"Intentional" explosion kills husband, two sons of missing woman

(Reuters) - An "intentional" house explosion on Sunday near Tacoma, Washington killed the husband and two sons of a Utah woman missing since December 2009, fire department officials said.

US court to rule Tuesday on California gay marriage

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court will rule on Tuesday on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage, the court said.

Eyeing greener acres, new farmers reap growing U.S. aid

HALLSVILLE, Missouri (Reuters) - Dan Pugh wishes he had a bigger tractor and his wife Laura worries about their chickens in the winter weather. But as new farmers putting down roots in rural Missouri, the Pughs are counting on more rewards than regrets in trading their city lives for the country.

Goldman's Blankfein campaigns for gay marriage

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, one of Wall Street's most powerful figures, has become the first major business leader to join a national media campaign in support of same-sex marriage.

NBC, NFL apologize for M.I.A. rude gesture at Super Bowl

(Reuters) - Television network NBC and the NFL apologized for a rude gesture flipped by British hip hop star M.I.A during her halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl, but the Parents Television Council called for further action.

Powerful Pennsylvania lawmaker found guilty of corruption

HARRISBURG, Pa (Reuters) - State Representative H. William DeWeese, one of Pennsylvania's longest-serving and most influential lawmakers, was found guilty on Monday of theft and criminal conspiracy stemming from his use of state employees to campaign for him for free.

Four Illinois men killed in fiery wrong-way crash

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Four Chicago-area men were killed Monday in a fiery crash when a wrong-way driver on Interstate 80 smashed into another car.

Police clear DC Occupy site, protesters look to a new day

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. police officers cleared tents from an "Occupy" protest site in downtown Washington on Sunday, but demonstrators said even without the camp they would continue to fight for economic equality and other issues.

Chrysler's "Halftime" ad: a roadmap for America?

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Is what is good for Chrysler good for America?

U.S. targets food stamp fraud as election looms

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Stung by election-year criticism of a program used by one in seven Americans, administrators of U.S. food stamp benefits are intensifying efforts to combat fraud and protect the $75.3 billion plan from the budget axe.