News Archive - June 11, 2013

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Conservative Groups Press House GOP To Adopt Hastert Rule

The informal guideline named for the former GOP speaker says no bill should pass without the support of the majority of the majority. The reason the groups want it codified is because House Speaker John Boehner has violated the rule several times in recent months.

China Launches Crew Into Space, Starting 15-Day Mission

China's leaders and media outlets are calling the launch the next step in China's "space dream," which began in earnest 10 years ago with the country's first manned spaceflight.

Senate's New GOP Stars Show Party's Range On Immigration

One, Marco Rubio, is a member of the Gang of Eight that crafted the immigration bill being taken up by the Senate; another, Ted Cruz, vehemently opposes the bill; a third, Kelly Ayotte, supports the overhaul; and the fourth, Rand Paul, says the measure needs revision.

Privacy In Retreat, A Timeline

The erosion of privacy is often pegged to post-Sept. 11 changes in federal law, but some of the most significant moments in our evolution to a less private world have come in the commercial realm.

Winfrey Gives Millions To New African-American Museum In D.C.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is being built on the National Mall, near the Washington Monument. It is set to open in late 2015.

D.C. Education Superintendent Announces Departure

Hosanna Mahaley Jones will be moving back to Chicago to care for her husband, who recently suffered a heart attack.

Egypt Said To Be In Talks With Ethiopia Over Nile Dam Plan

Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi has warned Ethiopia that "all options are open" in dealing with what his government sees as a security issue: Ehiopia's project to build a dam on the Nile River. An Egyptian official tells Agence France-Presse that talks are under way to ease tensions over the plan.

Tender Beef, Without The Pathogens: USDA Proposes Labeling Rules

The mechanical process the meat industry uses to tenderize tough muscle fibers can also introduce dangerous pathogens into beef cuts. The thinking behind the proposed new labels: If you know your cut of meat has been mechanically tenderized, you'll be inclined to cook it a little longer.

The Latest In Adventurous Tastings? Prison Food

Prison food gets a bad rap, but a recent tasting at a historic penitentiary showed that prison menus of the past were less predictable and maybe even more nutritious than the institutional-style meals served in most prisons today. Some prisons are returning to scratch cooking, and are opening restaurants to train inmates in food service.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Over Vast Collection Of Phone Records

The ACLU claims the government's surveillance violates the Constitution's guarantee of free speech, association and privacy.

Did Sony Already Win Gaming's Next-Gen Console War?

It's that time again, when the video game gods unveil the new beasts that they will soon release into the wild and see who comes out on top. But at its E3 presentation this week, Sony may have taken the early lead with its PS4, a next-generation system with features that seem aimed at those disappointed with Microsoft's Xbox One.

Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Rises In Great Britain

Gonorrhea cases resistant to one of the last effective drugs increased by nearly six times from 2004 to 2011 in Great Britain. Hard-to-treat gonorrhea is a growing trend worldwide, as the bacterium begins to thwart our last defenses.

Oprah Winfrey Gives $12 Million To Museum of African American History

The media mogul has already given $1 million to the museum now under construction, and the $12 million gift will get her name on a 350-seat auditorium.

Google Asks Permission To Publish Info About FISA Requests

Citing its work to earn its users' trust, Google asks to reveal the numbers of national security requests it receives, including those made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Obama's Immigration Dilemma: Leading While Following

Political necessity dictates that President Obama not embrace the Senate immigration legislation too tightly.

U.S. To Recommend Listing All Chimpanzees As Endangered

The move would affect chimps living in captivity and used either as pets or for medical research. Chimps living in the wild were listed as endangered 13 years ago.

Scandal: A Primer On Misdeeds By D.C. Elected Officials

It's been a tough three years in D.C. politics, with a number of elected officials being embroiled in some sort of scandal.

He Broke The NSA Leaks Story, But Just Who Is Glenn Greenwald?

A lawyer who turned to blogging and then to writing books and columns, Greenwald isn't shy about sharing his opinions. Now he's at the center of the stories about U.S. spy agencies' surveillance programs. It's Greenwald who broke the news in The Guardian.

Za'atar: A Spice Mix With Biblical Roots And Brain Food Reputation

This alluring spice mix has an incredible aroma and deep roots in the Middle East. For centuries, people have been eating za'atar not just for its savory taste but also for its reputed health benefits. Modern research confirms it's packed with antioxidants.

Airports Authority Sues 10 Taxicab Operators For Illegal Operations At Dulles

In the lawsuit, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority alleges that the 10 operators are illegally passing themselves off as official Washington Flyer cabs.

Report: Overdraft Protection Puts Customers 'At Greater Risk'

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports those who opt in to the service rack up more costs and are more likely to have their accounts closed.

How CT Scans Have Raised Kids' Risk For Future Cancer

Children are getting too many CT scans, a study says, and that's boosting their risk of cancer later on. Parents can ask for alternatives like ultrasound and MRI or ask for CT scans that use less radiation.

Cheh Says Proposed Taxicab Rules Would Stifle Innovation

D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) says that a set of proposed rules would unfairly target app-based hailing services and stifle innovation in the city's taxicab industry.

Outside Court Martial, Manning Compared To NSA Leaker Snowden

Supporters of Pfc. Bradley Manning are comparing him to Edward Snowden, the government contractor who admitted to leaking information about NSA spying operations.

Over 22,000 Virginians Get Money As Part Of Mortgage Fraud Settlement

Each of the affected Virginians will get $1,480 as part of part of a multi-state settlement with five mortgage companies accused of various abuses.

Montgomery County Dedicates School Named After Holocaust Survivor

School officials remembered Flora Singer, a Holocaust survivor who came to the U.S. and taught in Montgomery County schools for 14 years.

WATCH: An Orca Steals A Fisherman's Catch

On a fishing trip in Alaska, a killer whale steals a snack from a fisherman.

A Delay In Relief From Copays For Costly Drugs

The Affordable Care Act sets annual limits on the amount that people will owe out of pocket for prescription drugs starting in 2014. But sick people in some plans won't get relief until the following year because the federal government is giving certain health plans extra time to comply.

Is New England The Right Fit For Tim Tebow?

He led the Denver Broncos to the playoffs two seasons ago, then sat on the bench last year with the New York Jets. Now he's set to back up superstar quarterback Tom Brady. Might that be just the right job for Tebow?

See-Through Pants Problem Behind Her, Lululemon CEO To Leave

Christine Day has led the yoga and athletic clothing company for more than 5 years. Lululemon is now restocking stores with pants that have "more fabric across the bum." It ran into a public relations problem earlier this year when "increased sheerness" allowed too much to be seen.

Pew: Majority Of Americans Support NSA Phone Tracking

The sentiment has changed little since the question was asked during the Bush administration in 2006.

As NSA Leaker Disappears, Talk Of More To Come And Charges

Edward Snowden, who says he's behind the revelations about National Security Agency surveillance programs, has dropped out of sight. He was last seen in Hong Kong. The journalist who broke his story says there are more revelations to come. And CBS News says officials are prepping criminal charges.

In Istanbul, Police Move Against Anti-Government Protesters

Authorities cleared barricades from Taksim Square. Tear gas and blasts from water cannons forced demonstrators to flee. But police did not move against those who have been occupying Gezi Park, where the unrest began nearly two weeks ago.