http://www.mail.com/subjects/15530-special-interest-groups.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/15530-special-interest-groups.html http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2102816-aaa-312m-drivers-to-take-memorial-day-road-trip.html It's going to be another busy Memorial Day weekend on the nation's highways. From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA. That's a small increase from last year but still well short of the record 37.3 million people who drove during the holida... Wed, 22 May 2013 15:07:30 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2102816-aaa-312m-drivers-to-take-memorial-day-road-trip.html 2013-05-22T15:07:30Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090706-airlines-losses-narrowed-1q-to-552.html NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. airlines charged more in fares and fees and reduced debt as they improved their financial performance in the first quarter. They still lost money, which is typical for the year's first three months travel slows after the holidays and delays rack up from snow storms. But the deficit was $552 million — or $3.30 per passenger — compared ... Thu, 16 May 2013 19:40:58 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2090706-airlines-losses-narrowed-1q-to-552.html 2013-05-16T19:40:58Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2076448-nations-agree-to-chemical-ban-export-controls.html GENEVA (AP) — A summit on chemicals and hazardous wastes ended Friday with an agreement to globally phase out a widely used flame retardant and to accept stricter requirements for disclosing information about exports of four other chemicals. But participants fell short in their efforts to require more information and consent among nations trading in a con... Fri, 10 May 2013 19:52:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2076448-nations-agree-to-chemical-ban-export-controls.html 2013-05-10T19:52:25Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2044740-boston-victims-face-huge-bills-donations-pour.html Cost of amputating a leg? At least $20,000. Cost of an artificial leg? More than $50,000 for the most high-tech models. Cost of an amputee's rehab? Often tens of thousands of dollars more. These are just a fraction of the medical expenses victims of the Boston Marathon bombing will face. The mammoth price tag is probably not what patients are focusing on ... Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:55:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2044740-boston-victims-face-huge-bills-donations-pour.html 2013-04-26T03:55:39Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2027390-cheers-maori-song-nzealand-oks-gay-marriage.html WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The halls of Parliament echoed with a traditional Maori love song after lawmakers made New Zealand the 13th country in the world and the first in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. Supporters of the bill, including hundreds of gay-rights advocates, stood and cheered after the 77-44 vote was announced late... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:46:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2027390-cheers-maori-song-nzealand-oks-gay-marriage.html 2013-04-18T10:46:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2025180-nzealand-13th-country-to-legalize-gay-marriage.html WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hundreds of jubilant gay-rights advocates celebrated at New Zealand's Parliament as the country became the 13th in the world and the first in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. Lawmakers voted 77 to 44 in favor of the gay-marriage bill on its third and final reading Wednesday night. People watching from t... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 01:16:11 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2025180-nzealand-13th-country-to-legalize-gay-marriage.html 2013-04-18T01:16:11Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2016200-organic-apples-pears-to-antibiotic-free.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The organic apples you buy in the grocery store will soon be free of a widely used antibiotic. The National Organic Standards Board late Thursday rejected a petition to allow growers to use the antibiotic oxytetracyline beyond the existing expiration date of Oct. 21, 2014. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's labeling standards gener... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:23:08 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2016200-organic-apples-pears-to-antibiotic-free.html 2013-04-12T17:23:08Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1997276-vietnamese-hopeful-scientology-detox.html THAI BINH, Vietnam (AP) — North Vietnamese army veteran Nguyen Anh Quoc grimaces as he forces down the last of the 35 vitamins he takes each morning. After decades of suffering from illnesses he believes were caused by exposure to Agent Orange, he is putting his faith in a regime advocated by the Church of Scientology. "I have to take them," the 62-year-o... Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:05:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1997276-vietnamese-hopeful-scientology-detox.html 2013-04-04T07:05:01Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1991468-pa-sen-casey-supports-gay-marriage.html HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced Monday that he favors gay marriage, the latest of several lawmakers to change positions on the issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Casey said he made the shift after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil rights questions involved and letters from Pennsylvania families. "If two peo... Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:54:50 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1991468-pa-sen-casey-supports-gay-marriage.html 2013-04-01T21:54:50Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1989298-senators-caution-immigration-deal-final.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Even with one of the largest hurdles to an immigration overhaul overcome, optimistic lawmakers on Sunday cautioned they had not finished work on a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants. The AFL-CIO and the pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce reached a deal late Friday that would allow tens of t... Sun, 31 Mar 2013 23:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1989298-senators-caution-immigration-deal-final.html 2013-03-31T23:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1988688-south-near-solid-block-obamacare.html ATLANTA (AP) — As more Republicans give in to President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul, an opposition bloc remains across the South, including from governors who lead some of the nation's poorest and unhealthiest states. "Not in South Carolina," Gov. Nikki Haley declared at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference. "We will not expand Med... Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:05:34 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1988688-south-near-solid-block-obamacare.html 2013-03-30T20:05:34Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1949930-mark-kellys-purchase-rifle-draws-criticism.html PHOENIX (AP) — The husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords generated nearly 4,000 comments on Facebook from people on both sides of the gun debate after he posted a photo of himself buying a military-style rifle — a purchase he said he made to demonstrate how easy it is to obtain the kind of firearms he's lobbying Congress to ban. A background chec... Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:13:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1949930-mark-kellys-purchase-rifle-draws-criticism.html 2013-03-13T09:13:03Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1936736-gun-laws-fewer-deaths-50-state-study.html CHICAGO (AP) — States with the most gun control laws have the fewest gun-related deaths, according to a study that suggests sheer quantity of measures might make a difference. But the research leaves many questions unanswered and won't settle the debate over how policymakers should respond to recent high-profile acts of gun violence. In the dozen or so st... Thu, 07 Mar 2013 01:47:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1936736-gun-laws-fewer-deaths-50-state-study.html 2013-03-07T01:47:32Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1896296-cpj-asks-congo-to-release-imprisoned-journalist.html JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A leading media advocacy group is calling on Congolese authorities to release a journalist who was sentenced in December to six months in prison on defamation charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists said Saturday that Joachim Diana Gikupa, editor of daily newspaper La Colombe, should be released pending an appeal. U.N. radio Okap... Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:21:45 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1896296-cpj-asks-congo-to-release-imprisoned-journalist.html 2013-02-16T12:21:45Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1878328-rare-afghan-fashion-seeks-to-empower-women.html KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan models paraded down a candle-lined catwalk Friday as men and women watched from the audience in a restaurant off a muddy street in Kabul. The rare fashion show in this war-weary capital was a small production but a big idea — part of an Afghan group's efforts to empower women by breaking down barriers in this highly conser... Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1878328-rare-afghan-fashion-seeks-to-empower-women.html 2013-02-08T19:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1870756-ap-sources-pentagon-extending-benefits-gays.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The military is poised to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of service members, U.S. officials said Tuesday, about 16 months after the Pentagon repealed its ban on openly gay service. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has not made a final decision on which benefits will be included, the officials said, but the Pentagon is likely... Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1870756-ap-sources-pentagon-extending-benefits-gays.html 2013-02-05T23:00:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1857906-families-to-priced-health-overhaul.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Some families could get priced out of health insurance due to what's being called a glitch in President Barack Obama's overhaul law. IRS regulations issued Wednesday failed to fix the problem as liberal backers of the president's plan had hoped. As a result, some families that can't afford the employer coverage that they are offered on t... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1857906-families-to-priced-health-overhaul.html 2013-01-30T23:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847384-wife-female-army-officer-join-spouses-club.html FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — A woman who is married to a female Army officer at Fort Bragg and who was recently denied membership in its officers' spouses club said late Friday that she has been invited to become a full member. Ashley Broadway told the Associated Press that she received the invitation from the club's board in an email Friday. The invitation ca... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 05:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847384-wife-female-army-officer-join-spouses-club.html 2013-01-26T05:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1839714-beverage-industry-nyc-lawyers-duel-drinks.html NEW YORK (AP) — The city defended its groundbreaking size limit on sugary drinks Wednesday as an imperfect but meaningful rein on obesity, while critics said it would hurt small and minority-owned businesses while doing little to help health. The first courtroom arguments in the closely watched case ended without an immediate ruling. Opponents said they p... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:05:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1839714-beverage-industry-nyc-lawyers-duel-drinks.html 2013-01-24T02:05:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/1841066-immigration-fallout-to-obamacare.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Governors who reject health insurance for the poor under the federal health care overhaul could wind up in a politically awkward position on immigration: A quirk in the law means some U.S. citizens would be forced to go without coverage, while legal immigrants residing in the same state could still get it. It's an unintended consequence ... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/1841066-immigration-fallout-to-obamacare.html 2013-01-23T18:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1837900-wal-mart-warns-suppliers-stricter-measures.html BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has alerted its global suppliers that it will immediately drop them if they subcontract their work to factories that haven't been authorized by the discounter. Wal-Mart's stricter contracting rule, along with other changes to its policy, comes amid increasing calls for better safety oversight after a deadly fi... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1837900-wal-mart-warns-suppliers-stricter-measures.html 2013-01-22T21:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1832198-same-sex-military-couples-struggle-recognition.html RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sgt. Karen Alexander fought for her country in Iraq, but back home she often feels the U.S. Army is fighting against her. Married to another female soldier with a 4-year-old son, Alexander is denied the same housing allowance and other family-friendly benefits she would be entitled to if married to a man. As far as Uncle Sam is concer... Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1832198-same-sex-military-couples-struggle-recognition.html 2013-01-19T17:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1815058-correction-transgender-health-insurance-story.html SALEM, Ore. (AP) — In a story Jan. 11 about health coverage for transgender people, The Associated Press misidentified the company that Kathy Born speaks for. Born is a spokeswoman for PacificSource Health Plans, not LifeWise. A corrected version of the story is below: Ore., Calif., require transgender health coverage Oregon, California tell insurance com... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1815058-correction-transgender-health-insurance-story.html 2013-01-16T14:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1786884-delays-litter-long-road-to-vehicle-rearview-rules.html SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In the private hell of a mother's grief, the sounds come back to Judy Neiman. The SUV door slamming. The slight bump as she backed up in the bank parking lot. The emergency room doctor's sobs as he said her 9-year-old daughter Sydnee, who previously had survived four open heart surgeries, would not make it this time. Her own cries of:... Wed, 26 Dec 2012 23:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1786884-delays-litter-long-road-to-vehicle-rearview-rules.html 2012-12-26T23:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1785432-obama-long-work-list-to-tackle-when-returns.html WASHINGTON (AP) — It's hardly a secret that Barack Obama, like every president no doubt, muses about his ultimate legacy and spot in the presidential pantheon. He approaches his second term confronting tough and shifting challenges that will play big roles in shaping the rest of his presidency and his eventual place in history. In the coming months, Obama... Tue, 25 Dec 2012 07:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1785432-obama-long-work-list-to-tackle-when-returns.html 2012-12-25T07:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1782332-court-strikes-costa-rica-in-vitro-ban.html SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — A Costa Rican ban on in-vitro fertilization has been struck down by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in a decision that reproductive health groups said could lead to greater access to abortion and some contraception in other Latin American countries. The court said in a ruling late Thursday that a long-standing Costa Ri... Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1782332-court-strikes-costa-rica-in-vitro-ban.html 2012-12-21T19:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1776082-artisans-thriving-post-quake-haiti.html PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The sharp tang of varnish hangs in the air as a dozen women and a few men cut and scrape logs into bowls destined for U.S. department stores. In other Haitian workshops, vases sparkle with sequins of pink, green and blue, and dragonflies leap from picture frames cut from recycled steel drums. Three years after a devastating ea... Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1776082-artisans-thriving-post-quake-haiti.html 2012-12-19T11:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1761728-colorado-river-depleting-regional-resource.html LAS VEGAS (AP) — The federal government isn't going to tap the Missouri River to slake the thirst of a drought-parched Southwest, the government's top water official said Wednesday. But rising demand and falling supply have water managers in the arid West considering a host of other options to deal with dire projections that the Colorado River — the main ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1761728-colorado-river-depleting-regional-resource.html 2012-12-12T22:21:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760602-iraq-stays-execution-man-allegedly-held-16.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq has suspended the execution of a Yemeni prisoner whose family claims was 16 years old when he was taken into custody, an Iraqi official and human rights advocates said Wednesday. Iraqi officials dispute that he was a minor at the time of his arrest. Human Rights Watch earlier this week urged authorities in Baghdad to stay the execution... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:09:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760602-iraq-stays-execution-man-allegedly-held-16.html 2012-12-12T20:09:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1759538-why-efforts-to-factory-fires-failed.html About a year and a half before a fire at a clothing factory in Bangladesh killed 112 people in November, executives from Wal-Mart, Gap and other big retailers met nearby to discuss ways to prevent the unsafe working conditions that have made such tragedies common. Representatives from a dozen of the world's largest retailers and fashion labels gathered wi... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1759538-why-efforts-to-factory-fires-failed.html 2012-12-11T21:25:00Z