Secret Service chief apologizes for prostitution scandal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Secret Service, in his first public appearance since a Colombian prostitution scandal involving his employees surfaced last month, apologized for the misconduct on Wednesday as lawmakers expressed doubt it was an isolated incident.

New York pension fund assets hit $150 billion, near peak

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state's pension fund assets rose 5.96 percent to $150.3 billion in the 2012 fiscal year, not far from the $154 billion peak set in 2007, the state's comptroller said on Wednesday.

Winds, heat hamper fight to contain Southwest wildfires

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Fire crews hampered by wind gusts and dry conditions on Wednesday made slow gains battling dangerous forest and brush fires in the U.S. Southwest, including a wildfire in Nevada that doubled in size overnight and destroyed 17 buildings and two homes.

Senior priest testifies in own defense at sex abuse trial

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Monsignor William Lynn testified on Wednesday at his criminal trial in a Philadelphia pedophilia case that he reassigned a predator priest to live in parish housing attached to an elementary school, where he ultimately abused another child.

California man, 101, killed by car driven by woman of 91

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 101-year-old man crossing an intersection in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank was struck by a car being driven by a 91-year-old woman and later died of his injuries, police said on Wednesday.

Hearings delayed for two arrested in pre-NATO raids

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A judge on Wednesday gave prosecutors more time to assemble their case against two men arrested on terrorism-related and possession of explosives charges ahead of the NATO summit.

150,000 more US heat deaths projected by 2100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Killer heat fueled by climate change could cause an additional 150,000 deaths this century in the biggest U.S. cities if no steps are taken to curb carbon emissions and improve emergency services, according to a new report.

Jury deliberations resume in ex-U.S. Senator Edwards' trial

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - The North Carolina jury deciding whether former U.S. Senator John Edwards violated federal election laws during his 2008 presidential bid entered its fourth day of deliberations on Wednesday after it requested a closer look at some evidence.

Phony "dying bride" ordered to repay victims

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York bride who faked having terminal cancer to swindle well-wishers into funding her dream wedding and honeymoon to the Caribbean on Wednesday was ordered to repay more than $13,000 to her victims, prosecutors said.

U.S. will not charge passenger who caused US Airways scare

(Reuters) - The passenger who said she had a surgically-implanted device in her body and caused a US Airways jetliner to divert to Maine will not face criminal charges in the security scare, prosecutors said on Wednesday.