Columbiana

Connecticut governor eyes economic investments amid fiscal crisis

By Hilary Russ HARTFORD (Reuters) - Connecticut, one of the wealthiest states in the nation, also has some of the highest debt levels and its capital city of Hartford is facing potential bankruptcy. Now, the state faces a fiscal crisis. Governor Dannel Malloy, a second-term Democrat who is not seeking reelection, discussed with Reuters tough decisions he has wrestled with to address a fiscal calamity decades in the making.

Americans wish for luck in $700-million Powerball lottery jackpot

The odds against wining are astronomical, but millions of Americans will be hoping for some life-altering luck on Wednesday night when winning numbers are drawn for the second-highest jackpot in the history of the Powerball lottery. A winning ticket could bring the holder an estimated $700 million windfall, a prize topped only by a January 2016 $1.56 billion Powerball jackpot, the world's largest lottery reward ever. Anna Domoto, spokeswoman for the Multi-State Lottery Association, said that even more tickets are expected to be sold in the four-day period leading up to Wednesday night's drawing.

U.S. Navy relieves Seventh Fleet commander in wake of collisions in Asia

WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy on Wednesday said it had removed Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin after a series of collisions involving its warships in Asia as the search goes on for 10 sailors missing since the latest mishap. Aucoin's removal comes after a pre-dawn collision between a guided-missile destroyer and a merchant vessel east of Singapore and Malaysia on Monday, the fourth major incident in the U.S. Pacific Fleet this year. "Admiral Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, today relieved the commander of Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the U.S. Navy said in a press release.

Trump hints at pardon for former Arizona Sheriff Arpaio

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Tuesday that he would issue a pardon for Joe Arpaio, a controversial former sheriff convicted last month of criminal contempt in a racial profiling case. Trump, who had already held out the possibility of a pardon for Arpaio, decided against announcing it at a major rally in Arizona on Tuesday night but suggested that he would step in at some point. Arpaio, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, was the sheriff of Maricopa County in Phoenix before he lost a re-election bid in 2016.

Police use pepper spray to disperse protesters at Trump's Phoenix rally

Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a rally by U.S. President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said. Police have not given an estimate of the number of protesters, but Arizona media said there were several thousand. Police did not say whether the pepper spray was used on pro- or anti-Trump protesters, or both.

Trump voices mild optimism about ties with North Korea

PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday about a possible improvement in relations with North Korea after months of mounting tension over its weapons programs. "I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us," Trump said of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "And maybe - probably not, but maybe - something positive can come about," he said at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Paul Tait)

Trump unshackled: President defends Charlottesville response at raucous rally

By Jeff Mason and Keith Coffman PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump revved up supporters on Tuesday with a defense of his response to a white supremacist-organized rally in Virginia and a promise to shut down the U.S. government if necessary to build a wall along the border with Mexico. Under fire for saying "both sides" were to blame for the violence between white supremacists and left-wing counter protesters in Virginia on Aug. 12, Trump accused television networks of ignoring his calls for unity in the aftermath. "I didn't say I love you because you're black, or I love you because you're white," Trump said.

Charlottesville to cover Confederate statues after chaotic meeting

City councilors in Charlottesville, Virginia, voted unanimously on Tuesday to cover two statues of Confederate war heroes in black fabric after ejecting spectators from a chaotic council meeting as residents demanded answers over how a recent white nationalist rally turned deadly. It was the first council meeting since the Aug. 12 rally, when a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters and killed a 32-year-old woman. Many at the meeting shouted at the councilors and Mayor Mike Signer, forcing them at one point to leave the chamber.

U.S. Navy to relieve commander after collisions in Asia: source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy will in the coming hours relieve the three-star admiral who commands its seventh fleet following a series of collisions in Asia, a U.S. official told Reuters late on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. Navy to relieve admiral of command after collisions: WSJ

The U.S. Navy plans to remove from duty the commander of the fleet that has suffered four recent collisions in Asia and the deaths of a number of sailors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. officials. Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, will be relieved of command on Wednesday in connection with four collisions since January, including two involving fatalities, two U.S. officials said, according to the Journal. It said Navy officials declined to comment.

Bundy followers found not guilty at Nevada trial: newspaper

Scott Drexler, Ricky Lovelien, Eric Parker and Steven Stewart - committed crimes including conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, extortion and weapons law violations when they traveled to Nevada with firearms to participate in a plan to halt a cattle roundup. The uprising at Bundy's ranch near Bunkerville, Nevada, 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Las Vegas, grew out of a dispute in which federal agents seized Bundy's cattle over his refusal to pay fees required for grazing his livestock on government land.

After solar eclipse, Americans' eyes seem mostly none the worse

One man showed up at a New York City hospital on Tuesday with a damaged retina after acting on the mistaken belief he could safely stare at an eclipse through a hole punched in a garbage bag. "I'm sort of amazed so far that we haven't examined anybody who has damage," Dr. M. Edward Wilson said by telephone from the Medical University of South Carolina's Storm Eye Institute in Charleston. It was a similar story at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, New York City's Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon: not a blurry eye in sight.

Missouri governor halts execution to examine questions over DNA

By Chris Kenning CHICAGO (Reuters) - Missouri Governor Eric Greitens halted the execution of a man scheduled to be put to death on Tuesday for killing a woman during a burglary after his attorneys argued that recent DNA evidence showed he is innocent. Greitens issued the stay of execution for Marcellus Williams, 48, just over four hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection in a Bonne Terre state prison for the stabbing death of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle during an August 1998 robbery at her home. Greitens said in a statement he would appoint a Board of Inquiry to examine the new DNA evidence and recommend whether he should commute Williams' death sentence.

Family of Chinese scholar missing in Illinois asks Trump for help

(Reuters) - Family members of a Chinese scholar presumed kidnapped in Illinois asked President Donald Trump on Tuesday to provide additional resources to help find her.

Protests expected at Trump's Phoenix rally, senators will not attend

Arizona's two U.S. senators, who have both clashed with President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, were expected to skip his campaign rally on Tuesday night in Phoenix, where large protests are planned. In his first such event since causing an uproar last week with remarks about a white nationalist demonstration in Virginia, Trump was expected to make remarks at the rally but not use the event to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, had asked Trump to postpone Tuesday's event scheduled for 7 p.m. MST (0200 GMT on Wednesday).

Treasury secretary's wife apologizes for Instagram sniping

The flap erupted after Mnuchin's wife, Scottish-born actress Louise Linton, posted a photo of herself emerging from the aircraft wearing a white outfit and sunglasses, using the hashtags "#tomford," "#hermesscarf" and "#valentino," according to images of the Monday evening post on social media. In her initially vitriolic response to the "deplorable" criticism, Linton had lashed out about how much she and her husband contribute to the economy and pay in taxes.

Trump not to pardon former Sheriff Arpaio during Arizona trip: White House

President Donald Trump will not issue a pardon on Tuesday for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio during his trip to Arizona, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. Trump had held out the possibility of a pardon for Arpaio, a former sheriff of Maricopa County in Phoenix and an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration.

Los Angeles seeks to join lawsuit over U.S. sanctuary policies

The city of Los Angeles on Tuesday sought to join a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice over federal restrictions on some law enforcement grants to so-called sanctuary cities, according to a court filing. The state of California and city of San Francisco earlier this month filed legal challenges that accused the administration of President Donald Trump of improperly trying to force local jurisdictions to enforce national immigration law by imposing funding conditions. In proposed legal claims filed in Northern California federal court, attorneys for Los Angeles called the Justice Department's proposals "unconstitutional on their face." A judge would have to approve Los Angeles' request to intervene in the existing San Francisco lawsuit.

Charlottesville to cover Confederate statues after chaotic meeting

It was the first council meeting since the Aug. 12 rally, when a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters and killed a 32-year-old woman. Many at the meeting shouted at the councilors and Mayor Mike Signer, forcing them at one point to leave the chamber. Videos posted on social media showed some in the crowd yelling "shame" and "shut it down" and calling for Signer's resignation.

After solar eclipse, Americans' eyes seem mostly none the worse

One man showed up at a New York City hospital on Tuesday with a damaged retina after acting on the mistaken belief he could safely stare at an eclipse through a hole punched in a garbage bag. "I'm sort of amazed so far that we haven't examined anybody who has damage," Dr. M. Edward Wilson said by telephone from the Medical University of South Carolina's Storm Eye Institute in Charleston. It was a similar story at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, New York City's Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon: not a blurry eye in sight.

U.S. appeals court rules for TSA screener who had run-in with flier

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia threw out a First Amendment claim by an architect, Roger Vanderklok, who said he was arrested in retaliation for asking to file a complaint against an ill-tempered Transportation Security Administration supervisor. "We, of course, do not suggest that TSA screeners should act with disdain for passenger rights or that they can escape all the consequences of their bad behavior," Circuit Judge Kent Jordan wrote for a three-judge panel. "Ultimately, the role of the TSA in securing public safety is so significant that we ought not create a damages remedy in this context," Jordan added.

Pennsylvania judge delays Cosby sex assault retrial till March

Comedian Bill Cosby's retrial on charges of sexually assaulting a former administrator at his alma mater in 2004 at his Philadelphia-area home will be postponed from November to March of next year, a judge said on Tuesday. Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill said the move will give Cosby's new defense team enough time to prepare for the trial. Cosby's first trial ended in a mistrial in June after more than 50 hours of jury deliberation failed to yield an unanimous verdict on whether he drugged and assaulted Andrea Constand, who got to know Cosby while working for the women's basketball team at Temple University.

Verizon launches cheaper unlimited plan to compete with rivals

By Anjali Athavaley NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc said on Tuesday that it was introducing a cheaper unlimited mobile data plan with some limits as it tries to lure customers away from rival wireless carriers. "While entry-level pricing appears more competitive, the changes more likely reflect the impact current plans are having on Verizon's network," Mike McCormack, an analyst at Jefferies, said in a note. "The move also follows a trend of differentiating unlimited plans to manage congestion and monetize the network." Verizon has been competing for customers with smaller rivals T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp in a saturated U.S. market for wireless service as most consumers already have cell phones.

Manhattan high-end condo prices rise with strong demand: report

The unit, at 432 Park Avenue, billed as the tallest residential tower in the Americas, was one of three at the Midtown East building that were in the top-five most expensive condominium sales in Manhattan, an analysis by CityRealty said. The analysis examined sale prices and what was paid per square foot in an index the realty company has created to gauge investment performance for what it considers the top 100 condominium buildings in Manhattan.

Bergdahl to have U.S. Army desertion case heard by judge, not jury

(Reuters) - U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, charged with desertion and endangerment of U.S. troops for leaving his combat post in Afghanistan in 2009, has chosen to have a judge hear the case instead of a military jury, according to a court filing.

A majority of Americans want to preserve Confederate monuments: Reuters/Ipsos poll

A majority of Americans think Confederate monuments should be preserved in public spaces, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll, a view that is at odds with efforts in many cities to remove them. Another 28 percent saw the white supremacists as the aggressors and 10 percent mostly blamed the left-wing counter-protesters.

U.S. Navy announces fleet-wide probe after new warship collision; 10 sailors missing

By Fathin Ungku and David Brunnstrom SINGAPORE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy announced on Monday a fleet-wide probe and plans for temporary halts in operations to focus on safety, as it searched for 10 sailors missing after the fourth major accident in the U.S. Pacific fleet this year. The guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain and the tanker Alnic MC collided on Monday while the warship was nearing Singapore for a routine port call. The collision tore a hole in the warship's waterline, flooding compartments that included a crew sleeping area, the U.S. Navy said.

Rare total solar eclipse spreads wonder across United States

By Harriet McLeod and Lee van der Voo CHARLESTON, S.C./SHERIDAN, Oregon (Reuters) - As millions of awestruck Americans cast their gaze skyward on Monday at the extraordinary sight of a total solar eclipse, one Connecticut man had his eyes set firmly on a different prize. Joseph Fleming, 43, went down on one knee in the darkness near the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina, and asked Nicole Durham to marry him. The first total eclipse in a century to sweep across the United States from coast to coast inspired Americans to make marriage proposals, hold family reunions and take time from work to witness with wonder one of the cosmos' rarest phenomena.

Texas man charged with trying to blow up Confederate statue

Authorities in Houston charged a 25-year-old man on Monday with trying to blow up a Confederate statue, federal prosecutors said, in the latest development amid demonstrations and fierce debate about race and the legacy of America's Civil War. Word of the arrest of Andrew Schneck came just hours after the University of Texas at Austin said it removed four statues tied to the Confederacy from its campus because they had become "symbols of modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism." White nationalists rallied earlier this month against proposals to take down a similar statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, and one woman was killed when a man crashed his car into a crowd of anti-racism counterprotesters.

More video emerges of Baltimore police staging evidence: prosecutors

In the previous two episodes, video showed officers apparently placing illegal drugs at crime scenes. The Baltimore Police Department said it was investigating charges that some officers were planting drugs to frame innocent people. The latest video to came to light was "self-reported as a re-enactment of the seizure of evidence" by the police department, the office of the state's attorney for Baltimore said in a statement.