Kids spoke of missing mother before Washington home blast

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The two young sons of a man who blew up his Washington state home, killing himself and his children, had recently begun to speak about their mother's 2009 disappearance, family lawyers said on Monday.

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.

Obama nominates Air Force's first female four-star general

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Janet Wolfenbarger to become the service's first woman four-star general, military officials said on Monday.

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.

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.

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.

Ohio man pleads guilty in U.S. to supporting al Shabaab

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - An Ohio man pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in Minnesota to U.S. charges of helping raise money for al Shabaab rebels in Somalia, prosecutors said.

judge allows enforcement of Texas abortion law

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday allowed the state of Texas to begin enforcing a law requiring abortion providers to show or describe to a woman an ultrasound image of her fetus, but criticized an appeals court that earlier overturned his decision to block parts of the statute.

Michigan Senate candidate slammed over Asian campaign ad

(Reuters) - A Michigan Republican Senate candidate's campaign ad showing an Asian actress speaking in halting English drew fire from Asian-American and civil rights groups on Monday who said the commercial plays on racial stereotypes.

Ohio man pleads guilty to supporting al-Shabaab

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - A 27-year-old Ohio man pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges of helping raise money for al-Shabaab rebels in Somalia, prosecutors said.