Lawmaker, university spar over 'control' of Chinese dissident in U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. congressman who has been blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng's main champion in Washington said people working for New York University have tried to keep him from meeting Chen, barging into a meeting on Capitol Hill and pulling Chen out on one occasion.

Fewer drivers seen on July 4 as shorter holiday, economy bite: AAA

(Reuters) - Fewer drivers will take to the road during the Independence Day holiday in part due to a sluggish economy, but also because people will take less time off, travel group AAA said on Thursday.

Minuteman U.S. border watch co-founder arrested on child sex charges

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The co-founder of the Minutemen civilian border patrol group that for several years watched for unauthorized immigrants crossing to Arizona from Mexico, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of molesting three young girls.

North Carolina governor signs law aimed at restarting executions

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina's governor, hoping to resume executions in his state, on Wednesday signed the repeal of a law that has allowed death row inmates to seek a reduced sentence if they could prove racial bias affected their punishment.

Head of revived watchdog pledges open look at U.S. surveillance

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of a newly revived federal privacy oversight board pledged on Wednesday to be "as transparent and public as possible" as the board reviews recently exposed U.S. government secret surveillance programs.

Louisiana boy says killed sister with TV wrestling moves: police

(Reuters) - A 13-year-old New Orleans boy has been arrested on charges he murdered his 5-year-old sister with body slams, elbow punches and other moves he told investigators he had seen while watching professional wrestling on television, police said on Wednesday.

Arizona killer who asked for speedy execution found dead in cell

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona death row inmate who wrote to the state Supreme Court asking for a speedy execution died on Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his cell, authorities said.

Arizona wildfire threatens hundreds of homes, California blaze wanes

PHOENIX/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An Arizona wildfire whipped up by strong winds threatened hundreds of homes on Wednesday, even as firefighters were gaining an edge on a California blaze raging near a pristine wilderness, authorities said.

Stop force-feeding Guantanamo prisoners: Senator

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and called the practice "out of step" with medical ethics and international norms.

Latest search for Jimmy Hoffa's body ends with no remains found

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan (Reuters) - The latest search for the remains of former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa ended on Wednesday in a field near Detroit, where federal agents had dug with heavy equipment and shovels for three days in the hope of answering the decades old question, "Whatever happened to Jimmy Hoffa?"

Three plead guilty in New York City payroll fraud case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three women pleaded guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges arising out of what prosecutors say was a corrupt New York City payroll project that cost the city more than $600 million.

Body pulled from Lake Michigan is Chicago university student

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Authorities have identified a body pulled from Lake Michigan on Wednesday morning as a University of Chicago student who disappeared a week ago, possibly to watch a thunderstorm.

FBI says it uses surveillance drones on U.S. soil

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama's use of domestic surveillance.

Three U.S. Naval Academy football players charged with rape

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. Naval Academy football players have been charged with raping a female midshipman and making false statements, the school said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military.

Man sues NFL player for shooting him in the eye

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Connecticut man has sued New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez for allegedly shooting him in the face after the two left a strip club in Miami in February, the victim's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Louisiana teen charged with killing girl with TV wrestling moves

(Reuters) - A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder in New Orleans after causing the death of his 5-year-old half-sister using wrestling moves he had seen on television, police said.

Alleged teacher coercion may threaten Atlanta test cheating case

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Indictments against 35 former public educators charged in a sweeping standardized test cheating case in Atlanta appeared to be on shaky ground Wednesday after a judge said he would likely rule they were coerced into talking to investigators.

Murkowski becomes third Republican U.S. senator to back gay marriage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska publicly backed gay marriage on Wednesday, becoming the third Republican senator to do so as she spoke out ahead of potentially landmark rulings from the Supreme Court on the issue.

New York men accused of plotting to build radiation weapon

ALBANY, New York (Reuters) - Two New York men are accused of plotting to produce a lethal radiation weapon and trying to sell it to a Jewish group and the Ku Klux Klan, according to a federal complaint unsealed on Wednesday.

Vermont police arrest 33 in cocaine, heroin sweep

BOSTON (Reuters) - Vermont police arrested 33 people on drug charges on Wednesday in a sweep aimed at tackling the state's growing heroin and cocaine problem, according to the state police.

New York strikes deal to allow Las Vegas-style casinos

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo struck a deal with state lawmakers to license new resort-style casinos, in an effort to help revive a stagnant economy in upstate New York, the governor said on Wednesday.

Boston poised to begin condom giveaway in high schools

(Reuters) - Students at all Boston public high schools may soon be able to obtain free condoms at the front office - as long as they sit through a few minutes of counseling about safe sex - under a policy due to be voted on Wednesday by the school board.

As Tea Party rallies, FBI says IRS probe a top priority

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than a dozen FBI agents are assigned to a criminal probe into Internal Revenue Service scrutiny of conservative political groups, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday.

Confessed killer says did not dictate deal to turn on 'Whitey' Bulger

BOSTON (Reuters) - An altar-boy-turned-gang-enforcer told jurors at the trial of accused mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger on Wednesday that he did not set the terms of a deal with prosecutors allowing him to serve just 12 years in prison for 20 murders in exchange for details against his former boss.

Jury selection in Trayvon Martin murder case moves into final phase

SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - The final round of jury selection began in Florida on Wednesday in the trial of a former neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who is charged with the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in February last year.

Theft of F-35 design data is helping U.S. adversaries: Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The theft of sensitive design data by hackers targeting programs like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter takes away a big U.S. advantage by allowing rivals to speed up development of their own stealth aircraft, a top Pentagon official said on Wednesday.

New 'Obamacare' exchanges could miss enrollment deadline: GAO

(Reuters) - New health insurance exchanges being set up by the federal government in more than 30 states under President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare overhaul could miss an October 1 deadline for open enrollment, a government report said on Wednesday.

Arizona construction collapse kills one, injures one

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Temporary framing beneath a freeway overpass in Mesa, Arizona, collapsed on Wednesday, killing one construction worker and injuring another, a fire department spokesman said.

Prosecutors plan more charges against accused Cleveland kidnapper

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Prosecutors want to bring additional charges as soon as possible against a former Cleveland school-bus driver accused of holding three women captive in his home and torturing them for a decade, authorities said on Wednesday.

Tesla recalls some Model S cars due to seat-mount defect

(Reuters) - Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc will recall 1,228 of its 2013 Model S cars manufactured between May 10 and June 8 due to a defect in the mounting bracket of the rear seat.