U.S. Top News: Inmates go high-tech as startup mania hits San Quentin

	Click to View in Browser 02/25/2013 Inmates go high-tech as startup mania hits San Quentin SAN QUENTIN, California (Reuters) - One by one, the entrepreneurs, clad in crisp blue jeans and armed with PowerPoint presentations, stood before a roomful of investors and tech bloggers to explain their dreams of changing the world. High school graduation rate up sharply, but red flags abound (Reuters) - For the first time in decades, the United States is making steady gains in the number of high school students earning diplomas, putting it on pace to reach a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020, according to a new analysis released Monday. Plains states threatened by strong winter storm (Reuters) - A powerful winter storm threatened the U.S. southern plains states on Monday, promising a mix of rain and snow that was likely to bring heavy snowfall to southeastern Kansas and central Missouri from Monday night to Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said. Key test looms for Stockton, California, bankruptcy bid SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The city of Stockton, California, has a strong case heading into court next week in a bid to establish eligibility for bankruptcy protection, a move contested by bond insurers of more than $350 million of its debt, lawyers watching the case predicted. Four people missing in sailboat mishap off northern California SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard searched on Sunday for two adults and two children missing with their sailboat after sending a distress call that their vessel was in trouble along the California coast south of San Francisco, the agency said. Study says too many Americans still drink too much (Reuters) - On any given day in the United States, 18 percent of men and 11 percent of women drink more alcohol than federal guidelines recommend, according to a study that also found that 8 percent of men and 3 percent of women are full-fledged "heavy drinkers." New Jersey, its "comeback" derailed, sets another budget (Reuters) - A year ago, New Jersey's firebrand Republican Governor Chris Christie called on lawmakers to cut the state's income tax rate as part of the "New Jersey Comeback," a campaign aimed at boosting economic growth. Republican Senator McCain says Hagel "not qualified" as defense secretary WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain on Sunday said his former colleague Chuck Hagel was not qualified to be U.S. defense secretary but the Senate would likely vote on his nomination rather than hold it up with procedural hurdles. In South Carolina, disgraced former governor seeks a resurrection CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - The appearance by a candidate for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District here last week was delayed. The event's co-host, an undertaker, had been detained at his funeral home by an unexpected "delivery." NY "cannibal cop" trial to spotlight violent sex fantasy subculture NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York federal trial of accused "cannibal cop" Gilberto Valle due to start on Monday promises to highlight an online subculture where people trade violent sexual fantasies. Related Video Market Pulse: Downgrade, what downgrade? U.S. Morning Call: Hertz forecasts strong 2013 Great Debate The route to a real budget deal How close is Iran to nuclear weapons? 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