Rise in identity fraud tied to smartphone use

By Mitch Lipka Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:53am EST (Reuters) – Nearly 12 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2011, an increase of 13 percent over 2010, according to a report released on Wednesday by the research firm Javelin Strategy & Research. The rise in the use of smartphones and social media by incautious consumers fueled the increase in identity fraud, and 2011 was a year of several…
Read more...Maryland Senate committee approves gay marriage bill

By Alice Popovici ANNAPOLIS, Maryland | Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:08pm EST ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Reuters) – A Maryland Senate committee approved a gay marriage bill on Tuesday, sending the issue to the full Senate and moving Maryland closer to becoming the eighth state to legalize same-sex nuptials. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 7 to 4 in favor of the bill – supported by Gov. Martin O’Malley – and the…
Read more...Tags:bill , District , federal , law , Maryland Senate , Maryland Tue Feb , Montgomery County , refuse , Senator Jamie Raskin , year
Supreme Court to hear university race admissions case

By James Vicini WASHINGTON | Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:35pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court said on Tuesday it would decide whether a state university may consider an applicant’s race to achieve a more diverse student body, revisiting a divisive social issue it last addressed nine years ago. The high court agreed to hear an appeal by a white female applicant, Abigail Fisher, who was denied undergraduate admission…
Read more...Tags:Bert Rein , Chief Justice John Roberts , court , federal , fisher , Justice Samuel Alito , slots , State Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell , Supreme Court , university
Four dead in Washington state avalanches

By Katherine Luck SEATTLE | Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:32pm EST SEATTLE (Reuters) – Four people were killed in two separate avalanches near Washington state ski resorts on Sunday, but eight others initially said to be missing were found alive, authorities said. Three skiers died when an avalanche struck near the Stevens Pass ski area in the Cascade Mountains of north-central Washington, King’s County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West said.She…
Read more...Tags:area , Cascade Mountains , Cindi West , hill , King County Sheriff , snowfall , Stevens Pass , year
Three dead, up to 8 missing in Washington state avalanche

SEATTLE | Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:06pm EST SEATTLE (Reuters) – Three people were killed and as many as eight others were missing on Sunday after an avalanche near a Washington state ski resort, authorities said. King County Sheriff‘s spokeswoman Cindi West said the avalanche struck near the Stevens Pass ski area and that rescue crews were on the scene.Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary said the snow came down…
Read more...Tags:area , Cindi West , King County Sheriff , snowfall , Stevens Pass , Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary
