U.S. Top News: WikiLeaks suspect Manning defers plea, court-martial begins

02/24/2012 WikiLeaks suspect Manning defers plea, court-martial begins FORT MEADE, Maryland (Reuters) - U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, accused of the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history, deferred a plea in a military court arraignment on Thursday, marking the first step in a court-martial that could land him in prison for life. Opening statements begin in Rutgers student suicide NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Prosecutors kicked off opening statements on Friday in the trial of a former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his roommate's homosexual tryst, saying he violated the "dignity and privacy" of his roommate who later committed suicide. Maine gets enough support for gay marriage referendum (Reuters) - Proponents of same-sex marriage in Maine have gathered more than enough signatures to ask voters in a November referendum to approve gay nuptials just three years after they banned them. Report: Federal authorities seek Penn State records on Sandusky (Reuters) - Federal authorities have joined the investigation into the Penn State sex abuse scandal and have requested information involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky as well as other top school officials involved in the case, according to local media. Maryland gay marriage bill passes, heads to governor ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Reuters) - The Maryland Senate approved on Thursday a same-sex marriage bill that will now be sent to Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has promised to sign the legislation and make the state the eighth in the nation to legalize gay and lesbian nuptials. Deaths linked to tub paint stripper prompts warning (Reuters) - Federal health officials on Friday warned of serious hazards for workers and consumers using a common paint-stripping agent for bathtub refinishing after linking the chemicals to 13 deaths over the last decade. Seven Marines killed in copter training collision PHOENIX (Reuters) - Two U.S. military helicopters collided during a training exercise over the desert along the Arizona-California border, killing all seven Marines aboard, the Marine Corps said on Thursday. S&P faults New Jersey governor's proposed budget (Reuters) - The $32 billion budget plan New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proposed this week fails to solve a structural imbalance and relies on rosy assumptions for revenue increases, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said on Friday. DC Cherry Blossom centennial fest unfazed by bloomin' warm WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Above-average temperatures have brought February blooms to Washington, but organizers of the centennial National Cherry Blossom Festival see the springlike winter as no threat to their celebration. States, Catholics sue over contraceptives rule WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Seven states, Catholic groups and individuals on Thursday filed the first major lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's new contraceptive regulations, arguing that the policy violated the constitutional rights to religious freedom. Related Video The Exchange: Confidence Game "Friends of Syria" to push for ceasefire Great Debate Does the G20 matter? The G20 needs to embrace growth A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend