National News - Las Vegas Sun

Associated Press: National News

28 minutes ago

(AP) An Uzbekistan national charged with threatening the life of President Barack Obama is now accused of providing aid to terrorism.Federal prosecutors in Alabama filed the new charge Thursday against 22-year-old Ulugbek Kodirov, who was indicted last year in Birmingham.The charge accuses Kodirov of acquiring weapons and explosives that were intended ...

Purple Squirrel spotted by central Pa. couple

1 hour, 2 minutes ago

(AP) A couple in central Pennsylvania found a very unusual critter in their backyard _ a purple squirrel.Percy Emert said he and his wife, Connie, have cage-like traps in their yard to keep squirrels away from the bird feeders. Percy Emery then releases the squirrels into the woods away from his ...

Okla. state work in trouble over off-color email

1 hour, 2 minutes ago

(AP) A state worker is facing disciplinary action after sending an official email to hundreds of people Thursday that contained an off-color term for breasts, the Oklahoma Insurance Department said.The email was sent as the agency searched for people to honor at a tornado preparedness meeting.The email with "offensive and unacceptable ...

Guilty plea anticipated in NY newborn kidnap case

1 hour, 2 minutes ago

(AP) A prosecutor in a case against a North Carolina woman accused of snatching a newborn from a New York City hospital more than two decades ago says she will plead guilty Friday to criminal charges.Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Surratt (suh-RAT') told a judge Thursday the plea will take place as ...

Health

For pregnant women with cancer, chemo possible

1 hour, 20 minutes ago

(AP) Researchers have encouraging news for women who find themselves in a very frightening situation: having cancer while pregnant. Studies suggest that these women can be treated almost the same as other cancer patients are, with minimal risk to the fetus.Only about 1 in 1,000 pregnant women face this dilemma, but ...

For pregnant women with cancer, chemo possible

1 hour, 20 minutes ago

General

Bus driver suing in firing over Confederate flag

1 hour, 35 minutes ago

(AP) A school bus company has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by an Oregon driver fired for refusing to take a Confederate battle flag off his pickup truck while parked on school property.A lawyer for First Student Inc. argued Thursday that the flag was not political speech ...

Women at war: Most changes are in Army, Marines

2 hours, 8 minutes ago

(AP) Some examples of changes for women in the military:ARMYAmong the jobs that will be opened to women for the first time are tank and armored troop carrier mechanic, artillery radar operator and rocket launcher crewmember.NAVYMinimal change. Eighty-eight percent of positions already are open to women. Existing restrictions are based mostly ...

Some states stay with education law, cite politics

2 hours, 8 minutes ago

(AP) Some of the nation's largest states are questioning whether the Obama administration's offer to let them escape certain mandates of the No Child Left Behind law is a helping hand to improve education or a means to impose more federal control.On Thursday, the administration freed 10 states from the strict ...

Technology

Scientists say NASA cutting missions to Mars

2 hours, 43 minutes ago

(AP) Scientists say NASA is about to propose major cuts in its exploration of other planets, especially Mars. And NASA's former science chief is calling it irrational.With limited money for science and an over-budget new space telescope, the space agency essentially had to make a choice in where it wanted to ...

General

Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'

3 hours, 19 minutes ago

(AP) The Washington state social worker who was supposed to supervise a visit between Josh Powell and his young sons says Powell told his oldest boy he had a "surprise" for him moments before attacking and killing the children.Elizabeth Griffin-Hall said in an interview to air on ABC's "20/20" on Friday ...

Va. moves forward to let agencies bar gay adoption

3 hours, 55 minutes ago

(AP) The Virginia state Senate passed legislation Thursday allowing private adoption agencies to deny placements that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality.The mostly party-line 22-18 vote virtually ensures the Republican-backed bill will become law. The House of Delegates has an identical version of the bill and ...

Judge: Firing for lactation not sex discrimination

4 hours, 27 minutes ago

(AP) A federal judge's ruling against a Houston mother who says she was fired after asking for a place to pump breast milk has highlighted a question left unanswered by higher courts: Is firing a woman because she wants to pump at work sexual discrimination?In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Lynn ...

Fla. mogul, facing trial, adopts his girlfriend

5 hours, 2 minutes ago

(AP) The story already had people's attention: A multimillionaire polo magnate was accused of causing a drunken-driving wreck that killed a young man. But now, with his criminal trial approaching, a strange twist has raised even more eyebrows: He has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend.Critics say it is an attempt by John ...

UN honors scouts for orangutan-saving project

6 hours, 8 minutes ago

(AP) The U.N. is honoring two 16-year-old Girl Scouts for their work aimed at saving orangutans from extinction.Madison Vorva, of Plymouth, Michigan, and Rhiannon Tomtishen, of nearby Ann Arbor, on Thursday received the first ever International Forest Heroes Award for North America.The Union of Concerned Scientists nominated the girls for bringing ...