Connecticut may become first U.S. state to allow deadly police drones

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Connecticut would become the first U.S. state to allow law enforcement agencies to use drones equipped with deadly weapons if a bill opposed by civil libertarians becomes law.

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Fiery interstate bridge collapse in Atlanta needs lengthy repairs

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Georgia officials inspecting the fiery collapse of a major interstate highway bridge in Atlanta said on Friday the repair timetable was unclear but expect a "time-consuming event."

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South Carolina church gunman to plead guilty to murder charges, paper reports

(Reuters) - Dylann Roof, convicted and sentenced to death in federal court for the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, will plead guilty to related state murder charges, the Post and Courier newspaper reported on Friday.

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Mother watches as her two sons, two others gunned down in Chicago: media

(Reuters) - A mother watched on Thursday as a man approached the Chicago south side restaurant where she works and opened fire, killing her two sons and two other men in a shooting that police described as gang-related retaliation, media reported.

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Fire collapses portion of interstate highway in Atlanta

(Reuters) - A portion of the Interstate 85 highway collapsed in Atlanta on Thursday due to a fire under the bridge, the city's fire and rescue agency said.

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U.S. judge views $25 million Trump University settlement favorably

SAN DIEGO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday said he was leaning toward approving a $25 million settlement of fraud claims against President Donald Trump and his Trump University real estate seminars but deferred a final decision to a later date.

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SpaceX launches first recycled rocket in test of cost-cutting model

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - A recycled SpaceX rocket booster recovered at sea from its first flight nearly a year ago blasted off again on Thursday from Florida on a satellite-delivery mission, then returned to land successfully on a floating platform at sea.

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Green groups sue Trump administration for approving Keystone pipeline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Six environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday to challenge its decision to approve construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

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Fourth-quarter economic growth revised higher, boosted by consumer spending

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth slowed less than previously reported in the fourth quarter as robust consumer spending spurred the largest increase in imports in two years.

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Volkswagen settles 10 U.S. state diesel claims for $157 million

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG said on Thursday it has agreed to pay $157.45 million to settle environmental claims from 10 U.S. states over its excess diesel emissions, as the world's largest automaker looks to move past the scandal.

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Kansas Governor Sam Brownback vetoes Medicaid expansion bill

(Reuters) - Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on Thursday vetoed a bill expanding eligibility for Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying he could not support legislation that provided tax dollars to Planned Parenthood.

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North Carolina lawmakers to vote on repeal of transgender bathroom law

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - North Carolina legislators were set to vote on Thursday on a deal to repeal a law prohibiting transgender people from using restrooms in accordance with their gender identities, a measure that has prompted boycotts by companies and sports leagues.

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Trump says 'we must fight' Freedom Caucus, Democrats

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump had fighting words on Thursday for conservatives in his own Republican Party who helped block a healthcare bill last week, saying he would oppose House Freedom Caucus members in 2018 elections if they did not get on board.

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Federal judge in Hawaii extends court order blocking Trump travel ban

HONOLULU (Reuters) - A federal judge in Hawaii indefinitely extended on Wednesday an order blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump's revised ban on travel to the United States from six predominantly Muslim countries.

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North Carolina lawmakers reach deal to repeal transgender bathroom law

(Reuters) - North Carolina Republican lawmakers said late on Wednesday they had reached a deal to repeal the state's controversial law prohibiting transgender people from using restrooms in accordance with their gender identities.

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California to seek death penalty in salon massacre

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California's attorney general said on Wednesday his office would press ahead in seeking the death penalty for a man who pleaded guilty to killing eight people in a 2011 shooting rampage, even though local prosecutors were sanctioned for acting improperly.

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Seattle sues Trump administration over threat to 'sanctuary' cities

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The city of Seattle sued U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday over its executive order seeking to withhold federal funds from "sanctuary cities," arguing it amounted to unconstitutional federal coercion.

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Multiple fatalities after Texas church bus crash

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Several people were killed when a church van carrying senior citizens heading home from a retreat had a head-on collision with another vehicle on Wednesday about 80 miles (130 km) west of San Antonio, Texas, law enforcement officials said.

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U.S. judge to consider objection to Trump University settlement

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge will hear arguments on Thursday over whether to grant final approval to a $25 million settlement of fraud lawsuits against President Donald Trump over his Trump University real estate investment seminars, with at least one former student objecting to the deal.

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State Department employee to face charges in FBI probe: officials

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. State Department employee is expected to appear in federal court in Washington on Wednesday to face charges in a FBI counterintelligence investigation, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

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Montana tribe sues Trump administration for lifting coal moratorium

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Native American tribe in Montana filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Wednesday, challenging its decision to lift a moratorium on coal leases on public land without first consulting with tribal leaders.

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Activists who filmed Planned Parenthood workers charged in California

(Reuters) - Two anti-abortion activists were charged in California with filming Planned Parenthood workers without their consent while the pair posed as representatives of a fake company seeking to buy fetal tissue, prosecutors said.

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Police open fire after driver strikes patrol car near U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Capitol Police officers opened fire after a woman drove into a police cruiser near the Capitol and then tried to run over officers on Wednesday, and a police spokeswoman said the incident did not appear related to terrorism.

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Four dead, about 200,000 without power after Texas, Oklahoma storms

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Four people were killed and nearly 200,000 customers were without electric power on Wednesday morning after overnight storms pounded Texas and Oklahoma, bringing tornadoes, torrential rain and hail to large parts of the states.

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TSA workers hurt by possible hazardous material at New York airport: media

(Reuters) - Three Transportation Security Administration workers suffered minor injuries on Wednesday at LaGuardia Airport in New York after exposure to a possible hazardous material, local media reported.

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Christie associates to be sentenced for New Jersey bridge scandal

(Reuters) - Two former associates of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday for their roles in the "Bridgegate" lane closure scandal that eventually torpedoed the Republican's White House ambitions.

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Police union warns Trump 'sanctuary city' cuts could risk safety

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leaders of the largest police union in the United States have warned President Donald Trump that he could endanger public safety if he follows through with cuts in federal grants to immigrant "sanctuary cities," the union's director told Reuters after a White House meeting.

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Trump tells lawmakers he expects a deal 'very quickly' on healthcare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told a group of senators on Tuesday that he expects lawmakers will be able to reach a deal on healthcare.

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California immigration town hall to highlight state's red-blue divide

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Liberal California was set to square off against conservative elements in the state at a town hall meeting on immigration on Tuesday night featuring the director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

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North Carolina close to losing NCAA events over bathroom law: official

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - The NCAA will deny North Carolina lucrative hosting duties for college sports championship events through 2022 if the state does not change a law that restricts bathroom access for transgender people by Thursday, a local sports official said on Tuesday.

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Fourth body found following Oakland building fire

(Reuters) - The body of a fourth victim was found on Tuesday in the rubble of an Oakland, California residential building destroyed by a fast-moving fire, the local sheriff's office said.

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Uber discloses workforce diversity numbers

(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc disclosed workforce diversity numbers for the first time on Tuesday, as the ride hailing services company looks to repair its tarnished image following a series of embarrassing setbacks.

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Secret Service investigating suspicious package on White House grounds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a suspicious package on the grounds of the White House, a spokeswoman for the agency said on Tuesday.

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Trump to sign order sweeping away Obama-era climate policies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday to undo a slew of Obama-era climate change regulations that his administration says is hobbling oil drillers and coal miners, a move environmental groups have vowed to take to court.

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Trump touts expected Ford announcement on plant investments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump touted Ford Motor Co's expected announcement later on Tuesday about investments and jobs at its U.S. plants, saying the automaker would be making a major investment in three Michigan facilities.

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At least two dead in fire at Oakland residential building

(Reuters) - At least two people died in a four-alarm fire that swept through a residential building in Oakland, California, on Monday, officials said.

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How two teens in leggings became a PR mess for United Airlines

(Reuters) - A bystander who touched off a social media furor after she saw United Airlines stop two teenage girls dressed in leggings from boarding a flight admitted on Monday that she did not fully grasp the situation when she started tweeting her indignation.

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Florida man kills one, wounds five in 'horrific' shooting: police

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) - A man killed his girlfriend and wounded five other people, including two children and a high school student at a bus stop, during a shooting spree in central Florida on Monday, police said.

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Two remain critically wounded from deadly Ohio nightclub shooting

(Reuters) - Two victims of a weekend nightclub shooting in Ohio that left one person dead and 15 hurt remain in critical condition, with three other victims listed as stable, a hospital spokeswoman said on Monday.

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United Airlines bars teenage girls in leggings from flight

(Reuters) - At least two girls wearing leggings were barred from boarding a United Airlines flight on Sunday because they were not in compliance with a dress code for passengers, the company said in a statement on Twitter.

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White House threatens to bypass hardline conservatives on tax reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fresh off a defeat on U.S. healthcare legislation, the White House warned rebellious conservative lawmakers that they should get behind President Donald Trump's agenda or he may bypass them on future legislative fights, including tax reform.

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Angry over U.S. healthcare fail, Trump voters spare him blame

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (Reuters) - The day after the flaming out of U.S. President Donald Trump's first major legislative initiative, his supporters across America were lashing out - at conservatives, at Democrats, at leaders of his Republican Party in Congress.

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One killed, at least 14 wounded in Ohio nightclub shooting: police

(Reuters) - One person was killed and at least 14 people were wounded in a shooting at a nightclub in Cincinnati, Ohio, early on Sunday, police said.

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Fights erupt at pro-Trump rally in California

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (Reuters) - Supporters of President Donald Trump holding a rally on a popular southern California beach clashed with counter-protesters on Saturday.

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Planned Parenthood sees brief reprieve after healthcare bill yanked

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Planned Parenthood, the national health organization that would have lost federal funding under sweeping healthcare overhaul legislation, views the withdrawal of the bill on Friday as a temporary reprieve, not the end of a threat to its existence.

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Obamacare exploding? Maybe just a slow burn

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Obamacare was "exploding" after Republican lawmakers shelved legislation that would have dismantled the healthcare law.

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California sets vehicle pollution rules after Trump brakes U.S. plan

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Reuters) - California on Friday approved vehicle pollution targets that the Trump administration last week put on hold, setting up a potential face-off between federal and state regulators that could be expensive for automakers and a headache for consumers.

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North Dakota governor approves concealed guns without a permit

(Reuters) - North Dakotans will no longer need a permit to carry a concealed weapon after Republican Governor Doug Burgum signed legislation lifting restrictions, a victory for gun rights advocates that came a week after South Dakota's governor vetoed a similar bill.

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Virginia court rules for Trump in travel ban dispute; order still halted

(Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge in Virginia ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump's travel ban was justified, increasing the likelihood the measure will go before the Supreme Court as the decision took an opposing view to courts in Maryland and Hawaii that have halted the order.

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Republicans scramble for health bill votes after Trump ultimatum

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican lawmakers struggling to overcome differences over new healthcare legislation confronted a stark choice after President Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum: pass the bill on Friday or keep Obamacare in place.

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Amtrak train derails at N.Y Penn Station, no one reported hurt

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Amtrak Acela train derailed at New York City's Penn Station during Friday morning's rush hour but no injuries were reported immediately, according to rail officials and local media.

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Trump administration grants permit for Keystone XL pipeline: TransCanada

(Reuters) - The United States has issued a presidential permit for TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL oil pipeline, the Canadian company said on Friday, ending a years-long battle between environmentalists and the industry over whether Washington should approve it.

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Exclusive: Trump to approve Keystone XL at meeting with TransCanada CEO - official

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will announce the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline at the White House on Friday, alongside the chief executive officer of builder TransCanada Corp, according to a senior administration official.

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Chicago police officer charged with 16 new counts in shooting case: media

(Reuters) - A white Chicago police officer accused of murder in the shooting death of a black teenager was charged on Thursday with 16 new counts of aggravated battery, in a case that sparked national debate over police use of force against minorities.

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Obamacare supporters rally against congressional repeal efforts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supporters of Obamacare staged rallies across the country on Thursday denouncing efforts by President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders to repeal the landmark law that has extended medical insurance coverage to some 20 million Americans.

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Police detective, three others victims identified in Wisconsin shooting

(Reuters) - Authorities on Thursday identified four victims, including a veteran police officer, who were killed during a shooting spree in central Wisconsin sparked by a domestic violence incident.

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Texas A&M, Rick Perry clash on election of gay student body president

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas A&M University said on Thursday it respectfully disagreed with comments U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry made a day earlier when he criticized an election at his alma matter that led to the school's first openly gay student body president.

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State Dept. to approve Keystone pipeline permit: Politico

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department will approve by Monday the permit needed to proceed with construction of the Canada-to-United States Keystone XL oil pipeline, a project blocked by former President Barack Obama, according to Politico.

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Uncertain fate of Obamacare causes some hospitals to halt projects, hiring

(Reuters) - Uncertainty surrounding the Republican plan to replace Obamacare is forcing some U.S. hospitals to delay expansion plans, cut costs, or take on added risk to borrow money for capital investment projects, dealing an economic blow to these facilities and the towns they call home.

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U.S.-Israeli teen arrested in Israel over bomb threats to Jewish centers

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A man was arrested in Israel on Thursday on suspicion of making bomb threats against Jewish community centers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand over the past three months, police said on Thursday.

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Exclusive: U.S. embassies ordered to identify population groups for tougher visa screening

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has directed U.S. diplomatic missions to identify "populations warranting increased scrutiny" and toughen screening for visa applicants in those groups, according to diplomatic cables seen by Reuters.

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High stakes for Trump in vote on healthcare plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump may face his first major legislative hurdle on Thursday: a do-or-die vote in the House of Representatives on a plan that would roll back the signature healthcare law of former President Barack Obama.

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Exclusive: Lead poisoning afflicts neighborhoods across California

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dozens of California communities have experienced recent rates of childhood lead poisoning that surpass those of Flint, Michigan, with one Fresno locale showing rates nearly three times higher, blood testing data obtained by Reuters shows.

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Police officer, three others killed in Wisconsin shooting: reports

MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - A police officer and three other people were killed in a string of shootings that unfolded three small communities in central Wisconsin, local media reported on Wednesday.

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Security tightened at UK sites in New York after London attack

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York police ramped up security at British sites across the city on Wednesday after an assailant fatally stabbed a policeman outside Britain's parliament and was then shot and killed by police.

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U.S. justices reject Gorsuch in win for disabled student

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected legal reasoning used by President Donald Trump's high court nominee Neil Gorsuch in his role as an appellate judge, ruling in favor of an autistic student who said he was denied an adequate education.

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Florida nightclub shooting victims sue gunman's employer, widow

TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - More than 50 victims and survivors of the June 2016 massacre at a Florida nightclub sued the gunman's employer and widow on Wednesday, blaming them for failing to prevent the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

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White man who wanted to 'harm' blacks arrested after NYC stabbing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A white man who traveled to New York City to harm black people turned himself in with knives in his pocket at a Manhattan police station on Wednesday, police said, a day after police say he fatally stabbed a black man in an attack on a sidewalk.

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Pharmacist guilty of racketeering in deadly U.S. meningitis outbreak

BOSTON (Reuters) - The co-founder of a now-defunct Massachusetts compounding pharmacy was found guilty of racketeering and fraud but cleared of murder on Wednesday for his role in a 2012 meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people across the United States.

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U.S. existing home sales fall from 10-year high

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. home resales fell more than expected in February amid a persistent shortage of houses on the market that is pushing up prices and sidelining potential buyers.

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U.S. farm heartland lobbies to steer Trump away from Mexico trade war

GARNER, Iowa/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Farmers in the U.S. agricultural heartland that helped elect Donald Trump are now pushing his administration to avoid a trade dispute with Mexico, fearing retaliatory tariffs that could hit over $3 billion in U.S. exports.

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U.S., Britain curb electronics on flights from Middle East, North Africa

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - The United States and Britain on Tuesday imposed restrictions on carry-on electronic devices on planes coming from certain airports in Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified security threats.

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South Carolina church shooter's friend to serve time for lying, silence

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - The South Carolina man who suspected his friend Dylann Roof was to blame for the June 2015 massacre at a historic black church but did not immediately call police and told others to stay silent was sentenced on Tuesday to more than two years in prison.

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Trump warns Republican lawmakers to get behind healthcare bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump warned Republican lawmakers on Tuesday that voters could punish them if they do not approve a plan he favors to dismantle Obamacare, as pressure grew on the businessman-turned-politician to win the first major legislative battle of his presidency.

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Supreme Court reins in president's appointment powers

(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday put new restrictions on presidential powers, limiting a president's authority to staff certain top government posts in a case involving an appointment to the National Labor Relations Board.

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North Dakota highway near pipeline protest site to re-open

(Reuters) - A stretch of North Dakota highway closed by months of protests against the Dakota Access pipeline was to re-open on Tuesday, law enforcement officials said, a day after the pipeline operator said oil could move through it soon.

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Girl born with four legs is separated from parasitic twin in Chicago surgery

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A baby girl from the Ivory Coast born with four legs and two spines has been successfully separated from a parasitic twin in a rare and complex surgery at a Chicago hospital.

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Trump to address Republican lawmakers in latest healthcare push

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump was set to meet with House Republicans on Tuesday to shore up support for the party's healthcare bill to replace Obamacare, increasing pressure to pass his first major legislative initiative despite rifts within their ranks.

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Trump's cut to flood map program could trigger insurance rate hikes: group

(Reuters) - A proposal by the Trump administration to cut $190 million in funding for updating U.S. maps of flood-prone areas would trigger higher insurance rates or more homebuilding in risky locations, a consumer group said on Monday.

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U.S. to ban some airline passengers from carrying larger electronics

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are planning to ban passengers traveling on certain U.S.-bound foreign airline flights from carrying into the cabin larger electronic devices in response to an unspecified terrorism threat, U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday.

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Texas school board can start meetings with prayer: U.S. appeals court

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday said a Texas school board may open its meetings with student-led prayers without violating the U.S. Constitution.

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Comey confirms FBI probing alleged Russian interference in U.S. vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI Director James Comey on Monday confirmed the agency was investigating possible Russian government efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election including any links between President Donald Trump's campaign and Moscow.

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Travel ban, strong dollar seen putting damper on U.S. tourism sector

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Travel and tourism's contribution to the U.S. economy will grow at a slower pace this year than in 2016 due to a strong U.S. dollar and a perception that the country is less welcoming to foreigners, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said.

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Lawmakers seek FBI, NSA answers on Trump, Russia at rare public hearing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Security Agency will break their public silence on Monday about their investigations into possible links between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign at a rare open congressional intelligence committee hearing.

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Colorado wildfire scorches woodland, at least 1,000 people evacuated

(Reuters) - A wildfire near the University of Colorado in Boulder burned through about 62 acres (25 hectares) of woodland on Sunday, prompting authorities to urge at least 1,000 people to evacuate the drought-hit region.

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Republicans revamp U.S. health bill to help older Americans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans are working on changes to their healthcare overhaul bill to provide more generous tax credits for older Americans and to add a work requirement for the Medicaid program for the poor, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Sunday.

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U.S. Republicans working on Medicaid, tax credit changes: Ryan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans are working on changes to their healthcare overhaul bill that would implement a work requirement for the Medicaid program for the poor, as well as boost tax credits for older, lower income people, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Sunday.

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U.S. Supreme Court’s ideological balance at stake in confirmation fight

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When President Donald Trump's U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is sworn in for his Senate confirmation hearing on Monday, Democrats will make the case that he is a pro-business, social conservative insufficiently independent of the president.

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Person in custody after driving to White House gates and making bomb threat: CNN

(Reuters) - One person was in custody after a car drove up to a White House checkpoint on Saturday night and the driver claimed to have a bomb, CNN reported.

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Exclusive: Immigration judges headed to 12 U.S. cities to speed deportations

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is developing plans to temporarily reassign immigration judges from around the country to 12 cities to speed up deportations of illegal immigrants who have been charged with crimes, according to two administration officials.

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Meals on Wheels says donations surged after U.S. budget

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Meals on Wheels America, the umbrella organization for 5,000 providers of home-delivered meals for seniors, said on Saturday that online donations have surged since the White House released a proposed budget that could lead to a big drop in its funding.

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Another person tries to jump White House fence

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A person jumped over a bike rack in a buffer zone in front of the White House on Saturday while President Trump was in Florida, but was not able to make it over the fence into the grounds, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Twitter.

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Trump ‘travel ban bands’ take to stage in Texas capital

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Bands with diaspora from the seven Muslim-majority countries on U.S. President Donald Trump’s original travel ban took to the stage in Austin to build resistance against executive orders critics see as perpetuating bigotry.

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DNA links man to two Michigan police shootings: law enforcement

(Reuters) - A man charged in the shooting of two Detroit police officers earlier this week has been linked through DNA evidence to the fatal shooting of a university police officer last year, authorities said.

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Arkansas restores Martin Luther King holiday without Robert E. Lee

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - Arkansas lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill setting aside an official state holiday solely for slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and relegating Confederate General Robert E. Lee to a separate, lesser observance.

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South Dakota's governor vetoes loosening of concealed carry gun laws

(Reuters) - South Dakota's Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard on Friday vetoed a pair of bills that would have loosened restrictions on carrying concealed guns in the state, after saying current laws made sense and were adequate.

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Trump says 'very seldom' regrets tweets despite criticism of wiretap charge

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he "very seldom" regrets anything he tweets, brushing off questions about his claims without evidence that his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, wiretapped him during last year's presidential campaign.

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Secret Service laptop with Trump Tower floor plans stolen: ABC News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Secret Service agent's laptop computer containing floor plans for Trump Tower, details on the criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and other national security information was stolen, ABC News reported on Friday, citing law enforcement sources.

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Trump, health secretary fight for votes on U.S. healthcare overhaul

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday stepped up his fight for support on Republicans' plan to dismantle Obamacare, wooing some conservative lawmakers at the White House while legislation advanced toward a possible vote in the House of Representatives next week.

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Hijacker kills New York paramedic under wheels of her ambulance

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A paramedic was killed after a man hijacked her ambulance in New York City and reversed over her, city officials said on Friday. Police have arrested a suspect on murder charges.

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Trump seeks to ax Appalachia economic programs, causing worry in coal country

PAINTSVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for economic development programs supporting laid-off coal miners and others in Appalachia, stirring fears in a region that supported him of another letdown on the heels of the coal industry’s collapse.

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Judge approves $27 million driver settlement in Lyft lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge gave final approval on Thursday to a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit against Lyft Inc, ending a legal case that challenged the independent contractor status of the ride-hailing service's drivers.

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Trump vows appeal up to Supreme Court after loss on travel ban

HONOLULU/NEW YORK (Reuters) - A defiant President Donald Trump has pledged to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary to fight for his revised travel ban, parts of which were halted by two different federal judges in recent days.

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Oklahoma lawmaker, found with boy in motel, charged with prostitution

(Reuters) - An Oklahoma Republican state senator who campaigned as a champion of family values was booked on felony prostitution charges on Thursday after police found him in a motel room with a teenage boy and drugs, court documents showed.

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Ryan says Trump playing constructive role on healthcare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday that President Donald Trump is playing a constructive role in new health care legislation and helping bridge differences among congressional Republicans.

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New York City mayor will not face corruption charges: prosecutors

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal and state prosecutors on Thursday said they would not bring criminal charges against New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio or his aides in connection with two simultaneous investigations into his fundraising practices.

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Republican healthcare overhaul clears another House hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican healthcare overhaul backed by President Donald Trump cleared another hurdle in the House of Representatives on Thursday as the Budget Committee approved it even as the White House and party leaders discussed changes to satisfy disgruntled conservatives.

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Trump puts extra skinny into his 'skinny budget'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It's not unusual for a newly minted White House to present what's known as a "skinny budget," a wish-list of spending requests for Congress and some basic economic projections.

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Judge says accused Florida airport shooter is mentally sound for trial

MIAMI (Reuters) - An Iraq war veteran accused of killing five people in a shooting at a Florida airport this year appears mentally fit to stand trial despite psychiatric health issues, a federal judge said on Wednesday.

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Cleveland police dispatcher in Tamir Rice shooting suspended 8 days

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - A Cleveland police dispatcher was suspended for eight days for failing to warn officers in the 2014 shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice that a 911 caller had described the scene as probably a child with a fake gun, the boy's family lawyer said on Wednesday.

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Late-season snowstorm weakens in the Northeast

(Reuters) - A late-season snowstorm that swept the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States began to weaken on Wednesday after killing six people, grounding thousands of flights and closing schools.

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Trump budget would slice domestic programs, foreign aid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday will offer the first details of his plans for deep cuts in domestic programs and foreign aid, releasing a budget outline that would boost military spending by $54 billion and seek cuts of the same size in non-defense programs.

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U.S. judge denies tribe's request to stop oil flow in Dakota Access pipeline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday denied a request by a Native American tribe to issue an emergency injunction to prevent oil from flowing through part of the Dakota Access Pipeline, saying such a move would be against the public interest.

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Lawmakers grill U.S. military leaders over nude photo sharing scandal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senators grilled the Navy and the Marine Corps' top leaders on Tuesday amid a growing scandal involving a private Facebook group and its surreptitious distribution of explicit images of women in the armed forces - often with obscene, misogynist commentary.

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Texas to execute man for crime spree that left four dead, including baby

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The state of Texas on Tuesday plans to execute a man for launching a 1987 crime spree that left four people dead, including a four-month-old boy he drowned in a sink.

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U.S. gives Florida nightclub shooting victims nearly $8.5 million

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The victims of a mass shooting at a Florida nightclub in June 2016 will receive nearly $8.5 million for emotional and financial support for victims' families, those wounded in the attack and responders, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

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Republicans on defense after report shows millions would lose insurance

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Tuesday defended their plan to dismantle Obamacare after a bipartisan report showed 14 million Americans would lose medical insurance by next year under their proposal even as it reduces the budget deficit.

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U.S. taxpayers procrastinate on filing returns this year

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tax season in the United States is off to a slow start.

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Blizzard rolls into northeast U.S.; flights canceled, schools shut

NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) - Snow began blanketing northeastern United States on Tuesday as a winter storm packing blizzard conditions rolled into the region, prompting public officials to ask people to stay home while airlines grounded flights and schools canceled classes.

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Washington state moves to block Trump's new travel ban in court

(Reuters) - Washington state on Monday moved to block President Donald Trump's revised travel ban, filing a new complaint in federal court and asking a judge to stop the executive order from going into effect on Thursday.

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Ex-Penn State officials plead guilty in case tied to Sandusky abuse: reports

(Reuters) - Two former Pennsylvania State University officials pleaded guilty on Monday to misdemeanor child endangerment charges related to the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse case, local media reported.

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Video poses new questions about 2014 Ferguson police shooting

(Reuters) - Previously undisclosed video of Michael Brown, recorded hours before the unarmed black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, has raised new questions about his final hours.

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U.S. Northeast braces for late winter blizzard

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Forecasters put the U.S. East Coast from New York City to Boston on a blizzard watch starting as early as Monday night, with authorities warning residents to prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages, road closures and flight disruptions.

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Agency's analysis of Republican health bill may sharpen resistance to measure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A non-partisan report expected as soon as Monday on the costs of a Republican plan to replace the Obamacare healthcare law could harden opposition to the proposal, adding to the obstacles facing President Donald Trump's first major legislative effort.

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Seattle synagogue spray-painted with graffiti denying Holocaust

(Reuters) - Vandals scrawled graffiti claiming the Holocaust was "fake history" on an exterior wall of a Seattle synagogue, leading the rabbi to urge President Donald Trump to more forcefully denounce a wave of anti-Semitic incidents in recent months.

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Texas lawmakers illegally drew three voting districts on racial lines, court rules

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Texas lawmakers drew up three U.S. congressional districts to undermine the influence of Hispanic voters, a divided panel of three federal judges ruled, in the latest development in a years-long battle over gerrymandering.

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Intruder arrested on White House grounds, CNN reports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An intruder carrying a backpack entered the White House grounds and was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents at an entrance near the president's residence, CNN reported on Saturday morning.

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U.S. civil liberties group, ACLU, seeks to tap anti-Trump energy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union is launching what it bills as the first grassroots mobilization effort in its nearly 100-year history, as it seeks to harness a surge of energy among left-leaning activists since the November election of Republican Donald Trump as U.S. president.

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Two girls and a man die, woman injured in Illinois shooting

(Reuters) - Two teenage girls and a man were shot and killed and a woman was wounded on Friday during a domestic dispute in northeast Illinois, police said.

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Boston St. Patrick's parade to allow gay veterans to return

BOSTON (Reuters) - A group of gay veterans of the U.S. military can march in this year's Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade, parade organizers said on Friday after an earlier move to exclude them sparked outrage and boycott threats in the liberal city.

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Muhammad Ali Jr questioned at Washington DC airport: lawmaker

(Reuters) - Muhammad Ali Jr, the son and namesake of the late boxing great, was questioned about his identity at a Washington DC airport before boarding a flight on Friday, one day after he testified before lawmakers about a similar incident at another airport, a U.S. Congresswoman said.

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Decline in migration under Trump could quickly reverse, history shows

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Last month's 40 percent decline in migrant detentions along the southern U.S. border represents a victory for U.S. President Donald Trump, but may prove short-lived unless he follows through with his hard-line vows, past experience shows.

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Top U.S. Marine vows accountability, asks victims to come forward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. Marine made an impassioned plea on Friday for women who may have been affected by a growing scandal involving the sharing of nude photos of women to come forward with their complaints, and vowed to hold those involved accountable.

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U.S. senators seek relaxed screening of border patrol applicants

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Republican senators, hoping to speed the hiring of law enforcement agents on U.S. borders, on Friday introduced legislation waiving lie detector tests for job applicants who already serve in law enforcement or have done military service.

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Pentagon says alleged photo-sharing violates 'fundamental values'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that personnel involved in any alleged sharing of nude photos of female colleagues were guilty of "egregious violations of the fundamental values" and pledged a full investigation.

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Maryland to join lawsuit challenging Trump travel ban: WTOP radio

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said on Friday his office would formally join a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's revised travel ban, saying the measure was still a ban on Muslims and would hurt the state, WTOP radio reported.

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Trump administration sends judges to immigration detention centers: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Department of Justice is deploying 50 judges to immigration detention facilities across the United States, according to two sources and a letter seen by Reuters and sent to judges on Thursday.

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U.S. doctors in training to work longer hours under new guidelines

(Reuters) - Days may get a lot longer for some doctors in training after the group that oversees medical education in the United States rolled back controversial rules limiting the number of hours first-year residents may work.

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Americans oppose bathroom laws limiting transgender rights: poll

(Reuters) - The majority of respondents to a new U.S. poll opposed laws barring transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identities and indicated growing acceptance for gay rights, a nonpartisan research group said on Friday.

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Washington state seeks to halt Trump's new travel ban

(Reuters) - Washington state's attorney general will ask a federal judge in Seattle to confirm that a previous court ruling halting a temporary travel ban signed by President Donald Trump applies to a revised order signed by Trump this week.

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New Hampshire legislature blocks bill on transgender rights

(Reuters) - State legislators in New Hampshire narrowly blocked a bill on Thursday that would have prohibited discrimination against transgender people, including allowing them to use the public bathrooms that match the gender with which they identify.

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Second House panel approves Obamacare replacement plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican plan backed by President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system passed through a second congressional panel on Thursday, despite controversy among lawmakers, hospitals and insurers about its unknown costs and impact on coverage.

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Republicans forge ahead on Obamacare repeal despite U.S. budget worries

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans pushed ahead on Thursday with their plan for a massive overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system backed by President Donald Trump, despite Democratic concern that the cost of the bill and its impact on the budget remain unknown.

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Two victims of Marines nude photo-sharing network come forward

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two women from the U.S. Marine Corps, one still on active duty, came forward on Wednesday as victims of a clandestine all-male social media network of military personnel and veterans under investigation for sharing nude photos of female colleagues.

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Son of 2016 Democratic VP nominee Kaine arrested at anti-Trump protest

(Reuters) - The son of 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine was arrested last weekend during a protest against President Donald Trump in Minnesota after a scuffle with law enforcement, police said on Wednesday.

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FAA investigates Michigan team charter flight that slid off runway

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday it is investigating a charter flight carrying the University of Michigan men's basketball team that slid off the runway at a suburban Detroit airport, sustaining extensive damage.

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U.S. judge allows Hawaii to challenge Trump's new travel ban

(Reuters) - The state of Hawaii can sue over President Donald Trump's new executive order temporarily banning the entry of refugees and travelers from six Muslim-majority countries, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.

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FBI Director Comey at cyber conference: 'You're stuck with me'

BOSTON (Reuters) - FBI Director James Comey said on Wednesday he has no plans to step down any time soon, days after he reportedly pushed back against President Donald Trump's allegations that the Obama administration had tapped his phones during the 2016 election.

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Women in U.S. plan to stay off the job, rally in anti-Trump protests

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Women in the United States plan to use International Women's Day on Wednesday to stay off the job and stage demonstrations across the country in an effort to seize on the momentum built from the massive marches held a day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.

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Los Angeles mayor wins re-election in landslide

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti clinched re-election on Tuesday in a landslide victory that handed him a second four-year term in charge of America's second-largest city.

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Watchdog to ask U.S. lawmakers to probe Icahn's role with Trump

(Reuters) - A government watchdog group, Public Citizen, said on Wednesday it will ask lawmakers to investigate whether billionaire investor Carl Icahn should have been subject to lobbying disclosure laws when he advised President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. biofuels program.

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New Jersey mayor charged with corruption in warehouse scheme

(Reuters) - The mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, has been indicted on public corruption charges accusing him of conspiring to put city employees to work at a warehouse leased by his relatives in a scheme to furnish free labor to his family at taxpayers' expense.

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At least three killed when train hits bus in Mississippi

(Reuters) - At least three people were killed and dozens were injured on Tuesday when a train slammed into a charter bus carrying about 50 people in Biloxi, Mississippi, local TV station WLOX reported.

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U.S. judge rules against tribes seeking to stop Dakota pipeline

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday ruled against Native American tribes seeking to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline as their legal options narrow weeks before oil is set to flow on the project.

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WikiLeaks claims publication of secret CIA hacking tools

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks said on Tuesday it had obtained a top-secret trove of hacking tools used by the CIA to break into phones, communication apps and other electronic devices, and released documents related to those programs.

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Trump signs revised travel ban in bid to overcome legal challenges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump signed a revised executive order on Monday banning citizens from six Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the United States but removing Iraq from the list, after his controversial first attempt was blocked in the courts.

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Texas to execute man convicted of taking money to murder woman

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas is set to execute on Tuesday a man convicted of accepting $2,000 to murder a woman from the victim's husband and her brother-in-law, who were looking to collect $400,000 from life insurance policies they took out on her.

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Some U.S. schools to close Wednesday as women request day off to protest

(Reuters) - At least two U.S. school districts have announced plans to close on Wednesday in anticipation of staff shortages for the nationwide "Day Without A Woman" strike.

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House Republicans unveil bill to repeal Obamacare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled long-awaited legislation on Monday to repeal much of the Obamacare healthcare law, including its expansion of the Medicaid program for the poor.

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U.S. high court action leaves transgender students in legal limbo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Transgender students at U.S. public schools were left in legal limbo on Monday about whether a federal anti-discrimination law enables them to use the bathroom of their choice after the Supreme Court sidestepped a major ruling on the issue.

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Trump maintains confidence in FBI head amid wiretap friction

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump still has confidence in FBI Director James Comey, the White House said on Monday, despite his assertiveness in challenging Trump's claim that the Obama administration wiretapped him during the 2016 election campaign.

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New York City reaches new deal over police surveillance of Muslims

(Reuters) - New York City's police department has agreed to a new settlement in a lawsuit accusing it of illegally targeting Muslims for surveillance, according to court papers filed on Monday, after a federal judge rejected an earlier deal.

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GM will lay off 1,100 in Michigan after domestic production shift

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Monday it will lay off 1,100 workers in May at its Lansing Delta Township assembly plant in Michigan as it shifts production of a vehicle to Tennessee.

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U.S. top court backs Hispanic man over juror's racially biased remarks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court, delving again into the sometimes pernicious role of race in U.S. criminal justice, ruled on Monday in favor of a Hispanic man who argued he did not receive a fair trial on sex offense charges due to a juror's racially biased remarks during trial deliberations.

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U.S. Supreme Court sidesteps ruling in transgender rights case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court avoided a ruling on transgender rights by sending a closely watched case involving bathroom access at a Virginia high school back to a lower court on Monday after President Donald Trump rolled back protections for transgender students.

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Accused Qaeda operative faces U.S. trial, despite refusal to appear

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An accused al Qaeda operative charged with engaging in attacks on U.S. forces that killed at least two American servicemen in Afghanistan is set to face trial on Monday in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

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Confidant of New Jersey governor to be sentenced in airline scheme

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former confidant of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be sentenced on Monday for pressuring United Airlines into operating a flight to an airport near his vacation home, a case that grew out of the "Bridgegate" investigation.

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Trump uncertainty slowing U.S. travel bookings: report

BERLIN (Reuters) - Demand for travel to the United States over the coming months has flattened out following a positive start to the year, with uncertainty over a possible new travel order likely deterring visitors, travel analysis company ForwardKeys said on Monday.

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Afghan family with U.S. visas detained at Los Angeles airport: filing

(Reuters) - U.S. agents unlawfully detained an Afghan family of five at Los Angeles International Airport and have been holding them for several days in California, according to legal papers filed in federal court in California by human rights lawyers.

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U.S. confirms avian influenza in Tennessee chicken flock

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday said it has confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic version of avian influenza in a commercial chicken breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

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Muslim students asked 'Do you beat your wife?' by Oklahoma lawmaker

(Reuters) - Muslim students visiting an Oklahoma lawmaker's office in the state capitol were required to fill out a form that asked if they beat their wives and other questions that offended them, an Islamic advocacy group said.

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U.S. Marine Corps looking into nude photo scandal: report

(Reuters) - The U.S. Marine Corps is looking into the suspected distribution of nude photographs of female members of the service among military personnel and veterans via a social media network that promotes sexual violence, the Marine Corps Times said on Sunday.

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New York Police investigate possible vandalism at Jewish cemetery

(Reuters) - Several headstones were found toppled at a predominately Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn over the weekend and police were investigating the incident as possible vandalism, a New York City Police spokesman said on Sunday.

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U.S. soccer players must stand for national anthem

(The Sports Xchange) - The United States Soccer Federation has instituted a policy that requires players on a national team to "stand respectfully" during national anthems, the New York Times and other media reported on Saturday.

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Sikh, told to leave country, shot in Washington state: police

(Reuters) - A Sikh man was shot and wounded in Washington state by an attacker who approached him in his driveway and told him to leave the country, police and media reported on Saturday.

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Mexico opens migrant defense centers at U.S. consulates

(Reuters) - Mexico opened legal aid centers at its 50 consulates across the United States on Saturday to defend its citizens, the Mexican government said, amid worries of a crackdown on illegal immigration under U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Canada: No plans to clamp down at border to deter migrants

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada will not tighten its border to deter migrants crossing illegally from the United States in the wake of a U.S. immigration crackdown because the numbers are not big enough to cause alarm, a government minister said on Saturday.

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Trump fans stage series of small rallies across U.S.

LANSING, Mich. (Reuters) - Supporters of President Donald Trump held a second day of small rallies on Saturday in communities around the country, a counterpoint to a wave of protests that have taken place since his election in November.

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U.S. suspends fast processing of high-tech visa applications

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Foreigners aiming for temporary jobs at high-tech U.S. companies will undergo a longer visa approval process after the Trump administration announced it will temporarily suspend expedited applications for H-1B visas.

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Galleon's Rajaratnam loses bid to cut insider trading sentence

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday rejected Galleon Group hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam's bid to void much of his insider trading conviction and shorten his 11-year prison sentence.

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Arkansas lawmaker, college president charged in kickback scheme

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Arkansas state senator and a college president have been charged in a kickback scheme in which thousands of dollars in bribes were paid to lawmakers who directed state funds to two non-profit groups, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.

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Germany's Merkel to visit Washington March 14

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Washington on March 14 to meet President Donald Trump, their first encounter after a rocky start to relations amid disagreements about trade, Trump’s travel ban and his comments about the media.

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St. Louis man charged with making bomb threats to U.S. Jewish groups

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A St. Louis man made at least eight bomb threats to Jewish organizations nationwide in an attempt to harass an ex-girlfriend, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.

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Parents fearing deportation pick guardians for U.S. children

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Parents who immigrated illegally to the United States and now fear deportation under the Trump administration are inundating immigration advocates with requests for help in securing care for their children in the event they are expelled from the country.

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Eleven U.S. states to drop suit over transgender bathroom order

(Reuters) - Eleven U.S. states have agreed to drop a lawsuit against an Obama administration order for transgender students to use bathrooms of their choice after the measure was revoked by President Donald Trump, a court filing showed on Thursday.

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Ex-Christie associates lose bid for new trial in 'Bridgegate' case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge rejected a request for a new trial by two former associates of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who were convicted for their roles in the "Bridgegate" lane closure scandal.

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Blizzard dumps snow on Hawaii, California set for record winter rain

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As California edged toward historic rainfall totals in one of the wettest winters in memory, its neighbor state across the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, has been hit with sustained blizzard conditions that have dumped 8 inches of snow onto mountain peaks.

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U.S. court rejects bid to overturn NYC law on sale of dogs, cats

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a bid to overturn a 2015 New York City law imposing tough new restrictions on the sale of dogs and cats.

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Gambler loses bid to dismiss insider trading case after FBI leaks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge has rejected Las Vegas gambler William "Billy" Walters' bid to dismiss criminal insider trading charges after an FBI agent admitted to leaking details about the probe to reporters.

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Suspend visa-free EU travel for U.S. citizens, lawmakers say

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - United States citizens should be denied visa-free access to the European Union before summer because Washington does not allow some EU nationals to enter there without visa, EU lawmakers said in a vote on Thursday.

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Trump welcomes stock market surge, consumer confidence on Twitter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed a record surge in the stock market on Thursday, a day after the Dow blasted through the 21,000 mark for the first time after his speech to Congress.

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Oregon house fire kills four children, injures three others

(Reuters) - An early morning house fire in western Oregon on Wednesday killed four children and left three other members of their family who were present at the time hospitalized with severe injuries, authorities said.

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Seven Baltimore police officers arrested on racketeering charges

(Reuters) - Seven Baltimore police officers were arrested on Wednesday on federal racketeering charges for robbing and extorting up to $200,000 from victims, along with stealing guns and drugs, prosecutors said.

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Exclusive: Trump administration has found only $20 million in existing funds for wall - document

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s promise to use existing funds to begin immediate construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border has hit a financial roadblock, according to a document seen by Reuters.

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School board in key transgender case seeks U.S. high court delay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Virginia school board sued by a student over bathroom access in a major transgender rights case asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to delay the matter until at least April, when President Donald Trump's conservative nominee could be on the bench and potentially cast the deciding vote.

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Judge approves release of Florida nightclub shooter's widow

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - A U.S. judge cleared the way on Wednesday for the widow of the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, to be released from jail and appeared to throw doubt on the strength of the government's case against her.

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New Trump travel order expected in coming days, Pence says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump plans to finalize a new order limiting travel to the United States in the coming days, his vice president said on Wednesday, after federal courts blocked the administration's earlier travel ban.

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Trump softens immigration stance, takes measured tone in speech

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told Congress on Tuesday he was open to immigration reform, shifting from his harsh rhetoric on illegal immigration in a speech that offered a more restrained tone than his election campaign and first month in the White House.

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Ex-CIA spy held over kidnap avoids extradition from Portugal, will be freed

LISBON (Reuters) - A former CIA officer convicted for involvement in the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Italy won a last-minute reprieve from deportation from Portugal on Wednesday and will be released, her lawyer said.

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