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Disgraced ex-congressman Anthony Weiner running for New York mayor

From the Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:18:00 PDT

The former representative who resigned after his racy tweets surfaced may make it to a runoff for the office.

NEW YORK — Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose career imploded in a rash of raunchy tweets two years ago, announced in a YouTube video late Tuesday that he is running for mayor of New York.

Pentagon faces another sex scandal

By Shashank Bengali, Washington Bureau — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:32:00 PDT

Brig. Gen. Bryan T. Roberts, Army basic training camp commander, is suspended over allegations of 'adultery and a physical altercation,' military officials say.

WASHINGTON — The Army suspended the commander of its main basic training camp Tuesday for alleged adultery, the latest in a string of military officers accused of sexual misconduct.

IRS' last two commissioners deny lying; official to take the 5th

By Joseph Tanfani, Richard Simon and Melanie Mason, Washington Bureau — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:13:00 PDT

The Senate Finance Committee grills the IRS' Douglas Shulman and Steven Miller. Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations, will invoke the 5th Amendment.

WASHINGTON — As the Internal Revenue Service's last two directors struggled to provide answers Tuesday about the agency's improper scrutiny of conservative groups, a lawyer for another key IRS official said she would invoke the 5th Amendment rather than answer questions about the screening and why she didn't tell Congress about it.

Guatemala full of questions after genocide conviction annulled

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:00 PDT

It's unclear what kind of retrial former dictator Efrain Rios Montt will face, or whether the nation's power brokers played any role in the high court ruling.

MEXICO CITY — The Guatemalan high court's decision to annul the genocide conviction of former military dictator Efrain Rios Montt on Tuesday revived questions about his responsibility for the slaughter of some 1,700 ethnic Maya people.

Rescue efforts ongoing as grim scene emerges after tornado

By Matt Pearce — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:53:00 PDT

MOORE, Okla. -- After darkness fell over this tornado-stricken city on Monday night and early Tuesday morning, rescuers confronted a strange and grim tableau.

Ray Manzarek dies at 74; keyboardist for the Doors

By Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:00 PDT

Manzarek, who was influenced by John Coltrane, added a jazz component to the band's rock sound and filled the role of bassist. The band charted 15 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 starting in 1967.

When the Doors were still a fledgling quartet, and the band members were honing their chops playing five sets a night at the London Fog club in Hollywood, it wasn't rock stardom on keyboardist Ray Manzarek's mind as he and his three band mates laid down an extended jam for their debut album that ran more than seven minutes.

Supreme Court to revisit church-state separation

By David G. Savage, Washington Bureau — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:42:00 PDT

Justices will decide whether a town council violates the 1st Amendment by opening its monthly meetings with a Christian prayer.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has agreed to revisit the issue of church-state separation and decide whether a town council can begin most of its monthly meetings with a prayer from a Christian pastor.

Mile-wide tornado flattens school, homes near Oklahoma City

From the Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 PDT

There are no reported deaths so far amid rubble and fire in suburban Moore, Okla.

MOORE, Okla. — A monstrous tornado as much as a mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.

USC made its offer to neuroscientists a no-brainer

By Larry Gordon and Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

The school's 'all hands on deck' effort to lure Arthur Toga and Paul Thompson from UCLA included money and the prospect of new collaborations, as well as less tangible personal perks.

The courtship that has riveted the neuroscience world blossomed at a Saturday night dinner in a tony Brentwood restaurant.

Labor group won't back away from campaign mailer

By David Zahniser, Laura J. Nelson and Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:37:00 PDT

Mailer to Latino voters urges support for Wendy Greuel because she 'will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour,' but Greuel does not back that minimum pay level for all workers.

The most powerful labor organization in Los Angeles refused Friday to back away from a campaign mailer in which it urges voters to support Wendy Greuel for mayor because she "will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour."