All USA Update
Marijuana defense claimed as friend of Boston bombing suspect goes on trialThe defense for Robel Phillipos, who allegedly saw friends removing evidence from the accused Boston Marathon bomber's dorm room, argued Phillipos lied to investigators because his state of mind was impaired after smoking marijuana.
US poor and middle class give more to charity, but wealthy pull backEven though middle- and lower-income Americans were earning less in 2012 than in 2006, they increased the amount they gave to charity by 4.5 percent, according to a new report from The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Facebook promises stricter research guidelines. Can users take it at its word?In the wake of the controversial Facebook emotional experiment, the social media giant has announced it will reform its research policies. But it is short on specifics on how the policies will change.
New York City bill seeks to stop federal immigration 'dragnet'A New York City Council bill announced Thursday would put strict conditions on when the city would hand over people to federal immigration authorities.
Facebook apologizes to LGBT community over real-name policyResponding to widespread protests, Facebook ended its crackdown on accounts from people not using their real names. Meanwhile, new social media site, Ello, reaches out to LGBTQ community to move their accounts.
Portland Christmas tree bomber gets 30 years as questions about arrest lingerThe case of Mohamed Osman Mohamud, who attempted to detonate a fake bomb at a Portland Christmas tree lighting ceremony four years ago, comes as domestic terrorism appears to be shifting. The sort of FBI sting that snared him, however, will continue.
California becomes first in nation to ban plastic bags at storesCalifornia Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law Tuesday legislation that will prohibit large grocery stores from offering single-use plastic bags to consumers, starting next July. Other restrictions will also phase in.
Detroit bankruptcy judge says he can't stop water shutoffsDetroit's bankruptcy judge says he can't prevent homes from having their water shut off, if they can't pay their bills. Critics call the shutoffs a public-health crisis that disproportionately affects children, the poor, and the elderly.
Ferguson charging media high fees to obtain documents, as tensions flareMedia outlets have requested information from Ferguson officials under the state's Sunshine Act. Meanwhile, eight protesters were arrested Sunday evening.
Ferguson police officer shot amid new gunfire in tense Missouri townA police officer in Ferguson, Mo., was shot in the arm Saturday night. Officials say the incident was not connected to protests related to the Michael Brown shooting. But it speaks to the nature of Ferguson's crime problems.
Flights begin to resume, after Chicago fire disrupts air travel across nationMore than a thousand flights were canceled from Chicago to Dallas, after a deliberately set fire in an FAA facility near Chicago shut down flights at the nation's busiest airport.
Los Angeles, San Francisco threaten ride-sharing companies with legal actionWhile San Francisco and Los Angeles threatened ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft with legal action this week, Austin, Texas has taken steps to make the companies legal.
FBI: New Apple, Google phones too secure, could put users 'beyond the law'FBI Director James Comey said Thursday that steps taken by Google and Apple could be putting customer privacy above public safety.
Surfers win out over billionaire in California beach rulingVenture capitalist Vinod Khosla has been locked in a land dispute with surfers and local residents over his blocking access to a stretch of beach in northern California. For now, things aren't going the billionaire's way.
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart cleared of criminal charges in track accidentA grand jury in Ontario County, N.Y., has decided that three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will not face criminal charges after the fatal accident involving sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she has no plans to retire soonIn a rare interview with Elle Magazine, 21-year Supreme Court veteran Ruth Bader Ginsberg explained why she doesn't plan on going anywhere.
Will Illinois be 17th state to decriminalize marijuana? Rahm Emanuel in favor.Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called on Illinois state lawmakers Tuesday to reduce penalties for marijuana possession, a move that mirrors a national trend toward more-lenient pot laws.
In wake of fatal bear attack in New Jersey, how often do humans meet bears?A Rutgers University student who was killed in an attack by a black bear has prompted questions about how common such attacks are and what the best way is to stay safe in the event of a human-bear confrontation.
Do Hillary Clinton's 'radical letters' actually reveal her inner pragmatist?A correspondence between Hillary Clinton and the activist Saul Alinsky sheds light on bits of personal history GOP strategists may focus on in a potential 2016 presidential run. But his biographer says Alinsky was 'relentlessly non-ideological.'
Rand Paul opens San Francisco area office. Preparing for 2016?Rand Paul will open an office in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is challenging the 'idiots and trolls' in Washington – a move that smacks of courting big Silicon Valley money for a potential 2016 presidential bid.
