U.S. Top News: Obama, fresh from re-election, has little time to savor win

	Click to View in Browser 11/7/2012 Obama, fresh from re-election, has little time to savor win WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fresh from a decisive re-election win, President Barack Obama returns from the campaign trail on Wednesday with little time to savor victory, facing urgent economic and fiscal challenges and a still-divided Congress capable of blocking his every move. Colorado, Washington first states to legalize recreational pot DENVER/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Colorado and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use on Tuesday in defiance of federal law, setting the stage for a possible showdown with the Obama administration. New York, New Jersey order evacuations ahead of new storm NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York and New Jersey ordered the evacuation of nursing homes and low-lying coastal areas already devastated by deadly Superstorm Sandy as a smaller but still powerful Nor'easter approached from the Atlantic Ocean. Maryland voters approve gay marriage, Maine poised to do so NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maryland voters approved same-sex marriage on Tuesday while similar measures in Maine and Washington state also appeared on track to pass, marking the first time marriage rights have been extended to same-sex couples by popular vote. Mortgage applications down as Sandy hit Northeast: MBA NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for home mortgages fell last week as Superstorm Sandy battered the East Coast and disrupted normal business activity for millions of people, an industry group said on Wednesday. Measure to end death penalty in California trails SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - A California ballot measure to abolish the death penalty on cost grounds trailed in early results from Tuesday's election, but voters agreed to soften a "three strikes" law that gives longer sentences to habitual criminals. Despite quibble by Republican election guru, Ohio went for Obama COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - For a brief moment on Tuesday evening, it appeared that U.S. television networks might have called the presidential election too early for President Barack Obama as doubts crept in about whether the Democrat had won Ohio as TV networks projected. Arizona defeats ballot measure contesting Grand Canyon ownership PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona voters on Tuesday defeated a ballot measure contesting ownership of the Grand Canyon and other federal lands in the state, handing another defeat to the "sagebrush revolt" by Republicans in Western states. Election over but final Florida results still not in MIAMI (Reuters) - Americans gave President Barack Obama a second term in office, but it still wasn't clear early on Wednesday whether the president won the key battleground state of Florida. NY University faces growing criticism after Sandy kills lab mice NEW YORK (Reuters) - After superstorm Sandy flooded New York University's medical research laboratories, first accounts were of Herculean rescue efforts. Animal-care staffers spent the night watching over their furry charges and, the next morning, a bucket brigade of scientists and others hauled dry ice up 15 flights to save tissue samples and human organs kept on ice for research. Related Video Russians, Greeks welcome Obama win U.S. Morning Call: Stocks futures down on Obama re-election Great Debate A vote for 'Election Week' Can one-party rule fix California? 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