| Arkansas governor urges changes to religious objection bill Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:53 AM PDT  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday called for changes to a religious-objection measure that provoked a backlash from businesses and gay-rights groups, saying it was not intended to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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| Iraq declares victory over Islamic State group in Tikrit Posted: 01 Apr 2015 07:04 AM PDT  TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) — Iraq declared a "magnificent victory" Wednesday over the Islamic State group in Tikrit, a key step in driving the militants out of their biggest strongholds.
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| Iran nuke talks stumble a day after missing deal deadline Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:44 AM PDT  Iran and six world powers are pressing ahead with efforts to hammer out a framework accord.
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| Getty oil heir found dead in Los Angeles home Posted: 01 Apr 2015 02:53 AM PDT  The grandson of billionaire Getty oil founder J. Paul Getty was found dead on Tuesday afternoon at his home in Los Angeles, the family said in a statement. Andrew Getty's parents, Ann and Gordon, confirmed the 47-year-old's death and requested privacy for the family during "this extremely difficult time", adding that further details would be released as they became available. Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Commander Andrew Smith said it was very early in the investigation and witnesses were being questioned, but no one was in custody. The death appeared to be either accidental or natural, Los Angeles County Coroner's Office spokesman Ed Winter told reporters in a news conference broadcast by TV station KTLA 5.
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| Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell hospitalized Posted: 31 Mar 2015 11:10 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joni Mitchell was in intensive care in a Los Angeles-area hospital on Tuesday, according to the Twitter account and website of the folk singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
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| Exclusive: Republican White House hopefuls attack Obamacare but take money Posted: 31 Mar 2015 10:10 PM PDT  By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several Republican governors likely to run for president have secured hundreds millions of dollars under Obamacare while working to dismantle the healthcare law, according to a Reuters review of federal spending records. Governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Texas Governor Rick Perry, all staunch opponents of President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, have collectively applied for and won at least $352 million through grant programs set up by the law, federal records show. "Receiving federal grants that existed prior to the ACA is not the same as participating in the core elements of the ACA." The money in question stems from less controversial parts of the law that enhance public health and other nuts-and-bolts programs, rather than the insurance exchanges and expansion of the Medicaid program for the poor that have drawn fierce opposition from Republicans.
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| Arkansas governor rejects bill after pressure over gay discrimination Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:53 AM PDT  By Steve Barnes LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - Republican Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday rejected a religion bill he had said he would sign into law, reversing course after a firestorm of criticism assailing such legislation as discriminating against gays and lesbians. In a news conference at the Capitol in Little Rock, Hutchinson said he was sending the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) back to the Republican-controlled legislature to be rewritten to better balance tolerance for diversity and protections of religious freedom. The governor said his own son had asked him to veto it, adding a personal element to the intense pressure to reject the bill he had already faced from businesses such as Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's biggest retailer. While Hutchinson spoke, scores of protesters outside waved the rainbow flag of the gay rights movement.
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| California governor orders 25 percent reduction in water usage statewide Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:29 AM PDT California Governor Jerry Brown, acting as the state enters the fourth year of a record-breaking drought, on Wednesday ordered a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water usage for cities and towns. Brown said the move, which comes as California reports its lowest snowpack levels on record and is a first of its kind in California, would save some 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months. We're just doing it through the different water districts." Brown last week signed emergency legislation that fast-tracks over $1 billion in funding for drought relief and water infrastructure within the parched state. The proposed legislation would appropriate more than $1 billion in voter-approved bond funds to speed up water projects and programs and provide aid to struggling California cities and communities.The state is entering the fourth year of record-breaking drought that has prompted officials to sharply reduce water supplies to farmers and impose strict conservation measures statewide. |
| World's oldest person dies at 117 Posted: 01 Apr 2015 12:10 AM PDT  TOKYO (AP) — The world's oldest person has died nearly a month after celebrating her 117th birthday.
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| Lavrov, Zarif claim breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks Posted: 31 Mar 2015 09:59 PM PDT  Russia and Iran's foreign ministers claimed a breakthrough early Wednesday in talks on a framework deal curtailing Tehran's nuclear programme, but the US said not all issues had been agreed yet, as discussions were suspended for the night. "One can say with relative certainty that we at the minister level have reached an agreement in principle on all key aspects of the final settlement of this issue," Russian media quoted Sergei Lavrov as saying at talks in Switzerland. This came after Russia's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of five other major powers and Iran continued working through the night as they missed a midnight (2200 GMT) deadline to agree the main outlines of what they hope will be an historic accord. The powers hope a full agreement, due to be finalised by June 30, will see Iran scale back its nuclear capability to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian programme.
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