Reuters US Domestic News Summary

08/04/2016 8:59

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

U.S. Supreme Court blocks transgender bathroom choice for now

A Virginia school board may temporarily block a student who was born a girl from using the boys' bathroom while a legal fight over transgender rights proceeds on appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court said on Wednesday. The case is the first time the fight over transgender bathroom rights has reached the Supreme Court. The subject arrived in the heat of a U.S. presidential election in which the makeup of the court is a central issue.

Two L.A. policemen who shot unarmed black man sue city for racial discrimination: media

Two Los Angeles police officers who shot dead an unarmed black man in 2014 are suing the city for alleged racial discrimination and retaliation after not being allowed to return to the field, the Los Angeles Times reported. Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas killed Ezell Ford, 25, during a confrontation. They have not yet been charged, according to the Times. Ford was described by family attorneys as mentally challenged.

Suicide rate of U.S. veterans rose one third since 2001: study

The suicide rate among American veterans has increased by nearly a third since 2001, a bigger rise than in the wider population of the United States, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study released on Wednesday said. The report estimated that an average of 20 veterans a day died from suicide in 2014, or about 7,300 in the year, compared to a previous estimate of 22 a day. But researchers have cautioned against relying too heavily on that figure to indicate trends in suicides because it does not take into account that the overall number of veterans is declining because of deaths from old age.

California bus crash death toll revised down to four from five

Officials in Northern California on Wednesday revised down the death toll from a charter bus crash the day before to four from five. California Highway Patrol spokesman Moises Onsurez said Tuesday's incorrect tally was due to miscommunication between emergency personnel at the chaotic scene of the crash.

U.S. attorney general launches police-community forums in Detroit

U.S. Attorney General Lorretta Lynch was in Detroit on Wednesday to spur dialog aimed at mending the "frayed trust" between police and minority communities across the country. Lynch picked Detroit, whose police department has seen a transformation since a 2003 federal consent decree, to launch a planned nationwide series of "Justice Forums" bringing together local citizens, politicians, social activists, clergy and law enforcement.

In slap at Trump, some wealthy Republicans campaign for Clinton

Groups of wealthy Republicans unhappy with Donald Trump have been privately courting prominent peers to join them in backing Democrat Hillary Clinton's U.S. presidential bid, several people involved in the effort told Reuters. They say they are seeking money and endorsements from other Republicans disillusioned by Trump, their party's candidate for the Nov. 8 presidential election. Some have received encouragement from Clinton and members of her campaign staff.

U.S. states signed pact to keep Exxon climate probe confidential

A pact that 15 U.S. states signed to jointly investigate Exxon Mobil Corp for allegedly misleading the public about climate change sought to keep prosecutors' deliberations confidential and was broadly written so they could probe other fossil fuel companies. The "Climate Change Coalition Common Interest Agreement" was signed by state attorneys general in May, two months after they held a press conference to say they would go after Exxon, the world's largest publicly-traded oil and gas company, and possibly other companies.

Storm Earl lashes Belize with wind, rain, heads for Mexico

Tropical storm Earl whipped Belize with wind and heavy rain as it weakened, moving into Guatemala toward southeastern Mexico on Thursday after hundreds of people took shelter overnight. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 1200 GMT that Earl had maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour (105 km per hour) as it churned about 90 miles (145 km) west of Belize City. Earl had been a hurricane overnight.

Norwegian arrested in Maine after threatening to kill police

A Norwegian man was arrested on Wednesday after sending emails threatening to kill police in Maine with explosives and high-powered rifles, officials said. Police departments across the United States are on high alert following attacks in Dallas and Baton Rouge last month that killed eight police officers.

Texas professors seek U.S. court help to ban guns in their classrooms

Three University of Texas professors plan to ask a U.S. judge on Thursday to give them the option of barring students from bringing guns into their classroom after the state gave some students that right under a law then went into effect this week. The professors said academic freedom could be chilled under the so-called campus carry law backed by the state's Republican political leaders that allows concealed handgun license holders 21 and over to bring handguns into classrooms and other university facilities.

08/04/2016 8:59