted next week's scheduled execution of convicted murderer Rodney Reed after his backers petitioned a state court for a stay, saying he was wrongly convicted due to faulty evidence and unreliable testimony. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals did not elaborate on its decision. Reed's backers for years have questioned his conviction for capital murder and filed a petition this month with affidavits from forensics experts who faulted evidence used in his trial. Reed, 47, was scheduled to be executed on March 5 for the 1996 murder of Stacy Stites. |
| Arkansas enacts law that opponents say targets gays Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:01 PM PST By Steve Barnes LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - An Arkansas bill that prohibits cities and local governments from establishing anti-discrimination codes that differ from state law was enacted on Monday, with opponents saying the measure is aimed at blocking moves to protect gays in the state. Left-leaning pockets in the socially conservative state have enacted, or are looking to enact, legislation that forbids discrimination in their jurisdictions based on sexual orientation and gender. "It's definitely targeting us," said Tippi McCullogh of Little Rock, a teacher who is president of the Arkansas chapter of Stonewall Democrats, an advocacy group for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. "It takes away what little protections LGBTs in Arkansas have," McCullogh said. Backers of the law said it is aimed at promoting a healthy business climate by letting employers know there is one set of laws when it comes to protecting people from discrimination in Arkansas. |
| Two students shot and wounded on campus of Florida university Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:11 PM PST (Reuters) - Two students were shot and wounded at an historically black university in Florida on Monday and two other students were taken into custody in connection with the incident, a school official said. The victims, who are students at Bethune-Cookman University, in Daytona Beach, were both treated for superficial wounds at the scene and were not taken to a hospital, said school spokeswoman Beverly James. A spokesman for the Daytona Beach Police Department, whose officers responded to the incident, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. |
| California reports four more measles cases in Disneyland outbreak Posted: 23 Feb 2015 04:55 PM PST By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California public health officials on Monday reported four new cases of measles, bringing the total number people infected in the state so far to 123, most of them linked to an outbreak that began at Disneyland in December. All told, more than 150 people across the United States have recently been diagnosed with the disease. According to the California health department, 39 of the 123 people who contracted measles in the state were believed to have been exposed while visiting Disneyland. The state health department said 46 other cases had an unknown exposure source but were presumed linked to the Disneyland outbreak. |
| Two men sentenced to 25 years in plot to attack Americans in Afghanistan Posted: 23 Feb 2015 04:38 PM PST Two men convicted of seeking to join al Qaeda and training to carry out attacks on Americans in Afghanistan were sentenced on Monday to 25 years in federal prison, the U.S. Justice Department said. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips sentenced Sohiel Omar Kabir, 37, and Ralph Deleon, 26, who prosecutors said trained at firearms and paintball facilities in Southern California to prepare for their mission. Deleon was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping or maiming overseas. Prosecutors said trial evidence showed that Kabir introduced Deleon and another defendant, Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales, to militant Islamist theology in 2010 and, after traveling to Afghanistan in 2012, encouraged them to follow him there to join al Qaeda. |
| Historic U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could be taking shape Posted: 23 Feb 2015 02:43 PM PST  GENEVA (AP) — Edging toward a historic compromise, the U.S. and Iran reported progress Monday on a deal that would clamp down on Tehran's nuclear activities for at least 10 years but then slowly ease restrictions on programs that could be used to make atomic arms.
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| U.S. lawmakers seeks congressional hearing on ‘superbug’ outbreak Posted: 23 Feb 2015 02:28 PM PST  By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A U.S. lawmaker on Monday called on the Congress to investigate the medical scopes blamed for an outbreak of a bacterial "superbug" at a University of California, Los Angeles hospital that has infected seven patients. Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, said in a letter asking for a congressional oversight committee hearing that the outbreak of the drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, bacteria posed "both health and national security" risks. Officials say the duodenoscopes, which are inserted down a patient's throat during gastrointestinal procedures, spread the antibiotic-resistant bacteria to seven patients at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, contributing to two deaths.
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