Sept 21 (Reuters) - Kansas sought on Wednesday to avoid a court ruling that could force the cash-strapped state to increase school funding by more than $1 billion.

BOSTON (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman on Wednesday told investors that he and his hedge fund Omega Advisors refused to settle insider trading charges with the United States government because he would not let anyone destroy his legacy.

NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The world's oldest Roman Catholic bishop, who championed civil rights and promoted equality for women in the church, has died in New Jersey at age 104, church officials said on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve might not hike rates at all this year, even though markets are betting on a December interest-rate increase, Dan Ivascyn, group chief investment officer at bond firm Pacific Investment Management Co, said Wednesday.

(Reuters Health) - A new study has confirmed what your waistband has told you all along - you gain weight during the holidays.

(Reuters Health) - Having a vasectomy doesn't increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer or dying from it, a U.S. study suggests.

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States performs poorly in U.N. rankings on progress towards global health goals due to its high levels of violence, alcohol abuse and childhood obesity, a study has found.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. authorities investigated on Wednesday whether anyone helped an Afghan-born American citizen charged with carrying out bombings in New York and New Jersey, while the city's top federal public defender asked for access to the suspect.

NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Three former New York state jail guards were arrested on Wednesday on federal charges that they participated in the 2013 beating of an inmate who suffered life-threatening injuries and had a clump of dreadlocks ripped from his head as a "trophy."