Gay marriage gets big boost in two Supreme Court rulings
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for gay rights on Wednesday by forcing the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages in states where it is legal and paving the way for it in California, the most populous state. | Video
In rebuff to Bloomberg, New York City Council curbs police power
NEW YORK - The New York City Council passed two measures to restrain police powers early on Thursday in direct defiance of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has defended procedures such as "stop and frisk" as necessary to fight crime.
Texas governor mounts new bid for abortion restrictions
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry on Wednesday launched another battle to pass sweeping abortion restrictions after a marathon speech by a Democrat lawmaker briefly halted a bill critics say could shut most abortion clinics in one of the nation's biggest states. | Video
U.S. military court overturns Marine's conviction in Iraqi's death
LOS ANGELES - The highest U.S. military appeals court on Wednesday overturned the murder conviction of a Marine sergeant found guilty in 2007 of leading a squad in Iraq that was accused of killing a civilian they had captured, bound and gagged.
U.S. boss held captive by angry Chinese employees released
BEIJING - Chinese factory workers on Thursday released their U.S. boss whom they had held captive for a week over a compensation dispute, a company official said.
Texas executes first woman in U.S. in nearly three years
DALLAS - Texas on Wednesday executed by lethal injection a woman convicted of stabbing her elderly neighbor to death in 1997, the first U.S. execution of a woman in nearly three years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said.
Dangerous heat wave forecast for Arizona, California deserts
PHOENIX - A potentially deadly heat wave is expected to bear down on some Arizona and California desert areas in the next few days, forecasters said on Wednesday.
Analysis: Supreme Court in no rush to grant national gay-marriage right
WASHINGTON - When the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Wednesday to rule on whether gay men and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry, it delivered an implicit message to those seeking such a right: Don't hurry back.
Tennessee man charged with extortion in Romney tax return scheme
WASHINGTON - A Tennessee man was charged with attempting to extort $1 million during last year's election by threatening to release former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's tax returns that he falsely claimed he had stolen, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday.
Trayvon Martin was followed by 'creepy' man, witness tells murder trial
SANFORD, Florida - Shortly before he was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin complained about a "creepy" man who seemed to be hunting him down, a key witness testified at George Zimmerman's murder trial on Wednesday.
McCain, Biden coming together for Sedona, Arizona forum
These days Washington is not known for bipartisanship, but every now and then a breakthrough is made. It is noteworthy that Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Senator John McCain, a Republican, are appearing together at a forum in Sedona, Arizona on Friday.
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