U.S. News - UPI.com

State Department says it's implementing security recommendations

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:43:44 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department Monday laid out a series of actions being taken to help protect diplomatic outposts following the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Monster tornado devastates Oklahoma City area; at least 37 dead

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:31:21 -0400

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 20 (UPI) -- A huge tornado cut a devastating path in suburban Oklahoma City Monday, slamming schools, a hospital, businesses and homes, and killing at least 37 people.

Obama selects Sally Ride for posthumous Medal of Freedom

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:24:46 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama Monday said he will award a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel to space.

Church van crash in Illinois kills five, injures six

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:49:28 -0400

VANDALIA, Ill., May 20 (UPI) -- A church van crashed in Illinois Monday while on a cross-country trip, killing five men and injuring six others, authorities said.

Connecticut's Metro North New Haven Line should be fixed by Wednesday

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:20:05 -0400

NEW BRITAIN, Conn., May 20 (UPI) -- Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday the tracks damaged last week when two trains collided should be fixed by Wednesday.

Plea bargain offer made to Florida teen arrested for lewd behavior

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:47:57 -0400

SEBASTIAN, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- A female Florida high school student, accused of lewd behavior with an underage female, has been offered a plea deal, authorities said Monday.

Mother denied state psyche review after allegedly killing baby

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:38:45 -0400

MIAMI, May 20 (UPI) -- A south Florida woman was suffering from postpartum depression when she left her baby to die shut in a sweltering car, her lawyer said.

Arias character witness withdraws, mistrial denied

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:31:49 -0400

PHOENIX, May 20 (UPI) -- The death penalty phase of Jodi Arias' murder trial in Phoenix abruptly adjourned Monday when defense attorneys said they could not continue defending her.

Immigration officers union opposes Senate bill

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:20:26 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- A union representing 12,000 immigration officers won't support a bipartisan U.S. Senate bill seeking to overhaul the system, labor officials said.

Illinois man arrested after alleged threats against U.S. diplomat

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:18:55 -0400

CHICAGO, May 20 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say a McHenry, Ill., man, angry over his wife's failure to obtain a visa, sent threatening messages to American diplomats.

Depths of leak probes said to threaten press freedoms

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:03:51 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- A federal inquiry of a 2009 leak of classified information to a Washington reporter shows investigators dug deep into his private life, court papers indicate.

Obama praises Thein Sein's leadership leading Myanmar to democracy

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:03:33 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- After noting tension marked U.S.-Myanmar relations for years, President Obama Monday praised President Thein Sein's leadership and the country's progress.

Florida ramping up death penalty warrant signings

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:55:54 -0400

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ramped up execution orders of late, approving three death penalty warrants in less than a month, officials said.

Sheriff's deputy killed by alleged intoxicated driver in Houston

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:44:59 -0400

HOUSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- An off-duty Harris County, Texas, sheriff's deputy allegedly was killed by an intoxicated driver who ran a red light in Houston, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Driver abandons car on I-405, causes traffic jam, after passenger dies

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:40:20 -0400

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., May 20 (UPI) -- A driver abandoned her car after her passenger died on California's Interstate 405, causing an hours-long traffic jam, police said.

Supreme Court affirms deference due agencies over their jurisdiction

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:29 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- An agency such as the Federal Communications Commission must be given deference concerning the scope of its jurisdiction, the U.S. Supreme Court said Monday.

Autistic man, scarred with heated kitchen tool, files negligence suit

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:51 -0400

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- A severely autistic man will sue a New York City residential facility after he was branded by employees with a searing-hot potato masher, court documents said.

Graham plans one more evangelistic crusade as he nears 95

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:58:53 -0400

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20 (UPI) -- Christian preacher Billy Graham says he plans one more national evangelistic campaign as he nears his 95th birthday in November.

MIT researcher from Japan killed in hit-and-run; driver tracked down

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:40:24 -0400

BOSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Boston police said they have identified the driver of a truck that struck and killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher from Japan.

Utility can use overseas tax payment to offset U.S. taxes

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:29:18 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The utility PPL Corp., based in Pennsylvania, can claim a credit on its U.S. tax filing to offset an overseas tax payment, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.

Police remove 17 bodies from Modesto, Calif. funeral home

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:28:08 -0400

MODESTO, Calif., May 20 (UPI) -- Seventeen bodies were removed from a Modesto, Calif., funeral home in a criminal and civil investigation of cremation delays, sheriff's deputies said.

Arena League coach arrested in fight with opponent's team executive

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:16:53 -0400

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- Arena Football League Coach Cedric Walker was arrested after an altercation with an opponent's team's executive in Jacksonville, Fla., court documents said.

Navy cancels Fleet Week in Big Apple

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:12:44 -0400

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- A New York City institution, Fleet Week, along with its white clad, free-spending sailors, is the latest victim of military spending cuts, Navy officials said.

Florida waiting for Powerball winner to come forward

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:08:22 -0400

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- Lottery officials in Florida are waiting for the person holding a winning Powerball ticket worth $590.5 million to come forward.

Bikers lead N.J. troopers on 40-mile chase

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:02:51 -0400

NEWARK, N.J., May 20 (UPI) -- A group of 15 motorcyclists was arrested in New Jersey after leading troopers on a lengthy chase, police said.