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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Unrelenting California wildfire threatens thousands of homes

VENTURA, Calif. (Reuters) - An unrelenting wildfire fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds threatened more than 12,000 homes in and around Ventura, California, on Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to race for safety.

Growing length of U.S. freight trains in federal crosshairs after crashes: GAO

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The investigative arm of the U.S. Congress is launching a probe into the safety of increasingly long freight trains being operated by CSX Corp , Union Pacific Corp and other major U.S. railroads to boost profitability, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said.

Trump ally Bannon campaigns for Moore in Alabama

(Reuters) - A day after President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama, Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon campaigned in the state, telling a crowd that allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore were part of a smear campaign to keep him from office.

Pivotal Justice Kennedy poses tough questions in gay wedding case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared sharply divided in the closely watched case of a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, with pivotal Justice Anthony Kennedy voicing concerns about endorsing discrimination against gay people but also about anti-religious bias.

Illegal immigrant indicted on federal charges after San Francisco murder acquittal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A grand jury on Tuesday indicted on federal charges an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was acquitted last week of murder by a San Francisco jury, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

Turkish gold trader says he paid $45,000 bribe to U.S. prison guard

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Turkish-Iranian gold trader testifying in the trial of a Turkish banker accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions said on Tuesday that he paid a $45,000 bribe to a U.S. prison guard to obtain alcohol and use the guard's phone.

Ex-police officer shot South Carolina motorist after struggle: defense

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - Defense experts at the sentencing hearing for a white former police officer who killed an unarmed black man in South Carolina said on Tuesday that cellphone video indicated the two men struggled over the patrolman's stun gun before the shooting.

Interior secretary urges size cuts, management changes to more monuments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Tuesday recommended President Donald Trump reduce the size and change the management of more national monuments in the western United States, and lashed out at critics of cuts already announced to protected areas in Utah.

U.S. Justice Department considers possible 'bump stocks' ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday that it is considering a possible ban on certain bump stocks, the attachments that make semiautomatic rifles fire faster and were used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas in October.

Uber investor Pishevar takes leave of absence amid misconduct claims

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar, known for his early bet on Uber, said on Tuesday he was taking a leave of absence from his venture capital firm and the startup he co-founded to fight allegations of sexual harassment.

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