Obama, first family attend boisterous Easter service

Obama, first family attend boisterous Easter service
Gunman in Kenyan massacre was government official's son
Pope, thousands brave rain for Easter in St. Peter's Square
Wisconsin ends Kentucky's bid for an undefeated season
Many Iranian expats in California have doubts about nuclear deal
Dozens arrested near University of Kentucky after Final Four loss
Man in custody after human remains found in bag near MIT campus
Gay rights rally goes to Indianapolis NCAA Final Four site
Mormons vow support for traditional marriage
AP PHOTOS: Christians celebrate Easter across the world
Pope condemns indifference to jihadist atrocities against Christians
Zarif stresses benefits to Iran of framework nuclear deal
Rains hit South, Midwest; woman killed in flood
Exclusive: Jason Collins on Indiana's RFRA

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 10:51 AM PDT

President Barack Obama attended a spirited Easter service at a historic black church on Sunday, in keeping with the first family's tradition of visiting local Washington area congregations. The president, his wife Michelle and their two teenaged daughters attended the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, its pews filled with congregants who could barely contain their excitement over the visit. "How fitting that on the day we celebrate the rising of our Lord and Savior, we also welcome our sitting president," Pastor Howard-John Wesley said to applause from enthusiastic worshippers, whom he urged to keep their cellphones in their pockets and purses. The Resurrection is indeed real," read the message, retweeted by the Alfred Baptist Church from its own Twitter account.

Gunman in Kenyan massacre was government official's son

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 11:29 AM PDT

Authorities identify him as the son of a government official.

Pope, thousands brave rain for Easter in St. Peter's Square

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 08:19 AM PDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.

Wisconsin ends Kentucky's bid for an undefeated season

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 08:22 PM PDT

The Badgers shocked the Wildcats in the national semifinals and avenged their Final Four loss from a year ago.

Many Iranian expats in California have doubts about nuclear deal

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 02:54 PM PDT

By Daina Beth Solomon LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Many members of the Los Angeles-area Iranian community, the largest in the United States, are skeptical about a preliminary nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, even though a pact could end decades of international isolation for their homeland. The prevailing sentiment in part reflects the history of the Southern California's Iranian community, made up of those in the earliest wave of migration after Iran's 1979 revolution. Many are still distrustful of the Iranian government. A rollback of U.S. sanctions, which have contributed to Iran's skyrocketing inflation and inability to obtain Western medical supplies, will do little to improve the lives of ordinary people, many expatriates say.

Dozens arrested near University of Kentucky after Final Four loss

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 10:14 AM PDT

(Reuters) - Thirty-one people were arrested overnight near the University of Kentucky after the school's previously undefeated men's basketball team was knocked out the NCAA's Final Four tournament in a semi-final loss to Wisconsin, police said on Sunday. Hundreds of fans flooded the streets around the school's Lexington, Kentucky campus after the Wisconsin Badgers stunned the No. 1-ranked Wildcats with a 71-64 win in Indianapolis. Kentucky had been a favorite to win the tournament. Those arrested face charges including public intoxication and disorderly conduct, Lexington Police Sgt. Scott May said.

Man in custody after human remains found in bag near MIT campus

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 09:47 AM PDT

(Reuters) - A man was in custody on Sunday in connection with the discovery of human remains found in a duffel bag about a half-mile from the Cambridge campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, law enforcement authorities say.

Gay rights rally goes to Indianapolis NCAA Final Four site

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 04:18 PM PDT

Hundreds of people calling for Indiana to add protections for gays and lesbians to the state's civil-rights laws marched through downtown Indianapolis Saturday, attracting the attention basketball fans attending the NCAA Final Four, some of whom offered the protesters cheers of support. The march came two days after Indiana lawmakers responded to an uproar over a new religious objections law and tweaked the law to address concerns that it would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. We're good now, right?'' he told crowd, which shouted back ''no!'' Dorsey then led the gathering in chanting ''Hoosiers don't discriminate! - No more Band-Aids masking hate!'' as they began a march that carried them several blocks past the city's business district, bars and restaurants to the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of this year's men's Final Four.

Mormons vow support for traditional marriage

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 07:28 PM PDT

The church's leaders want to push the belief that marriage is an institution exclusive to a man and a woman.

AP PHOTOS: Christians celebrate Easter across the world

Posted: 05 Apr 2015 11:38 AM PDT

Christians in the Holy Land and across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

Pope condemns indifference to jihadist atrocities against Christians

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 03:43 PM PDT

Pope Francis condemned indifference and "complicit silence" to jihadist attacks on Christians as he presided over Easter ceremonies in the wake of a massacre of nearly 150 people at a Kenyan university by Shebab Islamists. The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics brought up the extremist persecution of Christians as the holiest ceremonies of the Church calendar reached a climax Sunday, when believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The Vatican has increasingly voiced frustration that attacks on Christians in places such as Iraq, Libya, Pakistan and Nigeria have not been more strongly condemned by Muslim authorities and Western governments.

Zarif stresses benefits to Iran of framework nuclear deal

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 03:07 PM PDT

All sanctions to Iran's nuclear program will be lifted if a final deal is agreed.

Rains hit South, Midwest; woman killed in flood

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 02:40 PM PDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky was swamped by wave after wave of heavy rain, unleashing flash flooding that killed a woman, stranded a school bus and forced more than 160 rescues in Louisville.

Exclusive: Jason Collins on Indiana's RFRA

Posted: 04 Apr 2015 09:56 PM PDT

The former basketball player - in Indianapolis to cover the Final Four for Yahoo Sports - gives his thoughts on the state's controversial act and its recent amendment.