U.S. News Headlines

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon's civilian and military leaders warned in dire terms on Tuesday that $46 billion in budget cuts due to go into effect in two weeks would erode the nation's ability to go to war and appealed to Congress to delay the reductions. The automatic, across-the-board cuts will force the Pentagon …

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - A 34-year-old gunman was expected to face criminal charges in Minnesota on Tuesday after killing a 9-year-old boy and wounding two women when he opened fire on motorists in a St. Paul suburb, authorities said. Police in Oakdale, Minnesota, said the attacker, whose name was not immediately released, …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two University of Maryland students died early on Tuesday in an apparent murder-suicide shooting, and a third was wounded in the incident, police said. The shooting began shortly after the gunman set a fire around 1 a.m. in the basement of his house near the campus in College Park. When his two roommates …

DETROIT (Reuters) - Several labor unions filed a lawsuit in federal court on Monday, saying a Michigan law banning compulsory union membership for private sector employees violates the U.S. Constitution. The right-to-work law, which goes into effect in late March, contains provisions that go "well beyond" the limits of …

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Two reputed members of a Chicago street gang were charged on Monday in the murder of a 15-year-old girl who was gunned down days after performing with her high school band at inauguration festivities for President Barack Obama, police said. The slaying of Hadiya Pendleton on January 29, eight days after …

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An athletic American foxhound, a little black affenpinscher, a fluffy white bichon frise and a shaggy old English sheepdog won best in group at the 137th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday, advancing to the best in show competition on Tuesday. Judges picked the best in the hound, toy, …

(Reuters) - An Indiana company has won temporary court relief from having to provide its employees with coverage for contraceptives and other birth-control procedures, as mandated under the 2010 healthcare overhaul. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago issued an injunction pending appeal …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mark Balelo, a Southern California auction house owner featured on the reality television show "Storage Wars," was found dead at his place of business on Monday, the Ventura County coroner's office said. He was 40. Balelo, whose company, Balelo Inc, specialized in asset liquidations and closeout …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday awarded former Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. award for valor in combat, for leading a few dozen soldiers to fight off an attack by hundreds of Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Obama placed the blue-and-white decoration around …

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A federal judge has overturned an Arizona law that sought to block funding through the state for Planned Parenthood's healthcare clinics because the group also performs abortions. U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake ruled that the controversial measure signed into law last May by Arizona Governor Jan …

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A union-led summit to address Illinois' unfunded pension liabilities ended on Monday without any deals or significant breakthroughs, according to elected officials from both sides of the aisle who attended the event. The summit, organized by a coalition of unions that represents public workers, drew …

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A woman charged in Arizona with capital murder for stabbing and shooting her lover to death laid out in graphic detail on Monday what she said was the first time she had sex with him, an experience she said began while she was still asleep and left her concerned about her spiritual health. Lawyers for …

ARLINGTON, Texas (Reuters) - Thousands of people gathered at Cowboys Stadium on Monday to remember former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who was killed at a shooting range by an Iraq War veteran he tried to help. Kyle, 38, was considered the deadliest sniper in American military history. He served four combat tours of duty …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A former Los Angeles Catholic archbishop who was stripped of all public duties after being linked to efforts to conceal child sex abuse by priests said on Monday he planned to participate in the process to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. The announcement by Cardinal Roger Mahony, which angered …

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - A gunman stalking a woman in a long running custody dispute opened fire in a courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday and in the ensuing gun battle with police two women and the gunman were killed, authorities said. The women were approaching metal detectors at New Castle County Courthouse …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Detectives were pursuing some 600 clues in their hunt for an ex-police officer suspected of killing three people, Los Angeles police officials said on Monday, a day after a $1 million reward was posted for information leading to the wanted man's capture. Christopher Dorner, 33, has not been spotted …

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Police say they are questioning two "persons of interest" in the murder of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton and could file charges as early as Monday evening. Pendleton was shot and killed January 29, eight days after performing with her high school band at President Barack Obama's inauguration. …

TUPELO, Mississippi (Reuters) - Authorities were cleaning up and assessing the damage on Monday after a number of tornadoes and severe weather tore through nine Mississippi counties, injuring dozens of people as homes and other buildings were torn apart. Governor Phil Bryant said at least 63 people were injured and about …