Big tech firms urge openness on NSA probes
WASHINGTON — Technology companies stung by the controversy over the National Security Agency’s sweeping Internet surveillance program are calling on U.S. officials to ease the secrecy surrounding national security investigations and lift long-standing gag orders covering the nature and extent of information collected about Internet users.
Fewer now home alone: 40% drop in 'latchkey kids'
WASHINGTON — The number of grade-school American children who spend time at home alone has plunged by almost 40 percent since 1997, a result of both federal aid for after-class programs and parents revamping work schedules, census data show.
Lawmakers concerned over US surveillance programs
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers voiced their confusion and concern over the sweeping secret surveillance programs revealed recently, after receiving an unusual briefing on the government’s yearslong collection of phone records and Internet usage.
Ex-WellCare CEO found guilty in $40 million Medicaid scheme
WellCare Health Plans’s former chief executive officer and chief financial officer were found guilty of fraud in a federal crackdown on cheating in government-funded health programs.
Oregon senator blasts NSA chief's answer
WASHINGTON — One of the staunchest critics of government surveillance programs said today that the national intelligence director did not give him a straight answer last March when he asked whether the National Security Agency collects any data on millions of Americans.
Senate passes farm bill, debate moves to House
WASHINGTON — The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today.
FDA won't restrict sale of morning after pill
NEW YORK (AP) — After setting off a storm of criticism from abortion rights groups upset that a Democratic president had sided with social conservatives, the Obama administration said it will comply with a judge’s order to allow girls of any age to buy emergency contraception without prescriptions.
CDC: Hepatitis A linked to frozen berries sickens 87 in eight states
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to a frozen berry mix sold at Costco has grown to 87 people with illnesses in eight states.
Ringo Starr writes 'Octopus' Garden' as kids' book
NEW YORK — Ringo Starr is turning an old Beatles favorite into a children’s book.
Boehner: Congress can do immigration this year
WASHINGTON — With the Senate ready to cast the first floor votes on a landmark immigration bill, House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday he thinks there’s a good chance the legislation can be signed into law “by the end of the year.”
Man risks steep jail time for data leak
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who gave classified documents to reporters, making public two sweeping U.S. surveillance programs and touching off a national debate on privacy versus security, has revealed his own identity. He risked decades in jail for the disclosures — if the U.S. can extradite him from Hong Kong, where he has taken refuge.
Want more time off? Some employers let you buy it
WASHINGTON — Want more time off work to hang out at the beach? Need a little cash and have vacation days to spare?
Feds define ‘rural’ at least 15 ways
Each definition is used by various agencies to parcel out billions for “rural development.”
Lenoir is a small town in western North Carolina. It has 18,000 people, a Wal-Mart, a Waffle House and an annual parade famous for people carrying pans of blackberry cobbler.
Pollution on a ‘dangerous trajectory’
The US is a bright spot in an IEA report, with a 3.8 percent drop in energy-related emissions.
Global emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use rose 1.4 percent to 31.6 gigatons in 2012, setting a record and putting the planet on course for temperature increases well above international climate goals, the International Energy Agency said in a report scheduled to be issued Monday.
Study: Etruscans, Celts, Romans brought winemaking to France
PARIS (AP) — Scrapings from the bottoms of 2,500-year-old pottery containers have shed new light on the origins of French winemaking.
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