Calmer winds help firefighters battling deadly California blaze

An army of firefighters in northern California gained ground on Monday against a wildfire that has killed six people and caused far more devastation over the past week than any of the scores of blazes raging across the tinder-dry American West this summer.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2LCp9Bq

Ron Dellums, U.S. lawmaker who led push for sanctions against South Africa, dead at 82

Former California congressman Ron Dellums, who first won election to Capitol Hill as an anti-Vietnam War candidate and later led a 15-year effort to enact U.S. sanctions against South Africa's apartheid government, died on Monday at age 82.

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U.S. states make last-minute legal bid to halt 3-D online guns

Several U.S. states said on Monday that they would jointly sue the Trump administration in a last-ditch effort to block the public from being able to download blueprints for 3-D printable guns.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2K9hoxx

Chipotle shuts Ohio restaurant after reports of illness

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc has shut a restaurant in Ohio following reports of customers falling sick after eating there, the burrito chain said on Monday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2OtiyXX

U.S senators call for investigation of road toll systems vendor

Two U.S. senators on Monday asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate an electronic toll systems vendor, accusing the company of mismanaging road toll systems in several states.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2Kb4nnb

Trump administration eyes capital gains tax cut for wealthy: NY Times

The Trump administration is considering bypassing Congress to grant a $100 billion tax cut to wealthy Americans by allowing taxpayers to account for inflation while determining capital gains tax liabilities, the New York Times reported on Monday.

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Accused gunman in Annapolis newsroom shootings pleads not guilty

The man accused of shooting five people to death last month at a newspaper office in Annapolis, Maryland, entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to all 23 felony charges against him, including five counts of first-degree murder.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NWFhua

Families of Missouri 'duck boat' sinking victims sue tour company

The families of four of the 17 people killed when a World War Two-style tourist "duck boat" sank on a Missouri lake during a storm this month have sued the tour operator, saying it recklessly allowed the vessel out in dangerous weather.

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Democrats' support for abortion grows, low election priority: Reuters/Ipsos poll

U.S. Democrats' support for abortion rights grew in the last two years, but for most it will be a low priority in the November mid-term election compared with issues such as healthcare and the economy, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll shows.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NVFSfS

California museum can keep Cranachs looted by Nazis: U.S. appeals court

A federal appeals court on Monday said the Norton Simon Museum can keep two 16th century masterpieces depicting Adam and Eve by the German Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, which had been looted by the Nazis during World War Two.

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EPA to keep pursuing biofuel changes under new leadership: Wheeler

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's acting administrator said on Tuesday he would follow up the work of his predecessor to overhaul the nation's biofuel policy, including pursuing changes strongly opposed by the powerful corn lobby like counting ethanol exports toward annual biofuels quotas.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2OgLcez

Six-year-old YouTube star brings his own toy line to Walmart

A 6-year-old boy whose toy reviews have drawn billions of views on YouTube will debut his own line of slime, stuffed animals and other merchandise at Walmart Inc next month, the retailer said on Monday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2NTeTBy

Six people killed as California wildfire spreads

A 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren were among six people killed when a wildfire engulfed entire communities in northern California, officials and family members said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://ift.tt/2LKpMZ4