Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

DENVER | In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

GRAPEVINE, Texas | The Boy Scouts of America's national leadership will vote Thursday on whether to allow openly gay Scouts in its ranks, a critical and emotionally charged moment for one of the nation's oldest youth organizations and its millions of members.

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

This undated photo provided by Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., shows its co-founders David and Barbara Green who are asking a federal appeals court in Denver on Thursday, May 23, 2013, for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that…

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

Customers are seen at a Hobby Lobby store in Denver on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. A challenge to the federal health care law faces its most prominent test yet in a full 10th Circuit hearing in Denver on Thursday. Hobby Lobby stores is challenging a federal mandate requiring it to offer employe…

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

DENVER (AP) — In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with her son Nathaniel Hall, 8, as they hold signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scou…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

John Stemberger, center, leads a press conference backed by people against the proposed change in the Boy Scouts of America gay policy Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting nearby are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts i…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, center, is greeted as her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, bottom, looks on during the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Deleg…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Matthew Ray, 15, of North Richland Hills, Texas, holds signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, left, rests her head on her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, before an news conference at the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

An unidentified protestor holds a sign near where the Boy Scouts of America is holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Boys Scout Alex Derr speaks out against anit-gay rules during the Equal Scouting Summit Press Conference being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. The boxes in front of Derr hold petitions calling for the Bo…

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

This undated photo provided by Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., shows its co-founders David and Barbara Green who are asking a federal appeals court in Denver on Thursday, May 23, 2013, for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that…

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

Customers are seen at a Hobby Lobby store in Denver on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. A challenge to the federal health care law faces its most prominent test yet in a full 10th Circuit hearing in Denver on Thursday. Hobby Lobby stores is challenging a federal mandate requiring it to offer employe…

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

VATICAN CITY | Pope Francis' obsession with the devil took on remarkable new twists Tuesday, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man possessed by four different demons despite the Vatican's insistence that no such papal exorcism took place.

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

In this image made from video provided by APTN, Pope Francis lays his hands on the head of a young man on Sunday, May 19, 2013, after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square. The young man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, convulsed and shook, and then slumped in his wheelchair as Francis pra…

The pope and the devil: Is Francis an exorcist?

In this image made from video provided by APTN, Pope Francis lays his hands on the head of a young man on Sunday, May 19, 2013, after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square. The young man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, convulsed and shook, and then slumped in his wheelchair as Francis pra…

Prayer case set for U.S. Supreme Court similar to Ind. House dispute

INDIANAPOLIS | Attorney General Greg Zoeller believes Indiana may play a key role in a national question of religion and government whose answer is certain to divide an already fractured country.

Wave of attacks kills at least 95 in Iraq

Civilians inspect the site of a car bomb attack in front of a crowded popular restaurant in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, May 20, 2013. Two car bombings in the southern city of Basra, killing and wounding dozens of people, police said. Iraq has seen a …

Wave of attacks kills at least 95 in Iraq

Civilians gather at the site of a car bomb attack in front of a crowded popular restaurant in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, May 20, 2013. Two car bombings in the southern city of Basra, killing and wounding dozens of people, police said. Iraq has seen …