Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report

Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report


Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT

File of Colorado shooting suspect Holmes making his first court appearance in AuroraDENVER (Reuters) - Prosecutors have filed a motion to add 10 new charges against accused Colorado gunman James Holmes, arrested following the July movie theater shootings that killed 12 people, and have asked to amend 17 others, the Denver Post reported on Wednesday. The judge in the case has ordered nearly all court filings be sealed, and it was not clear what the additional charges were from a register of court actions, the Denver Post reported. ...


Police begin enforcing controversial Arizona immigration measure

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:06 PM PDT

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer listens to a question from a media member about the Supreme Court's decision on SB1070 in Phoenix.PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona police on Wednesday began enforcing a controversial "show-your-papers" provision of a state law targeting illegal immigration as civil rights groups prepared to document allegations of racial profiling. Police in the border state with Mexico are now authorized to begin conducting immigration status checks of anyone they stop for any reason and suspect of being in the country illegally after a federal judge on Tuesday lifted an injunction against the provision requiring such checks. The measure, upheld by the U.S. ...


One inmate shot, at least 10 stabbed in California prison riot

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:52 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - An inmate was shot and wounded and at least 10 others were sent to the hospital with stab wounds on Wednesday after a riot at the California State Prison-Sacramento in the city of Folsom, prison officials said. The riot broke out at 11:17 a.m. local time (15:17 GMT), prompting prison officers to open fire with a rifle, wounding one of the inmates, officials said. A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it was not immediately clear what had sparked the riot, but added that it was "under control. ...

Analysis: Options limited to finance Chicago teachers contract

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:54 PM PDT

Student Tiandre Turner makes his way to class at Whitney Young High School in ChicagoCHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago public school teachers returned to their classrooms on Wednesday but thorny questions remained over how Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the cash-strapped school system will pay for the tentative contract that ended a strike of more than a week. The three-year contract, which has an option for a fourth year and which awaits a ratification vote by the 29,000-member Chicago Teachers Union, calls for an average 17.6 percent pay raise over four years and some benefit improvements. ...


Colorado man awarded $7.2 mill in "popcorn lung" lawsuit

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:05 PM PDT

DENVER (Reuters) - A U.S. federal court jury on Wednesday awarded a Colorado man $7.2 million in damages for developing a chronic condition known as popcorn lung from a chemical used in flavoring microwave popcorn. Jurors agreed with the claims by Wayne Watson, 59, that the popcorn manufacturer and the supermarket chain that sold it were negligent by failing to warn on labels that the butter flavoring, diacetyl, was dangerous. The condition is a form of obstructive lung disease that makes it difficult for air to flow out of the lungs and is irreversible, according to WebMd. ...

Trees no protection for skiers in avalanche zones, expert says

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:46 PM PDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Skiers and snowboarders who believe they are protected from avalanches when they schuss through tree glades could be making a grave mistake, a snow-safety expert said. In fact, skiers and snowboarders are at high risk of dying from avalanches caused by small snow fractures that sweep between trees, said Dale Atkins, president of the American Avalanche Association. ...

Louisiana man arrested in university bomb threat case

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:12 PM PDT

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - A man has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of Louisiana State University, but he does not appear to be linked to recent threats against other universities, school police said on Wednesday. William Bouvay, 42, of Baton Rouge, was arrested late on Tuesday on charges of communicating false information of a planned bombing, the university police said. LSU's Baton Rouge campus was evacuated after receiving a phone call on Monday warning of multiple bombs. ...

U.S. moves release time for key crop reports to midday

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:27 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will begin issuing major agricultural reports at midday, when Chicago trading is in full swing, abandoning the early morning release of the world's most important crop data after almost two decades. After a months-long debate following the adoption of nearly around-the-clock futures trading, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday that from January it would release its market-moving U.S. crop forecasts and five other major reports at noon Eastern Time (11 a.m. Central). ...

California high speed rail segment receives federal approval

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:24 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - The initial segment of California's ambitious $68 billion high speed rail project won the approval of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration on Wednesday, clearing the way for construction to begin in 2013. Federal authorities approved a 65-mile section of track through the state's central agricultural heartland, from Merced to Fresno, after environmental and engineering reviews were completed. ...

Inspector faults federal agents in gun probe, clears Holder

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:02 PM PDT

U.S. Attorney General Holder testifies before a House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on Fast and Furious in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog faulted 14 federal agents and prosecutors on Wednesday for the botched anti-gun-trafficking effort known as "Operation Fast and Furious" but cleared Attorney General Eric Holder of any wrongdoing. The report by the department's inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, prompted two senior officials to leave the government. Congressional Republicans investigating the mismanaged operation had accused Holder of covering it up. ...


Supreme Court won't block Texas voting map

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT

(Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to postpone Texas' congressional elections, rejecting a claim by a Hispanic civil rights group that an interim court-drawn map discriminated against minorities. Without comment, the court rejected an appeal by the League of United Latin American Citizens to the map, which had been drawn up by a three-judge federal court panel in San Antonio. The map is expected to remain in place as Texas tries to revive a different map that had been drawn up by its Republican-controlled legislature. ...

Ads criticizing "Jihad" bound for New York City subway stations

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 04:29 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As Muslim countries reverberate with fierce protests over a film mocking the Prophet Mohammad, an ad equating Islamic jihad with savagery is due to appear next week in 10 New York City subway stations despite transit officials' efforts to block it. The city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority had refused the ads, citing a policy against demeaning language. The American Freedom Defense Initiative, which is behind the ad campaign, then sued and won a favorable ruling from a U.S. judge in Manhattan. ...

Police begin enforcing controversial Arizona immigration measure

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:48 PM PDT

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer listens to a question from a media member about the Supreme Court's decision on SB1070 in Phoenix.PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona police on Wednesday began enforcing a controversial "show-your-papers" provision of a state law targeting illegal immigration as civil rights groups prepared to document allegations of racial profiling. Police in the border state with Mexico are now authorized to begin conducting immigration status checks of anyone they stop for any reason and suspect of being in the country illegally after a federal judge on Tuesday lifted an injunction against the provision requiring such checks. The measure, upheld by the U.S. ...


Inspector faults 14 Justice employees, clears Holder in gun probe

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 04:12 PM PDT

U.S. Attorney General Holder testifies before a House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on Fast and Furious in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog faulted 14 federal employees on Wednesday for the botched anti-gun-trafficking effort known as "Operation Fast and Furious," prompting two senior officials to leave the government but clearing Attorney General Eric Holder of any wrongdoing. Congressional Republicans during a series of hearings investigating the failed operation sharply criticized Holder, the nation's top law-enforcement official appointed by President Barack Obama, during this year's presidential campaign. One U.S. ...


Poor smokers in NY spend quarter of income on cigarettes: study

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:46 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Poor smokers in New York State spend about a quarter of their entire income on cigarettes, nearly twice as much as the national average for low-income smokers, according to a new study. The study, conducted by the non-profit research group RTI on behalf of the state's health department, found there was no statistically significant decline in the prevalence of smoking among poorer New Yorkers between 2003 and 2010, even as the habit declined by about 20 percent among all income groups. ...

Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:35 PM PDT

Colorado shooting suspect Holmes sits with public defender Brady during his first court appearance in AuroraDENVER (Reuters) - Prosecutors have filed a motion to add 10 new charges against accused Colorado gunman James Holmes, arrested following the July movie theater shootings that killed 12 people, and have asked to amend 17 others, the Denver Post reported on Wednesday. The judge in the case has ordered nearly all court filings be sealed, and it was not clear what the additional charges were from a register of court actions, the Denver Post reported. ...


Chef in murder trial said he boiled wife's body for 4 days

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:10 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Los Angeles-area chef charged with murdering his wife, whose body has never been found, told investigators he cooked her corpse for four days in a vat of boiling water to dispose of the remains, tape recordings of his account showed. David Viens, 49, whose lawyers were to begin presenting his defense at trial on Wednesday, made the statements in March 2011 under questioning about the 2009 disappearance of his 39-year-old wife, Dawn. ...

More than two-thirds in U.S. live paycheck to paycheck: survey

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:20 PM PDT

A crowd of onlookers are gathered outside the historic Federal Hall where U.S. President Barack Obama was speaking in the heart of Wall Street in New YorkSAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - More than two-thirds of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the American Payroll Association. The survey of 30,600 people found that 68 percent said it would be somewhat difficult or very difficult if their paychecks were delayed for a week. These results show Americans are still struggling with the recession's effects, the association said. "This study clearly shows that Americans are finding it hard to save," said Dan Maddux, executive director of the San Antonio-based association of payroll managers. ...


NY-NJ Port Authority needs toll hikes: consultants

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:27 PM PDT

(Reuters) - The long-awaited World Trade Center should be finished within its $14.8 billion budget, but the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency rebuilding the site, must raise tolls as it still faces major shortfalls in cash flow in coming years, a consultants' report said on Wednesday. As a result, the Port Authority not only must rely on planned toll increases, but also must find additional ways of raising money - from advertising to public-private partnerships - which could produce about $150 million a year, said consultants at Navigant Consulting Inc and Rothschild Inc. ...

Farm values faring well despite drought devastation

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:41 PM PDT

A corn stalk is seen under the noon sun at Sunburst Dairy near Belleville, Wisconsin(Reuters) - Farmland values appear to be holding strong and farm balance sheets remained solid despite a devastating drought that wreaked havoc on corn and soybean crops, dried up waterways and scorched pastureland, one of the largest lenders for U.S. agriculture said on Wednesday. "We're watching it pretty closely ... but we're certainly bullish on the industry," Roger Sturdevant, executive vice president of Bank of the West and head of its Agribusiness banking division, told Reuters in an interview. ...


California State universities will increase tuition if tax measure fails

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:07 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - The California State University network will raise tuition by 5 percent at its 23 campuses if a November tax measure fails, triggering a $250 million cut to the nation's largest 4-year public university system, its board decided on Wednesday. The contingency decision by the Board of Trustees came as Democratic Governor Jerry Brown campaigns for a November ballot initiative to raise the state's sales tax and personal income tax rates on high-income residents. Approval of that tax measure would prevent further spending cuts, especially in education, in the most populous U. ...

Labor dispute forces NHL to scrap first week of preseason

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:43 PM PDT

A team sign hangs on the side of Rogers Arena home to the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver(Reuters) - The National Hockey League's (NHL) lockout claimed its first casualties as the league said on Wednesday it cancelled the first week of preseason games given the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. The NHL, in the midst of its fourth work stoppage in 20 years, said in a statement that the preseason set to open on September 23 is cancelled through September 30, chopping 60 games off the schedule. A league-wide lockout was imposed by the NHL on the weekend when the previous labor agreement expired with the owners and players at odds over how to divide a $3. ...


Richest Americans' net worth jumps to $1.7 trillion: Forbes

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 12:08 PM PDT

Handout of the cover of the Forbes 400 issueNEW YORK (Reuters) - The net worth of the richest Americans grew by 13 percent in the past year to $1.7 trillion, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday, and a familiar cast populated the top of the annual list, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Larry Ellison and the Koch brothers. The average net worth of the 400 wealthiest Americans rose to a record $4.2 billion, up more than 10 percent from a year ago, while the lowest net worth came in at $1.1 billion versus $1.05 billion last year, the magazine said. Seven in ten of the list's members made their fortunes from scratch. ...


New York grid sees more risk of outages in next decade

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:22 PM PDT

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Coal and nuclear power plant retirements in New York state could lead to transmission and generation problems, increasing the risk of power outages in the next few years, the electric grid operator said in a report on Wednesday. ...

Homeless California man beaten by police cleared posthumously

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:05 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A mentally ill transient who died last year after being beaten and shocked with a stun gun by police in the Southern California town of Fullerton has been posthumously exonerated of any wrongdoing in connection with the confrontation. Fullerton's acting chief of police, Dan Hughes, read a statement at a City Council meeting late on Tuesday clearing Kelly Thomas of suspicion that he did anything to provoke the violent struggle that led to his death. ...

Six million Americans likely to pay healthcare tax in 2016

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 03:38 PM PDT

Bottles of cholesterol drug Zocor are shown as Merck announces plans to cut jobs and close factoriesWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. budget experts raised their forecast on Wednesday of how many Americans will probably have to pay a penalty in 2016 for not buying health insurance to 6 million from 4 million. The 50 percent increase was likely to draw fire from Republicans on the campaign trail who want to repeal President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law and who reject the penalty as a government intrusion into the lives of individuals. ...


Louisiana man arrested in LSU bomb threat case

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:58 AM PDT

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A man has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of Louisiana State University, school police said on Wednesday, but it was unclear whether he was linked to recent threats against other universities. Police said they arrested William Bouvay Jr., 42, of Baton Rouge, in the LSU case late Tuesday on charges of communicating false information of a planned bombing. LSU evacuated buildings on the Baton Rouge campus after receiving a call on Monday warning of multiple bombs. ...

NY-NJ Port Authority needs toll hikes for projects: consultants

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 12:47 PM PDT

(Reuters) - The long-awaited World Trade Center should be finished within its $14.8 billion budget, but the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency rebuilding the site, still faces major shortfalls in cash flow in coming years, a consultants' report said on Wednesday. As a result, the Port Authority not only must rely on planned toll increases, but also must find additional ways of raising money - from advertising to public-private partnerships - which could produce about $150 million a year, said consultants at Navigant Consulting Inc and Rothschild Inc. ...

California State universities may hike tuition if tax measure fails

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 11:08 AM PDT

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - The California State University Board of Trustees was due to vote on Wednesday on a contingency plan to raise tuition by 5 percent at its 23 campuses if a November tax measure fails, triggering a $250 million cut to the system. The vote comes as Jerry Brown, the Democratic governor of the nation's most populous state, is campaigning for a November ballot initiative to raise the state's sales tax and personal income tax rates on high-income residents. ...

Inspector faults federal agents in gun probe, clears Holder

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:02 PM PDT

U.S. Attorney General Holder testifies before a House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on Fast and Furious in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog faulted 14 federal agents and prosecutors on Wednesday for the botched anti-gun-trafficking effort known as "Operation Fast and Furious" but cleared Attorney General Eric Holder of any wrongdoing. The report by the department's inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, prompted two senior officials to leave the government. Congressional Republicans investigating the mismanaged operation had accused Holder of covering it up. ...


Trees no protection for skiers in avalanche zones, expert says

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:46 PM PDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Skiers and snowboarders who believe they are protected from avalanches when they schuss through tree glades could be making a grave mistake, a snow-safety expert said. In fact, skiers and snowboarders are at high risk of dying from avalanches caused by small snow fractures that sweep between trees, said Dale Atkins, president of the American Avalanche Association. ...

U.S. moves release time for key crop reports to midday

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:27 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will begin issuing major agricultural reports at midday, when Chicago trading is in full swing, abandoning the early morning release of the world's most important crop data after almost two decades. After a months-long debate following the adoption of nearly around-the-clock futures trading, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday that from January it would release its market-moving U.S. crop forecasts and five other major reports at noon Eastern Time (11 a.m. Central). ...

California high speed rail segment receives federal approval

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:24 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - The initial segment of California's ambitious $68 billion high speed rail project won the approval of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration on Wednesday, clearing the way for construction to begin in 2013. Federal authorities approved a 65-mile section of track through the state's central agricultural heartland, from Merced to Fresno, after environmental and engineering reviews were completed. ...

Police begin enforcing controversial Arizona immigration measure

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:06 PM PDT

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer listens to a question from a media member about the Supreme Court's decision on SB1070 in Phoenix.PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona police on Wednesday began enforcing a controversial "show-your-papers" provision of a state law targeting illegal immigration as civil rights groups prepared to document allegations of racial profiling. Police in the border state with Mexico are now authorized to begin conducting immigration status checks of anyone they stop for any reason and suspect of being in the country illegally after a federal judge on Tuesday lifted an injunction against the provision requiring such checks. The measure, upheld by the U.S. ...


Colorado man awarded $7.2 mill in "popcorn lung" lawsuit

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:05 PM PDT

DENVER (Reuters) - A U.S. federal court jury on Wednesday awarded a Colorado man $7.2 million in damages for developing a chronic condition known as popcorn lung from a chemical used in flavoring microwave popcorn. Jurors agreed with the claims by Wayne Watson, 59, that the popcorn manufacturer and the supermarket chain that sold it were negligent by failing to warn on labels that the butter flavoring, diacetyl, was dangerous. The condition is a form of obstructive lung disease that makes it difficult for air to flow out of the lungs and is irreversible, according to WebMd. ...

Key facts in 'Fast and Furious' gun-probe controversy

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:50 PM PDT

(Reuters) - A failed attempt to stem gun smuggling along the U.S.-Mexican border was back in the news on Wednesday with the release of a report from the Justice Department's internal watchdog that cleared Attorney General Eric Holder of any wrongdoing. However, two senior department officials have left their jobs. Following are some facts about the case: Congressional Republicans have pressed the controversy over the so-called Operation Fast and Furious ahead of Democratic President Barack Obama's bid for re-election on November 6. ...

Louisiana man arrested in university bomb threat case

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:12 PM PDT

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - A man has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of Louisiana State University, but he does not appear to be linked to recent threats against other universities, school police said on Wednesday. William Bouvay, 42, of Baton Rouge, was arrested late on Tuesday on charges of communicating false information of a planned bombing, the university police said. LSU's Baton Rouge campus was evacuated after receiving a phone call on Monday warning of multiple bombs. ...

Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman: report

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT

File of Colorado shooting suspect Holmes making his first court appearance in AuroraDENVER (Reuters) - Prosecutors have filed a motion to add 10 new charges against accused Colorado gunman James Holmes, arrested following the July movie theater shootings that killed 12 people, and have asked to amend 17 others, the Denver Post reported on Wednesday. The judge in the case has ordered nearly all court filings be sealed, and it was not clear what the additional charges were from a register of court actions, the Denver Post reported. ...


Ads criticizing "Jihad" bound for New York City subway stations

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 04:29 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As Muslim countries reverberate with fierce protests over a film mocking the Prophet Mohammad, an ad equating Islamic jihad with savagery is due to appear next week in 10 New York City subway stations despite transit officials' efforts to block it. The city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority had refused the ads, citing a policy against demeaning language. The American Freedom Defense Initiative, which is behind the ad campaign, then sued and won a favorable ruling from a U.S. judge in Manhattan. ...

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