U.S. Top News: Lawmakers launch budget talks as Washington returns to work

	Click to View in Browser 10/18/2013 Lawmakers launch budget talks as Washington returns to work WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers launched an effort to resolve budget differences in a less confrontational fashion on Thursday as Washington picked up the pieces from a political crisis that has slowed the economy and undermined the country's international standing. Prosecutors to appeal new trial ruling for New Orleans cops NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will appeal a district judge's decision to grant a new trial to five former New Orleans police officers convicted in the killing of two unarmed people in a post-Hurricane Katrina shooting in 2005, according to court filings. San Francisco rail workers strike after talks break down SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Commuter rail workers in the San Francisco Bay Area went on strike on Friday after talks with management over a new contract broke down, throwing the morning commute into chaos in the traffic-clogged region. U.S. nuclear arms modernization plan misguided: scientists' group WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Obama administration plan to spend $60 billion over the next 25 years to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal is misguided and violates the spirit of its pledge not to develop new nuclear arms, a Union of Concerned Scientists report said on Thursday. Accused Colorado theater gunman saw lawyer 13 hours after requesting counsel CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Reuters) - Police did not allow accused Colorado theater gunman James Holmes access to lawyers for 13 hours after he asked for legal counsel following his arrest, and ignored demands by his lawyers that he not be interrogated, defense attorneys said on Thursday. Air marshal accused of taking photos up skirts at Nashville airport NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Police arrested an on-duty federal air marshal on Thursday and accused him of using his cell phone to take photographs beneath the dresses or skirts of female passengers as they boarded a flight at the Nashville airport, authorities said. Obama picks attorney Jeh Johnson for Homeland Security chief WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will nominate former Pentagon attorney Jeh Johnson, a national security expert who had a role in ending the military's ban on gays in the military, to be Homeland Security chief, a White House official said on Thursday. California pension fund to appeal San Bernardino bankruptcy eligibility (Reuters) - The largest U.S. public employee pension fund said Thursday that it would appeal an August court ruling granting Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection to the city of San Bernardino, California. Girls stopped for shoplifting in New York had human fetus in bag NEW YORK (Reuters) - Security guards who stopped two 17-year-old girls suspected of shoplifting at a Victoria's Secret on Thursday found a human fetus inside a bag one of them was carrying, New York City police said. New NSA deputy expected to be leaks task force head: sources WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Richard Ledgett, who heads a new task force at the National Security Agency to handle information leaks, is expected to take over as the deputy director of the spy agency after the current No. 2 retires in January, sources told Reuters. Related Video Australia fires claim more homes Dozens killed in Iraq bomb wave Great Debate The Omidyar way Foreign investment in France thrives despite gripes — for now 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