U.S. and World News

Marriage rate may be low, but more weddings predicted

The marriage rate is at its lowest point in more than a century, and the number of marriages across the USA fell more than 5% during the recession. But a new analysis projects that pent-up demand and the large population of marriage-eligible Millennials, ages 18-34, means more will be headed to the altar over the next two years.

Poll: Snowden should be prosecuted

A majority of Americans say the person responsible for leaking top-secret documents about U.S. surveillance of phone and Internet records should be criminally prosecuted, a new USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll finds, even as views are closely divided about the wisdom of the programs themselves.

NY, Va. 7-Eleven stores exploited immigrants

Nine owners and managers of 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia were charged on Monday in a scheme to exploit immigrants from Pakistan and the Philippines, in part by paying them using the stolen Social Security numbers of a child and three dead people while stealing most of their wages.

Syria tops agenda as Obama attends G-8 summit

Syria's raging civil war was set to top the agenda at the Group of Eight summit in Northern Ireland starting on Monday, with President Barack Obama trying to get Russia's Vladimir Putin, Syria's most powerful ally, to help bring Bashar Assad to the negotiating table.

Firefighters doused with retardant during wildfires

Firefighters fighting the massive wildfires in Colorado got a surprise when fire retardant was dropped on them from the sky.

Dog rescuer forced to live with animals after wildfire

Theresa Strader has rescued thousands of dogs from puppy mills but after the Black Forest wildfire destroyed her home, she's forced to live are her animal rescue.

Three NSA veterans speak out on whistle-blower

In a roundtable discussion, a trio of former National Security Agency whistle-blowers tell USA TODAY that Edward Snowden succeeded where they failed.

Robots do the driving on Ford's toughest test terrain

When the going gets tough, get a robot.

Ind. woman sentenced to death at 16 to leave prison

Paula Cooper was 16 when she was sentenced to death for killing an elderly Bible study teacher.

Google Glass test: Climbing a rock wall

Slater native Steve Lee understands the hesitation some folks have about Google Glass. When he saw an early version of the concept, a pair of augmented reality glasses users could wear to enhance their everyday lives, he thought it was crazy.

Judge says 3,500 could be summoned for Holmes jury

The judge in the Colorado theater shootings says as many as 3,500 prospective jurors will be summoned when the case goes to trial.

7 dead, dozens hurt in Chicago shootings

Gun violence flared over the Father's Day weekend in Chicago. At least seven people died and 30 others wounded in shootings across the city, authorities said.

Ohio man charged in $10M real estate scam

A Pakistan native has been charged with bilking a wealthy Washington businessman out of $10 million, but it's the flashy way that prosecutors allege Haider Zafar spent the money that's also getting attention.

Gunman shoots man during Catholic Mass in Utah

Police have arrested a man accused of walking into a Catholic church and shooting a man in the back of the head during Mass on Sunday in Ogden.

Obama: I'm trying to be what my dad wasn't

On Father's Day, President Obama opened up about growing up without really knowing his own father. He also says we need to do more to strengthen families, including gay couples raising children.

Bush jet makes emergency landing

Former president George W. Bush is back in Dallas after his private jet had to make an emergency landing Saturday night in Louisville.

Obama aide: No 'rush to war' in Syria

A top aide to President Obama said Sunday that U.S. policy in Syria has to be dictated in part by what happened in Iraq.

'Man of Steel' takes flight with $125M debut

Hong Kong investigates Snowden's NSA hacking claims

The Hong Kong government is investigating allegations made by a whistle-blower that the U.S. National Security Agency hacked into its computers.

Police reinforcements arrive to quell Turkish protests

Riot police reinforcements arrived in Istanbul on Sunday morning to help quell demonstrations across the city, as protesters remained defiant a day after police evicted activists from Gezi Park.

Modern dad's day has become longer, more hectic

If there's one word we might use to describe modern fatherhood, it would be: busy.

Kentucky same-sex case to be landmark

Prosecutors say Geneva Case heard her spouse admit to killing a man two years ago and saw her clean blood out of the man's van and abandon it in Southern Indiana.