FBI says thwarted Islamic State-inspired attacks on July 4

FBI says thwarted Islamic State-inspired attacks on July 4
John Boehner calls for 'adult' debate about Confederate symbols
Jenny Horne delivers emotional speech stirring Confederate flag vote
New delay complicates U.S. ability to implement Iran nuke deal
South Carolina House approves bill removing Confederate flag
Congress deadline looming, Kerry says U.S. in no rush to get Iran deal
Beyond 'To Kill a Mockingbird': The lost novel of Harper Lee
Confederate flag coming down in South Carolina after wrenching debate
Same-sex couples to get federal marriage benefits: attorney general

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT

U.S. authorities thwarted plots to kill people in the United States around the July 4 holiday, FBI Director James Comey said on Thursday. Comey told reporters more than 10 people inspired by the Islamic State's recruitment online have been arrested over the past four weeks, some of which were focused on attacks around the July 4 holiday. FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to local law enforcement to be on alert for attacks around July 4.

John Boehner calls for 'adult' debate about Confederate symbols

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 11:07 AM PDT

House Speaker John Boehner called for an "adult" debate over the display of the Confederate flag over a measure Republicans put forward to continue to permit its display at certain National Park Service-run cemeteries.

Jenny Horne delivers emotional speech stirring Confederate flag vote

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 08:46 AM PDT

The South Carolina House voted in the wee hours of Thursday morning to approve a bill removing the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds following a contentious debate that lasted more than 13 hours. But it was a fiery 4-minute speech by Rep. Jenny Horne, a Republican state representative and descendant of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, that is being credited with moving her fellow lawmakers to agree to take it down.

New delay complicates U.S. ability to implement Iran nuke deal

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT

VIENNA (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signaled Thursday that diplomats won't conclude an Iran nuclear agreement by early Friday morning, conceding another delay that this time could complicate American efforts to quickly implement any deal.

South Carolina House approves bill removing Confederate flag

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 12:08 AM PDT

It's a stunning reversal in a state that was the first to leave the Union in 1860 and raised the flag again at its Statehouse more than 50 years ago to protest the civil rights movement.

Congress deadline looming, Kerry says U.S. in no rush to get Iran deal

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT

Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear agreement on Thursday that could resolve a more than 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Beyond 'To Kill a Mockingbird': The lost novel of Harper Lee

Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:13 AM PDT

Katie Couric takes a closer look at what many are calling the biggest book event of the decade, the July 14 publication of Harper Lee's long lost first novel Go Set a Watchman.

Confederate flag coming down in South Carolina after wrenching debate

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 11:13 AM PDT

By Harriet McLeod COLUMBIA, S.C. (Reuters) - South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley pledged to sign legislation on Thursday permanently removing the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol grounds, following an emotional debate spurred by the massacre of nine black churchgoers last month. In Washington, Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives abruptly canceled a vote on a measure that would allow the flag to be flown in cemeteries operated by the National Park Service, after an outcry by opponents. "It's about time people came to the realization of what that flag represents to us as African-Americans, and that's slavery." He and his wife, Esther, watched the South Carolina House of Representatives debate of the bill on television until the wee hours of the morning.

Same-sex couples to get federal marriage benefits: attorney general

Posted: 09 Jul 2015 07:01 AM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal marriage benefits will be made available to same-sex couples across the United States after last month's Supreme Court ruling, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Thursday.