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Bomb found in mailbox at George Soros' New York home

A package containing an explosive device was found in a mailbox outside a New York home owned by billionaire financier George Soros, and the FBI was searching for the sender on Tuesday. Soros, one of the world's biggest donors to liberal groups and causes, has become a hate figure for right-wing campaigners in the United States and eastern Europe, and the target of a hostile media campaign by the nationalist government in his native Hungary. An employee at the home in Katonah, New York, opened the package at around 3:45 p.m. on Monday to find what appeared to be an explosive device, the Bedford Police Department said in a statement.

Trail-blazing retired U.S. Justice O'Connor says she has dementia

"Some time ago, doctors diagnosed me with the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease," O'Connor, 88, said in a letter issued by the court. Alzheimer's is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills. O'Connor, who had served as a state judge in her native Arizona, was appointed to the nine-member court by Republican former President Ronald Reagan during his first year in office and she retired in 2006.

White House to press forward with Trump's Space Command

White House advisers on Tuesday are set to recommend that U.S. President Donald Trump's planned U.S. Space Command develop ways for the military to operate in outer space, according to two administration officials briefed on the plans. The National Space Council, a White House advisory panel, will also recommend a review of existing treaty issues, and will unveil proposed legislation for Congress to create and fund a separate space agency to oversee commercial activities, the officials said. The council's recommendations are set to be made at a meeting later on Tuesday at the National Defense University in Washington, where Vice President Mike Pence is also scheduled to speak.

Record $1.6 billion jackpot up for grabs in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing

Lottery officials said any increase in the $1.6 billion jackpot would likely occur around midday on Tuesday. The Mega Millions jackpot, along with a Powerball lottery prize that stands at $620 million, has caused lotto fever to sweep across the United States over the last few days. "I'd like to change my way of life." Mega Millions set a record for lottery jackpots after nobody won the $1 billion prize on Friday.

Hundreds of migrant children held in U.S. tent city for months: filings

More than 500 children have been housed in tents near Tornillo, Texas since August, and 46 have been held there since June, according to a Friday court filing in Los Angeles federal court by civil rights organizations and advocacy groups representing migrant children. The filing opposes a government request to exempt the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which runs the tent city as a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), from oversight by a court-ordered monitor.

U.S. top court blocks questioning of Ross in census suit

The justices issued a stay of the Sept. 21 order by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan requiring Ross to face questioning by lawyers for the states while litigation over the politically charged dispute continues. It represented only a partial win for President Donald Trump's administration as the justices declined to halt Furman's orders compelling a top Justice Department official, John Gore, to sit for a deposition and for the administration to hand over more documents on the matter. Conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas said they would have issued a complete stay.

Judge bars New Hampshire proof of residency requirement for new voters

The temporary injunction against the Republican-backed law comes two weeks before U.S. Congressional elections that will determine whether opposition Democrats or U.S. President Donald Trump's Republicans retain full control of the federal government's legislative branch. The measure, which passed largely along party lines and went into effect last year, required those seeking to register within 30 days of an election to present documents proving that they live in the area where they intend to vote. "Where the law threatens to disenfranchise an individual's right to vote, the only viable remedy is to enjoin its enforcement," Presiding Justice Kenneth C. Brown wrote in his decision for the Hillsborough Superior Court Northern District in Manchester.

Trump says transgender policy seeks to 'protect the country'

Asked about a campaign promise to protect the LGBT community, Trump said: "I'm protecting everybody. Under a proposal first reported by the New York Times on Sunday, the Trump administration would narrow the definition of gender to male or female at birth and it would be unchangeable later in life. The move would remove recognition of and protections for transgender people under U.S. civil rights laws promoted by the prior administration of President Barack Obama in health care, schools and the military.

Twitter removes more accounts affiliated with Infowars

The company confirmed a CNN report, which said Twitter permanently suspended 18 accounts, partly because of their attempts to help Infowars and Jones circumvent the ban placed on them by Twitter in September.

Trump says transgender policy seeks to 'protect the country'

Asked about a campaign promise to protect the LGBT community, Trump said: "I'm protecting everybody. The move would remove recognition of and protections for transgender people under U.S. civil rights laws promoted by the prior administration of President Barack Obama in health care, schools and the military. The reported proposal comes little more than a week after New York City created a gender-neutral "X" option for birth certificates, joining California, Oregon, Washington state and New Jersey in offering a third gender category on the government-issued identity documents.

U.S. gets lottery fever as jackpots rise to $2.2 billion

Gregory Baron, 24, and Ben Nelson, 27, on Monday were eagerly purchasing $2 tickets for the Mega Millions jackpot in hopes of winning the record-setting $1.6 billion prize and becoming among the richest people in the world. "I would incorporate myself as a business and become my own company," Baron said inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, adding that he would also pay off his student loans and parents' mortgage and donate to charities if he wins. The Mega Millions website briefly crashed on Monday ahead of the drawing due to a surge in visitors, said a spokeswoman for the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, which administers the website.

Mega Millions website crashes as record jackpot draws clicks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Mega Millions lottery website crashed on Monday ahead of a record $1.6 billion drawing on Tuesday night.

Actress Amber Heard says birth on U.S.-Mexico border sparked rights activism

U.S. actress Amber Heard, a star of the upcoming "Aquaman" superhero movie and a U.N. human rights champion, said on Monday her childhood in Texas near the Mexican border helped spark her activism. Going home in his pickup truck, there was an "indelible impression left on my soul", a recognition of injustice and unfairness for children on the Mexican side. "Simply due to where I was born, a few miles north of this line, I was free to travel back and forth as I saw fit," she told an audience at the United Nations in Geneva on Monday.

State of Play: Tightening Arizona race threatens Democrats' slim Senate hopes

By James Oliphant PHOENIX, Ariz. (Reuters) - For most of this year, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has run what has been viewed widely as one of the best races in the nation. But with less than a month to go to Election Day, there are doubts whether she can make it across the finish line. Her matchup with Republican Martha McSally appears to be tightening at the same time that some voters are casting their ballots with the start of early voting in the state. ...

Lioness kills father of her cubs at Indianapolis zoo

Zoo staff were alerted by "an unusual amount of roaring" coming from the lion pen on Monday and arrived to find the 12-year-old female lion Zuri in a fight with the 10-year-old male lion Nyack, the zoo said in a statement. "She had Nyack by the neck. A necropsy found that Nyack died of suffocation from injuries to the neck.

New York witches aim hex at Supreme Court's Brett Kavanaugh despite death threats

"It gives the people who are seeking agency a little bit of chance to have that back," Madara said. Seated at a desk phone among bird skulls and crystal balls at Catland Books, the occult shop she co-owns, Madara said the Kavanaugh hex is expected to be the most popular event the store has hosted since its 2013 opening, including spells aimed at President Donald Trump. Madara declined to provide details of what the latest ritual will entail.

U.S. Mega Millions lottery hits record $1.6 billion after no winners on Friday

The next Mega Millions draw will be on Tuesday, after no one hit all of the numbers of 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and the Mega Ball 7 during Friday night's draw. "Mega Millions has already entered historic territory, but it's truly astounding to think that now the jackpot has reached an all-time world record," Gordon Medenica, lead director of the Mega Millions Group, said in a statement. The current jackpot beats the previous record, a $1.586 billion jackpot for a Powerball drawing in 2016, said Seth Elkin, a spokesman for Mega Millions.

Montenegrins protest against Albanian dam on shared river

Dozens of environmental activists cycled from Montenegro's capital to the Albanian border on Saturday to protest over the neighboring nation's construction of a dam on the Cijevna river that flows through both countries. As governments hurry to meet renewable energy goals set by the Paris climate change agreement, plans to build almost 3,000 small hydro-power plants have sparked protests across the Balkans this year.

USC agrees to $215 million settlement in California gynecologist case

The University of Southern California has reached a $215 million proposed settlement with former patients of a gynecologist at the school who was accused of sexual abuse, the president of the university said in a letter on Friday seen by Reuters. The settlement centers on the conduct of George Tyndall, who practiced at USC until he was suspended in 2016 after a complaint from a health worker accusing him of making sexually inappropriate comments to patients. More than 400 women have since accused Tyndall of sexual abuse, some in a federal lawsuit covered by the settlement and others in state lawsuits that are still pending.

Lotto fever grips U.S. as Mega Millions jackpot hits $1 billion

The winner of such a prize would be worth more than Vera Bradley Inc and easily have enough money left over to buy a full set of the company's trademark paisley purses and luggage. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. If more than one winner is picked, the jackpot would be divided proportionately, as happened when the previous Mega Millions record of $656 million was drawn in March 2012 and was shared by winners in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland, a lottery official said.

Trump criticized for praising congressman who body-slammed reporter

President Donald Trump reiterated his support for a Montana congressman who body-slammed a reporter last year, even as he came under criticism on Friday from U.S. lawmakers and press organizations. Trump's praise for Greg Gianforte, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives who pleaded guilty to an assault charge for the incident involving the reporter, coincides with an international outcry over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "Any guy that can do a body-slam, he's my guy," Trump told a political rally in Missoula, Montana on Thursday night, referring to Gianforte.

USC agrees to $215 million settlement in California gynecologist case

The University of Southern California has reached a $215 million proposed settlement with former patients of a gynecologist at the school who was accused of sexual abuse, the president of the university said in a letter on Friday seen by Reuters. The settlement centers on the conduct of George Tyndall, who practiced at USC until he was suspended in 2016 after a complaint from a health worker accusing him of making sexually inappropriate comments to patients. Hundreds of women have since then accused Tyndall of sexual abuse.

Texas toddler left at stranger's house, instead of with dad

The woman who left the child, a friend of the mother, was initially suspected of child abandonment after video, shared widely on social media, showed her hoisting the toddler by the arm to a stranger's house in the northern Houston suburb of Spring on Thursday, authorities said. "The suspect in the video dropped the child off after the father had left the residence and at the wrong address," Lieutenant Scott Spencer of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. "The female in the video then left location without verifying anyone was home or who she was releasing the child to," Spencer said.

Factbox: Over 124,000 homes without power in Florida, Georgia after Hurricane Michael

In total, more than 3.3 million customers lost power from Florida to New York after Michael struck the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10 as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour (250 kph). Some customers in the hardest-hit parts of Florida may have to wait another week or two until service is restored, utilities said.

Pennsylvania law to make hazing punishable as felony

Named the “Timothy Piazza Anti-Hazing Law” after a Penn State freshman who died during hazing activities at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house in February 2017, the bill unanimously passed the Legislature. “It’s a really big deal, a real change in landscape,” said Tom Kline, a Philadelphia lawyer who has represented the Piazza family since their son’s death. The law also allows the seizing of fraternity houses involved in hazing incidents, a provision that could make the Pennsylvania law tougher than Florida’s, which also provides for felony charges, said Tracy Maxwell, founder of Hazing Prevention, a national group.

Texas police hunt woman who left toddler at stranger's door

A woman is suspected of child abandonment for hoisting a two-year-old boy by the arm to the house of a stranger in a northern Houston suburb, ringing the doorbell and running away, authorities said on Thursday. Neither woman nor child has been identified in the incident that unfolded in less than 30 seconds on surveillance video, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said. "The child is uninjured and appears to be in good health," it said, adding that the boy was in the custody of Child Protective Services and was being asked who left him behind.

After ad gaffe, North Dakota's Heitkamp apologizes in Senate debate

The ad, intended to highlight her support of women following the brutal debate over a U.S. Supreme Court nominee accused of sexual assault, was an untimely gaffe for Heitkamp as she struggles to hang on to her seat in next month's election in a state that Republican President Donald Trump won by a landslide in 2016. "Unfortunately, this week I not only disappointed many in North Dakota, I disappointed myself," Heitkamp said. After Heitkamp's apology, Cramer seemed to see little need to go on the attack, keeping a cordial tone as the two discussed immigration, sexual assault, gun violence in schools and the impact of Trump's trade tariffs.

Ex-FBI agent charged with leaking sentenced to 48 months

Albury's sentence is much harsher than his defense lawyers had hoped, but slightly less severe than the 52-month prison term that federal prosecutors were seeking. Albury pleaded guilty to two counts of leaking classified materials earlier this year. Joshua Dratel, Albury's lawyer who earlier confirmed the sentence to Reuters, declined to comment further.

Justice Department probes Catholic Church sex abuse in Pennsylvania

The investigation is the first statewide probe by federal authorities of allegations of sex abuse and cover-up by the Catholic Church in the United States.

Judge orders U.S. to review asylum for separated migrant families

The order directs the government to begin the process of reviewing asylum claims for about 60 detained parents and children, even if their claims had previously been denied. Civil rights attorneys argued in court papers that the government was violating a September settlement agreement that had cleared the way for more than 1,000 immigrants separated by U.S. officials to have their asylum claims reconsidered. Department of Justice attorneys at the time promised the court the government would "get moving" on the agreement.

U.S. Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion, second largest on record

The immediate cash value of the Mega Millions prize is $548 million. Among the throngs dreaming of what to do with potential winnings was Erica Young, who works in the Manhattan hotel industry, and who decided to buy a ticket a day ahead of the drawing. Each of the 24 semi-weekly drawings have failed to produce a top winner since July 24, when an 11-member office pool in Santa Clara County, California, hit a $543 million jackpot.

Florida's Republicans feel brunt of hurricane in upcoming election

To her shock, the 69-year-old retired teacher found her mail-in absentee ballot sitting in her post office box in the town of Port St. Joe. With much of the region still working to secure basic services like electricity, passable roads and phone service after one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the United States, election officials in the Panhandle are scrambling to ensure tens of thousands of people are able to vote. In Florida, the ballot includes one of the country's most closely watched races for the U.S. Senate, pitting Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson against Republican Governor Rick Scott.

Thousands in U.S. South may not be able to cast ballots in early voting

The delay disproportionately affected the area around Memphis, a majority African-American city, leading activists to charge the Republican-controlled state government has not done enough to protect the rights of young and minority voters. State officials, however, said they were simply struggling to keep up with a surge in paperwork ahead of Election Day. Democrats view that matchup as one of their few chances to pick up the two additional seats in the U.S. Senate they would need to take a majority and more effectively oppose President Donald Trump's agenda, though recent polls show Blackburn ahead.

Former USA Gymnastics boss arrested for Nassar evidence-tampering

Steve Penny, the former USA Gymnastics president, was arrested on Wednesday night in Tennessee on charges he tampered with evidence in the case of Larry Nassar, the disgraced team doctor convicted of sexually assaulting athletes, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Penny is due to be extradited to Walker County in Texas to face allegations he removed documents from the USA Gymnastics national team training center there, the U.S. Marshals Service's statement said. Nassar was sentenced in February to up to 125 years in prison after some 200 women, including Olympians, testified about decades of abuse at his hands.

Trump administration asks high court to halt climate change case

President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday for a second time asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put the brakes on a lawsuit filed by young activists who have accused the U.S. government of ignoring the perils of climate change. In the lawsuit, 21 activists, ages 11 to 22, said federal officials violated their rights to due process under the U.S. Constitution by failing to adequately address carbon pollution such as emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The lawsuit was filed in 2015 against former President Barack Obama and government agencies in a federal court in Eugene, Oregon.