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Will Snowden join ranks of airport denizens?

LONDON – Amid the thousands of people passing through Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, Edward Snowden is – if Russia’s government is to be believed – staying put. That makes his situation unus...

Pentagon to extend benefits to gay service spouses

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon will begin the process to extend health care, housing and other federal benefits to the same-sex spouses of military members as s...

Supreme Court clears way for gay marriage in California

SAN FRANCISCO – A crowd at San Francisco City Hall applauded the news Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court had cleared the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California, but the reacti...

Supreme Court rules Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

WASHINGTON – In a historic victory for gay rights, the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a provision of a federal law denying federal benefits to married gay couples and cleared the way...

For nationwide gay marriage, more battles to be fought

NEW YORK – Even as they celebrate a momentous legal victory, supporters of gay marriage already are anticipating a return trip to the Supreme Court in a few years, sensing that no other opti...

Nation/World briefs

Reports underscore strengthening economy WASHINGTON – The U.S. housing recovery is strengthening. Factories are fielding more orders. And Americans’ confidence in the economy has ...

Court changes historic voting act

Southern states no longer need federal oversight of elections

Arab Idol champ urges Palestinians to unite

KHAN YOUNIS REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip – Palestinians have a new voice: a 23-year-old wedding singer from a Gaza refugee camp touted as a rare symbol of national unity after he won the Arab wo...

World Briefs

Taliban attack shows militant spirit unbroken KABUL, Afghanistan – A Taliban attack at the gates of the Afghan presidential palace cast a cold light Tuesday on the course of a war...

Putin says no to US request to turn over Snowden

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin bluntly rejected U.S. pleas to turn over National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden on Tuesday, saying he is free to travel wherever he wants an...

High court voids key part of Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON – A deeply divided Supreme Court on Tuesday halted enforcement of the federal government’s most potent tool to stop voting discrimination over the past half century, saying it doe...

IRS also screened liberal groups

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service’s screening of groups seeking tax-exempt status was broader and lasted longer than has been previously disclosed, the new head of the agency acknowl...