Boy Scouts of America votes to end century-old ban on gay scouts
GRAPEVINE, Texas - The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a century-old ban on openly gay scouts in a major victory for gay rights activists, but the decision means a sea of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups.
Part of Washington state freeway span collapses into river: dispatcher
- Part of a freeway bridge over the Skagit River in Washington state collapsed on Thursday, sending vehicles falling into the water below, an emergency dispatcher said.
Obama in heated exchanges with Code Pink anti-war protester
WASHINGTON - The woman who interrupted President Barack Obama's speech on counterterrorism policy on Thursday is well-known around Washington as a perennial protester on national security issues.
Obama orders review of guidelines for probing journalists
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he directed Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a review of Department of Justice guidelines for investigations that involve journalists and report back by early July.
Pentagon sees doubled cost for rocket launch program
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon on Thursday told Congress that a recent restructuring of its heavy rocket launch program to add 60 more launches and extend the schedule for a decade would more than double the program's projected cost to $70.7 billion.
Arizona jury fails to decide if Jodi Arias should be executed
PHOENIX - An Arizona jury failed on Thursday to reach a unanimous verdict on whether Jodi Arias should be put to death for the murder of her ex-boyfriend, prompting the judge to order a rerun of the sentencing phase of the trial.
Lawyers in Colorado shooting case challenge insanity defense law
CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Lawyers for accused Colorado movie theater gunman James Holmes argued on Thursday the state's insanity defense law was unconstitutional because it forces him to cooperate with court-appointed psychiatrists or forfeit the right to raise mental-health issues at sentencing.
Row between U.S. agencies over Texas plant explosion deepens
- A dispute between government agencies over the investigation into the deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant intensified on Thursday when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives hit back after being criticized by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB).
Father of Chechen shot by FBI says he thinks son was tortured
GROZNY, Russia - The father of a Chechen immigrant killed during questioning over his links with one of the Boston Marathon bombings suspects said on Thursday he plans to travel to the United States where he thinks his son was tortured and killed.
Lawsuits seek more than U.S. acknowledgement of drone killings
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is facing demands in court to reveal more about the U.S. drone program, despite his speech addressing it on Thursday and his government's acknowledgement a day earlier that four Americans have died in drone strikes.
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.



