House approves bill to stop NSA program
WASHINGTON – The House on Thursday passed legislation to end the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of American phone records, the first legislative response to the disclosures by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Although the compromise measure was significantly “watered down,” in the words of Democrat Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, it passed by a vote of 303 to 120.
The bill doesn’t ask the phone companies to hold records for any longer than they already do, which varies by carrier. The bill would give the NSA the authority to request certain records from the companies to search them in terrorism investigations in response to a judicial order.
Las Vegas drops bid for GOP convention
WASHINGTON – Luck has run out for Las Vegas’ push to bring the Republican Party’s next presidential nominating convention to Sin City. Cincinnati also has withdrawn from the list of possible hosts.
Republican National Committee officials voted on Thursday to approve four remaining contenders and planned to soon visit Dallas, Denver, Cleveland, and Kansas City, Missouri. Officials expect to narrow the field by this summer.
Las Vegas organizers cited problems with scheduling and convention space in a letter sent to the Republican National Committee before its vote Thursday.
Gates takes over as Boy Scouts president
DALLAS — Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates was confirmed Thursday as the Boy Scouts of America’s new president, taking over one of the nation’s largest youth organizations as it fights a membership decline and debates its policy toward gays.
Associated Press
