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Nation and World

Court: Hobby Lobby can challenge health care law

DENVER — An appeals court said Thursday that Hobby Lobby and a sister company that sells Christian books and supplies can fight the nation’s new health care law on religious grounds, ruling the portion of the law that requires them to offer certain kinds of birth control to their employees is particularly onerous, and suggesting the companies shouldn’t have to pay millions of dollars in fines while their claims are considered.

Bail denied for Hernandez; judge calls evidence ‘overwhelming’

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — A judge on Thursday denied bail for former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a friend.

Suspect in Boston Marathon bombing indicted

BOSTON — A federal grand jury on Thursday returned a 30-count indictment against the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, and many of the charges carry the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.

 
Jackson’s teenage son describes upbringing, father’s death

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s oldest son described the frantic efforts to revive his father to a jury, a scene of tears and agony that ended a dozen idyllic years being raised by one of pop music’s superstars.

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Mapping genes of a horse from 700,000 years ago

From a tiny fossil bone found in the frozen Yukon, scientists have deciphered the genetic code of an ancient horse about 700,000 years old — nearly 10 times older than any other animal that has had its genome mapped.

 
Broad immigration bill cruising to Senate passage

WASHINGTON — Far-reaching immigration legislation cruised toward passage in the Senate as House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday on a different approach that cracks down on millions living in the United States illegally rather than offering them a chance at citizenship.

Airborne laser reveals city under Cambodian earth

Airborne laser technology has uncovered a network of roadways and canals, illustrating a bustling ancient city linking Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temples complex.

 
Texas carries out its 500th execution since 1982

Texas marked a solemn moment in criminal justice Wednesday evening, executing its 500th inmate since it resumed carrying out capital punishment in 1982.

 
After abortion setback, Texas GOP set to try again

After a one-woman filibuster and a raucous crowd helped derail a GOP-led effort to restrict Texas abortions, Gov. Rick Perry announced Wednesday that he’s calling lawmakers back next week to try again.

 
Japan conversation robot ready for outer space

The world’s first space conversation experiment between a robot and humans is ready to be launched.

 
Snowden mystery deepens: All eyes on airport

Moscow’s main airport swarmed with media from around the globe Wednesday, but the man they were looking for — National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden — was nowhere to be seen. The mystery of the former spy’s whereabouts only deepened a day after President Vladimir Putin said that Snowden was in the transit area of Sheremetyevo Airport.

 
Oregon put on probation, loses scholarship

The NCAA has taken away a scholarship for each of the next three seasons and placed Oregon’s football program on probation for three years for recruiting violations under previous coach Chip Kelly.

 
Texas abortion bill falls after challenge

AUSTIN, Texas — Despite barely beating a midnight deadline, hundreds of jeering protesters helped stop Texas lawmakers from passing one of the toughest abortion measures in the country.