Immigration bill gets Senate boost; House effort teetering
WASHINGTON - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval.
Oklahoma tornado victims astounded at how they survived
MOORE, Oklahoma - Tornado survivors thanked God, sturdy closets and luck in explaining how they lived through the colossal twister that devastated an Oklahoma town and killed 24 people, an astonishingly low toll given the extent of destruction. | Video
FBI says man shot dead while being questioned about Boston bombings
ORLANDO, Fla./WASHINGTON - An FBI agent shot and killed a man of Chechen origin who turned violent while being questioned on Wednesday about his connection to Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of two Chechen brothers suspected of carrying out the Boston Marathon bombings.
Accused Fort Hood shooter asks to fire lawyers, represent self
SAN ANTONIO - Accused Fort Hood shooting spree gunman Major Nidal Hasan asked a U.S. military judge on Wednesday for permission to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself at his court martial, a Fort Hood spokesman said.
Army sergeant accused of videotaping female cadets in shower
WASHINGTON - An Army sergeant at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has been accused of videotaping female cadets in the shower, a defense official said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of sex-related incidents that has rocked the military.
Jury says cannot decide if Arias should get death; judge says keep deliberating
PHOENIX - Convicted killer Jodi Arias feels betrayed by an Arizona jury that found her guilty of murdering her ex-boyfriend, according to an interview aired on Wednesday shortly before that same jury became deadlocked over whether to sentence her to death.
Liberal Democrat wins Los Angeles mayor's race
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti, elected mayor in a race shaped by dire fiscal constraints and questions of how to tame runaway budget deficits, declared victory on Wednesday by tweeting "the hard work begins."
Los Angeles voters approve limiting medical marijuana shops
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles, which has more storefront medical marijuana shops than any other U.S. city, will close hundreds of the dispensaries and hike taxes on those that will be allowed to remain under a ballot measure approved by a wide margin of voters.
Chicago board votes to close 50 schools
CHICAGO - The Chicago Board of Education voted on Wednesday to close 50 schools - including about 10 percent of all elementary schools in the largest mass school closing in the nation.
Caesars plans to launch online poker this summer in Nevada
LOS ANGELES - Caesars Entertainment Group said it plans to go live this summer with an online poker site in Nevada, the only U.S. state so far to offer legal Internet gambling, and will promote the nascent service to thousands of poker players at its World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament in Las Vegas starting May 29.
McCain, Biden coming together for Sedona, Arizona forum
These days Washington is not known for bipartisanship, but every now and then a breakthrough is made. It is noteworthy that Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Senator John McCain, a Republican, are appearing together at a forum in Sedona, Arizona on Friday.



