TheRepublic.com - Social issues News

Mich. lawmaker accused of sexual harassment

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:11:04 -0400

DETROIT - A state lawmaker is being accused of harassment by a former aide who says he was forced into a sex act.

AP Interview: Syria conflict uproots Palestinians

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:55:22 -0400

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria's fighting has uprooted more than half of the country's 530,000 Palestinians - descendants of refugees from a Mideast conflict half a century ago - and their situation is becoming increasingly desperate, the head of a U.N. aid agency said Thursday.

Feds find problems at Wis. mental health center

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:40:44 -0400

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex is facing federal sanctions after being cited for failing to protect patients from each other.

Kan. teacher arrested after threats toward school

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:40:13 -0400

MAIZE, Kansas - A teacher at a suburban Wichita high school was arrested after the district reported he had made criminal threats against the school.

UEFA introduces minimum ban for racist abuse

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:20:09 -0400

LONDON - The UEFA executive committee on Thursday ratified a 10-match minimum ban for racist abuse by players or officials.

Substitute teacher admits making threatening call

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:55:06 -0400

WAUKEGAN, Illinois - A substitute teacher accused of making a threatening telephone call to a school board member during a teachers' strike has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

Gulf Coast remembers 'wade-ins'

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:38:14 -0400

BILOXI, Mississippi - Fifty years ago, civil rights protesters held sit-ins at lunch counters or in waiting rooms or bus stations across the South.

Lisbon man gets 4 years for identity fraud

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:25:32 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - A Lisbon man who used his own child's Social Security number in a scheme to illegally receive welfare benefits has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Man pleads guilty to stabbing Border Patrol dog

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:19:13 -0400

McALLEN, Texas - A man from Guatemala has pleaded guilty in Texas to illegally crossing the U.S. border and stabbing a Border Patrol dog.

Winslow company accused of labor violations

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:13:18 -0400

WINSLOW, Maine - Labor groups have accused a Winslow-based aluminum trailer manufacturer of illegally firing employees for trying to unionize.

Plan calls for smoke-free public housing units

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:05:43 -0400

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. is seeking comments on a plan to ban smoking in more than 600 of its public housing units.

House approves drivers licenses for immigrants

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:01:10 -0400

HARTFORD, Connecticut - Connecticut's House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow immigrants to obtain drivers licenses regardless of their legal status.

UMass Memorial, nurses, reach contract deal

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:19:05 -0400

WORCESTER, Massachusetts - UMass Memorial Medical Center and the union representing 1,100 nurses have reached a tentative contract agreement that staves off a scheduled strike.

Portland mayor meets with immigrant businessmen

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:34:04 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - Portland's mayor is meeting with immigrant business owners to discuss the role that immigrants play in the city's economy.

RI education board to mull arming university cops

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:10:12 -0400

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Rhode Island education officials are set to decide whether to allow the University of Rhode Island to arm its campus police officers.

Jury in Jodi Arias trial resumes deliberations

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:06:27 -0400

PHOENIX - Jurors in Jodi Arias' murder trial resume deliberations Thursday after they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death for killing her one-time boyfriend, prompting the judge to instruct them to keep trying.

NH Senate considering legalizing medical marijuana

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:06:07 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - The Senate is voting whether New Hampshire should join 18 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing seriously ill people to use marijuana to treat their conditions.

Colorado killer's reprieve sharply criticized

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:06:00 -0400

DENVER - Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper's decision to block the execution of convicted killer Nathan Dunlap for as long as he is governor infuriated victims' relatives and drew quick criticism from Republicans ahead of the 2014 election.

Youngest Okla. tornado victims remembered by kin

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:02:46 -0400

MOORE, Oklahoma - Nine-year-old Sydney Angle was "everywhere at once" when she was out on the softball field. Kyle Davis, 8, was nicknamed "The Wall" because of his size and presence on the soccer field. JaNae Hornsby, also 9, was the life of the party.

Holmes lawyers try to clear path for insanity plea

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:01:36 -0400

CENTENNIAL, Colorado - Lawyers for Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes are trying to clear away legal questions Thursday so that Holmes can plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:58:16 -0400

DENVER - In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

UA, ASU boards voting on new campus guns law

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:52:12 -0400

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Arkansas' two largest university systems are considering proposals to opt out of a new state law allowing faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns on campus.

Va. man accused of having relationship with girl

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:25:38 -0400

SPOTSYLVANIA, Virginia - Spotsylvania County police say a school employee has been arrested on charges relating to an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

Ocean not all that separates US, European fans

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:10:53 -0400

Imagine Derek Jeter leading the New York Yankees off the field because opposing fans were yelling racial slurs and throwing bananas at his team. Or a game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls halted because of unrelenting race-baiting from the crowd.

Fox Point Senior Center volunteer honored

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:06:32 -0400

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Providence Mayor Angel Taveras (tuh-VEHR'-us) has honored 150 volunteers who work with senior citizens, including one who was named Volunteer of the Year.