Gay marriage supporters look to next session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — With a vote to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois looking less likely to happen in the next few days, supporters of marriage equality are looking ahead to the following legislative session as their next best hope.A Senate committee voted 8-5 late Thursday in favor of a bill that would allow gay marriage. But with key supporters absent, Senate Democrats delayed a full floor...

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Richardson: NKorea trip is private, humanitarian

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson says the State Department should not be nervous about a visit he's making to North Korea with Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt.The State Department has advised against his making the trip. But Richardson says he doesn't work for the U.S. government.Richardson said Friday he's concerned about an American citizen detained in North Korea,...

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Some push secret lottery wins, but not lotteries

PHOENIX (AP) — When two winning tickets for a record $588 million Powerball jackpot were claimed from the Nov. 28 drawing, the world focused on the winners.A Missouri couple appeared at a press conference and held up the traditional giant-sized check. The Arizona winner, however, skipped the press conference where lottery officials announced last month that someone had claimed the second half of the...

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Correction: Obit-Schwarzkopf story

WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story Dec. 28 about the death of U.S. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, The Associated Press reported erroneously the date of Schwarzkopf's birth. He was born on Aug. 22, 1934, not Aug. 24.A corrected version of the story is below:Desert Storm commander Norman Schwarzkopf diesHis days of stormin' behind him, retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf chose charities over politicsBy...

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Appeals court faults EPA for soot regulation

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court is siding with environmental groups that had challenged Environmental Protection Agency regulations on soot as too weak.The three-judge panel ruled Friday that the EPA regulated soot of a certain size under weaker cleanup requirements than it should have.The environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, had challenged two rules dating back...

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