On Friday, the Obama administration announced a halt to new coal leases on federal land. In Wyoming, most of the federally-owned coal mines and revenue from coal leases pays for school construction.
The new effort could help save animals — and, perhaps, people: Research shows that animal abuse is often a precursor to acts of violence against people.
Gun-loving Texans fought hard for the right to strap handguns openly on their belts. Now that open carry is the law, some gun owners look down at the open-carry crowd as unsafe and uncouth.
Bob McDonnell's appeal of his public corruption convictions is one of eight cases the court agreed to hear on Friday. In another case, Microsoft is fending off a suit by Xbox 360 owners.
In Oregon, the armed militants that took over a federal wildlife refuge almost two weeks ago had planned a public meeting Friday evening to address the community's concerns and apparently outline their exit strategy. Federal law enforcement remains mum on a response. There is precedent for these types of armed, anti-government protests going south quick, such as in the 1990s in Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho. There is also precedent for these confrontations to drag on for months.
The firm is under investigation for its marketing and sale of mortgage-backed securities. If finalized, the settlement will reduce company earnings for the last three months of 2013 by $1.5 billion.
Eric Parker, accused of using excessive force on the unarmed man, went on trial twice last year. Both trials ended in hung juries. The judge said federal prosecutors won't get a third chance.
The Supreme Court is considering whether legislators can give away Iranian government funds the U.S. controls, providing legal compensation to victims of specific terrorist attacks sponsored by Iran.
Wednesday marks the 12th day of the armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. The militants who took over the federal headquarters continue to move freely in and out of the refuge. Supporters occasionally come in with food and other supplies. It's still not clear how long they'll stay, but the occupiers continue to talk about their goal of turning over federal lands to local control.
The latest battle over state subsidies for the solar industry is in Nevada. Regulators ruled against solar companies and they are closing operations in the state and laying off hundreds of employees.
