U.S. Top News: Lawyers for two friends of accused Boston bombers due in court

	Click to View in Browser 12/19/2014 Lawyers for two friends of accused Boston bombers due in court BOSTON (Reuters) - Lawyers for two friends of the accused Boston Marathon bombers are due in court on Friday for separate hearings as the city braces for the January start of a trial focused on the attack that killed three people and injured more than 260. White House releases snapshot of plan to rate U.S. colleges WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Friday released a draft of its plan to rate U.S. colleges and tie federal aid to performance as a way to coax institutions to pull up their socks. In North Dakota, countdown looms for $5.3 billion oil tax break BISMARCK, N.D. (Reuters) - Tumbling U.S. oil markets hit an important if obscure milestone on Thursday, closing for the first time at a price that could trigger a $5.3 billion, two-year tax break for North Dakota oil drillers as soon as next summer. U.S. green groups sue EPA over stormwater regulations WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two environmental groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for what the groups said was failing to comply with a court order requiring the agency to strengthen regulations preventing pollution from stormwater runoff. Families of victims of fatal Texas festival crash sue organizers (Reuters) - Families of the victims and survivors of a fatal March crash outside the popular South by Southwest festival in Austin sued the organizers on Thursday, according to court documents and local media. Former Chrysler Group recalling pickups for possible loose fastener DETROIT (Reuters) - FCA US, the former Chrysler Group, is recalling almost 288,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks globally that had been under review by U.S. safety regulators over complaints that a loose fastener might cause the rear axle to lock up or detach. Louisville lawmakers approve minimum wage hike LOUISVILLE, Ky (Reuters) - Louisville, Kentucky officials on Thursday approved an increase to the city's minimum wage, boosting it from the federal rate of $7.25 to $9 an hour by 2017, becoming the 12th city to approve a hike this year. As U.S. eases hostilities, Cuba faces new challenge HAVANA (Reuters) - For decades, it was Cuba's first response to criticism. Massive Los Angeles construction fire was arson, authorities say LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A construction fire that gutted an entire city block of downtown Los Angeles and caused up to $30 million in damages was an act of arson, authorities said on Thursday. Washington governor pushes capital gains tax in face of budget gap SEATTLE (Reuters) - Washington state Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday proposed a new tax on capital gains to try to close a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 billion, rolling back on a no-new-taxes campaign pledge. Related Video Mourning continues after school massacre Sony withdrawal of 'The Interview' irks both hackers, film buffs Great Debate The reason oil could drop as low as $20 per barrel U.S.-Cuba deal: What the two sides get out of it A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend