Amanda Knox appeals slander conviction in Italy

(Reuters) - Lawyers for Amanda Knox, who was cleared of murder in October by an Italian court, on Monday asked an appeals court there to overturn her slander conviction as well, a spokesman said.

Former lobbyist Abramoff balks at naming ex-associates

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jack Abramoff, the former lobbyist at the center of a U.S. bribery scandal six years ago, said on Monday he does not want to publicly identify former associates because he does not want to see more people hurt.

U.S. judge grants more time for accused Tucson shooter

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A federal judge has agreed that the man charged with a deadly shooting spree last year that gravely wounded then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has made "measureable progress" in regaining his mental fitness to stand trial.

"Intentional" explosion kills husband, two sons of missing woman

(Reuters) - An "intentional" house explosion on Sunday near Tacoma, Washington killed the husband and two sons of a Utah woman missing since December 2009, fire department officials said.

Cab driver admits giving cash to militant linked to al Qaeda

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Chicago cab driver pleaded guilty on Monday to giving hundreds of dollars to a senior Pakistan-based al Qaeda operative implicated in militant plots in South Asia and Europe who was killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in June.

Virginia Senate votes to repeal limit on gun purchases

PORTSMOUTH, Va (Reuters) - Virginia lawmakers on Monday moved toward lifting a 19-year-old law limiting handgun purchases to one per month, despite a recent history of campus shootings and critics' concerns that the state will become a "gunrunners' paradise."

Washington D.C. workers probed in benefits fraud

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 130 municipal employees in Washington, D.C. may have scammed the city by collecting jobless benefits while still at work, officials said on Monday, in the latest controversy to hit the local government.

Former intern reveals 18-month affair with JFK

(Reuters) - A former White House intern is speaking out about an 18-month affair she had with President John F. Kennedy while he was in office, revealing intimate details in a new book to be published on Wednesday.

Oklahoma to cut income taxes by closing "loopholes"

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla (Reuters) - Oklahoma's pro-business governor announced a plan on Monday to dramatically cut state income tax rates and eventually do away with the tax altogether, and said the state would pay for the cuts by closing "loopholes."

New Jersey gay marriage votes set for later in February

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey's Democrat-controlled state legislature will vote next week on bills to legalize same-sex marriage, the Democratic leadership said on Monday, adding pressure to Governor Chris Christie who opposes the measure.