Reuters US Domestic

By Rami Ayyub (Reuters) -Officials in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, California and Oregon said on Monday they will lift indoor mask mandates for schools and other public places in coming weeks, seeking a return to “normalcy” as soaring COVID-19 infections fueled by the Omicron variant abate. The changes signal a growing inclination by political leaders …

New Jersey, California among states moving to ease mask mandates as Omicron ebbs Read More »

By Rich McKay Atlanta (Reuters) -The first round of jury selection ended late Monday with 52 potential jurists interviewed in the U.S. federal hate-crimes trial of the three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, a Black jogger who was chased and shot while running through a mostly white Georgia neighborhood. The final panel seated will …

Court sees 52 potential jurists in U.S. hate-crime trial of Arbery killers Read More »

By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let Alabama use a Republican-backed map of the state’s U.S. congressional districts that a lower court found likely discriminates against Black voters, handing an important victory to Republicans as they seek to regain control of Congress in the Nov. 8 elections. In a 5-4 decision, …

U.S. Supreme Court lets Alabama use electoral map faulted for racial bias Read More »

By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Right-wing U.S. television network Newsmax Media Inc on Monday countersued Smartmatic Corp, an election security firm that says it was defamed by Newsmax’s coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Smartmatic sued Newsmax in November for amplifying false claims that Smartmatic voting machines rigged the election against then-President Donald Trump, who …

Newsmax counter-sues Smartmatic, widening fight over U.S. election fraud claims Read More »

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. congressional panel, calling Washington’s rail and bus network essential to the functioning of the federal government, holds a hearing on Wednesday in the face of an October train derailment and other challenges. Last month, the subway system that serves the District of Columbia and parts of Virginia and …

U.S. Congress to scrutinize Washington subway system after derailment Read More »

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday is expected to debate legislation funding federal government programs through March 11, and avoid a politically embarrassing partial government shutdown when existing funds expire on Feb. 18. The move would give Democratic and Republican negotiators more time to work out funding for the …

U.S. House set to debate bill extending stop-gap funding through March 11 Read More »

By Nate Raymond (Reuters) -Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd has reached a settlement worth $225 million to resolve claims the drugmaker fueled an opioid epidemic in Texas by improperly marketing addictive pain medications, the state’s attorney general said on Monday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Teva agreed to pay $150 million over 15 years and provide …

Teva, Texas strike opioid settlement worth $225 million Read More »