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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Trump blames 'both sides' for Virginia violence as many Republicans balk

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump inflamed tension after a deadly rally by white nationalists in Virginia by insisting that counter protesters were also to blame, drawing condemnation from some Republican leaders and praise from white supremacists.

Army helicopter with 5 aboard crashes off Hawaii - US Coast Guard

(Reuters) - Rescue teams searched for a downed Army Black Hawk helicopter with five crew members aboard that was last reported off the west coast of Hawaii, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday.

U.N. experts condemn racist violence in U.S., urge investigations

GENEVA (Reuters) - United Nations human rights experts called on the United States on Wednesday to combat rising racist violence and xenophobia and to prosecute perpetrators of hate crimes.

Confederate monuments removed in Baltimore: media

(Reuters) - Work crews took down four Confederate monuments in Baltimore overnight into Wednesday, days after white nationalists led a deadly protest over the planned removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump-backed candidate for Senate heads to Alabama run-off

(Reuters) - A Republican candidate backed by President Donald Trump for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama is expected to finish a distant second in a primary election on Tuesday, but will still have enough votes to advance to a run-off, local news projected.

Texas 'bathroom bill' dies in special legislative session

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas measures criticized as being discriminatory for limiting transgender people's access to bathrooms in schools and public buildings died on Tuesday, as the House adjourned and ended its special legislative session.

Lincoln Memorial in Washington defaced with expletive

(Editor's note: Please be advised that paragraph 2 contains language that some readers may find offensive)

Texas governor signs bill to limit insurance coverage for abortions

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Republican governor of Texas signed into law on Tuesday a measure that will restrict insurance coverage for abortions, compelling women to buy a supplemental plan if they want coverage for the procedure.

End of U.S. payments to health insurers would cause premiums to rise: CBO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health insurance premiums for many customers on the Obamacare individual insurance markets would be 20 percent higher in 2018 if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on a threat to stop billions of dollars of payments to health insurers, a nonpartisan congressional office said on Tuesday.

U.S. cities step up removal of Confederate statues, despite Virginia violence

(Reuters) - Undeterred by violence over the planned removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, state and city leaders across various U.S. southern states said this week they would step up efforts to pull such monuments from public spaces.