http://www.mail.com/subjects/1862-local-governments.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/1862-local-governments.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2108698-toronto-mayor-denies-smokes-crack-cocaine.html TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denied that he smokes crack cocaine and said he is not an addict, breaking a week of silence over reports of a video purportedly showing him using the drug. Critics were not appeased, with one city councilor questioning whether the mayor told "the whole truth" and another calling on him to resign. The mayor of Canada'... Sat, 25 May 2013 05:06:18 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2108698-toronto-mayor-denies-smokes-crack-cocaine.html 2013-05-25T05:06:18Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107466-soldiers-slaying-prompts-uk-security-review.html LONDON (AP) — Both of the suspects accused of butchering a British soldier during broad daylight on a London street had long been on the radar of Britain's domestic spy agency, though investigators say it would have been nearly impossible to predict that the men were on the verge of a brutal killing. Still, counter-terrorism officials said they are review... Sat, 25 May 2013 01:01:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107466-soldiers-slaying-prompts-uk-security-review.html 2013-05-25T01:01:01Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107546-berlusconi-looms-large-rome-mayor-election.html ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi's figure looms large over Rome's mayoral elections this weekend, even though the former premier isn't among the 19 candidates running. The vote is very much a test of Berlusconi's enduring political influence and voter sentiment over the uneasy national government made up of his center-right forces and the center-left that wa... Fri, 24 May 2013 18:08:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2107546-berlusconi-looms-large-rome-mayor-election.html 2013-05-24T18:08:29Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2107354-safe-room-mandates-remain-rare-tornado.html MOORE, Okla. (AP) — After living nearly 20 years in their one-story brick home, Sherry and Larry Wells finally won the lottery — for a state rebate on a home storm shelter, that is. A contractor finished installing the concrete bunker beneath the slab of their garage in early May. About three weeks later, the shelter saved their lives when a tornado that killed 24 people tor... Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:16 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2107354-safe-room-mandates-remain-rare-tornado.html 2013-05-24T11:30:16Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2104760-brown-hounded-calling-manila-gates-hell.html MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Dan Brown's description of Manila as "the gates of hell" in the American novelist's latest book has not gone down well with officials in the Philippine capital. The book "Inferno," which is being sold in the Philippines, describes a visitor to the city who is taken aback by poverty, crime and prostitution. The chairman of metrop... Fri, 24 May 2013 03:15:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2104760-brown-hounded-calling-manila-gates-hell.html 2013-05-24T03:15:51Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2105626-weiner-started-stumping-nyc-mayoral-race.html NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Weiner set out to reintroduce himself to voters Thursday as he embarked on a mayoral bid after leaving Congress in a sexting scandal. He found a much more supportive reception in his first day of campaigning than he did from the state's top Democrat, who bluntly criticized his candidacy a day earlier. At a Democratic political foru... Fri, 24 May 2013 02:06:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2105626-weiner-started-stumping-nyc-mayoral-race.html 2013-05-24T02:06:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102120-correction-oklahoma-tornado-story.html MOORE, Okla. (AP) — In some early versions of a story May 22 about damage estimates from the tornado in Moore, Okla., The Associated Press misspelled the name of the city's mayor. He is Glenn Lewis, not Glen. The correct version of the story is below: Okla. tornado damage: Thousands of homes, $1.5-$2B Oklahoma tornado ripped through as many as 13,000 home... Thu, 23 May 2013 23:19:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102120-correction-oklahoma-tornado-story.html 2013-05-23T23:19:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2105470-council-members-abstain-vote-abstaining.html YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Three members of a Michigan city council have abstained from voting on a measure that would have prevented them from abstaining on future votes. AnnArbor.com reports (http://bit.ly/13JeOBH ) that Ypsilanti City Council member Pete Murdock proposed a resolution Tuesday that would have required council members to only vote "yes" or "... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:52:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2105470-council-members-abstain-vote-abstaining.html 2013-05-23T19:52:10Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105804-cayman-opposition-will-lead-coalition-govt.html GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Election officials in the Cayman Islands say the opposition party has won nine of 18 seats, one short of a majority needed to control the British territory's legislature. The results released Thursday mean that attorney Alden McLaughlin's People's Progressive Movement will be the dominant force in a coalition government.... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:10:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105804-cayman-opposition-will-lead-coalition-govt.html 2013-05-23T17:10:19Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104842-un-chief-visits-goma-congo.html GOMA, Congo (AP) — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed Thursday that security must go hand-in-hand with development in Congo's troubled eastern city of Goma, arriving just hours after a rebel group halted fighting to allow the visit to proceed. The U.N. chief traveled to Congo, and specifically to Goma, for the first time since the Secur... Thu, 23 May 2013 16:49:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104842-un-chief-visits-goma-congo.html 2013-05-23T16:49:22Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2101924-weiner-launches-comeback-bid-to-nyc-mayor.html NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Weiner knows there may be a lot of New Yorkers who would never consider voting for him again, but he says he's running for mayor because he wants to bring his ideas to the fore — and win. "I don't kid myself. I know that this is going to be a difficult slog, and I'm going to have to have a lot of difficult conversations with people... Thu, 23 May 2013 02:10:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2101924-weiner-launches-comeback-bid-to-nyc-mayor.html 2013-05-23T02:10:53Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2104158-vote-pot-shops-lingering-la-issue.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Voters approved a law limiting the number of medical pot shops in Los Angeles after politicians failed for years to corral the blossoming industry. The winning ballot measure on Tuesday caps the number of nonprofit dispensaries at about 135 from a high of nearly 1,000 a few years ago. It also imposes higher taxes, regulates hours of ope... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:37:20 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2104158-vote-pot-shops-lingering-la-issue.html 2013-05-22T23:37:20Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103732-mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western.html LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror. The Knights Templar cartel is extorting protection payments from cattlemen, lime growers and businesses such as butchers, promp... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:07:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103732-mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western.html 2013-05-22T23:07:06Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102284-union-power-issue-garcetti-elected-la-mayor.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — The incoming mayor of Los Angeles was able to defeat a fellow Democrat by depicting her as a pawn of utility union bosses in a city long friendly to labor, an outcome expected to echo beyond California as unions nationwide face threats to their clout. With all precincts reporting Wednesday, Councilman Eric Garcetti defeated city Control... Wed, 22 May 2013 23:03:17 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102284-union-power-issue-garcetti-elected-la-mayor.html 2013-05-22T23:03:17Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102900-kerry-us-allies-ready-to-step-up-aid-to-rebels.html AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The U.S. and several key allies looked again Wednesday for a strategy to end Syria's civil war, their united efforts unable at the moment to stem the Assad regime's military gains and Washington still unwilling to join those providing the rebels with lethal military aid. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry allowed that President Barack... Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102900-kerry-us-allies-ready-to-step-up-aid-to-rebels.html 2013-05-22T22:01:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102324-syrian-opposition-urges-rebels-to-join-key-battle.html BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's main opposition alliance on Wednesday urged fighters from around the country to reinforce a rebel-held town under attack by President Bashar Assad's troops and their allies from the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. With its appeal, the Syrian National Coalition sought to bolster embattled rebel forces in Qusair who for a fourth str... Wed, 22 May 2013 17:43:08 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102324-syrian-opposition-urges-rebels-to-join-key-battle.html 2013-05-22T17:43:08Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102930-afghanistan-suicide-bomb-kills-anti-taliban-elder.html KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber on foot killed an anti-Taliban village elder and at least three other people in a busy marketplace Wednesday in central Afghanistan, the latest in a wave of assassinations and bombings. Habibullah Khan was killed along with two bodyguards and a civilian bystander in the afternoon attack in Ghazni province's Moqur... Wed, 22 May 2013 16:08:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102930-afghanistan-suicide-bomb-kills-anti-taliban-elder.html 2013-05-22T16:08:27Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2101676-portland-ore-rejecting-water-fluoridation.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The mayor of Portland, Ore., has conceded defeat in an effort to add fluoride to the city's drinking water. With more than 80 percent of the expected ballots counted late Tuesday night, the Multnomah County election website showed the fluoride proposal failing, 60 percent to 40 percent. Mayor Charlie Hales supported fluoridation and ... Wed, 22 May 2013 06:58:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2101676-portland-ore-rejecting-water-fluoridation.html 2013-05-22T06:58:47Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099892-garcetti-holds-slim-lead-la-picks-mayor.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Councilman Eric Garcetti held a slender edge Tuesday in early returns over city Controller Wendy Greuel to become the next Los Angeles mayor, while slow-coming returns suggested it could take a day or more until a winner emerges. The preliminary numbers pegged Garcetti at 52 percent and Greuel at 48 percent, with about 6,100 votes separ... Wed, 22 May 2013 06:41:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099892-garcetti-holds-slim-lead-la-picks-mayor.html 2013-05-22T06:41:51Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2101496-toronto-mayor-avoids-questions-crack-video.html TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continued to duck questions Tuesday about a video that purportedly shows him smoking crack cocaine despite calls by allies and rivals for further comment. The video has not been released publicly and there is no way to verify whether it is authentic. Reports Thursday night on the gossip website Gawker and in the Toron... Tue, 21 May 2013 23:24:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2101496-toronto-mayor-avoids-questions-crack-video.html 2013-05-21T23:24:56Z http://www.mail.com/sports/other/2101306-smith-headlines-heading-hall-vote.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bruton Smith just can't help himself sometimes. The eccentric track owner this week suggested he might move a race away from Charlotte Motor Speedway at the exact same time a committee is considering electing him into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. When the 54 voters cast their ballots Wednesday, it will be impossible to overlook Smith's ... Tue, 21 May 2013 22:19:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/2101306-smith-headlines-heading-hall-vote.html 2013-05-21T22:19:12Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2099538-car-bomb-attacks-kill-20-iraq.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A car bomb exploded as Sunni worshippers were leaving a mosque after evening prayers Tuesday in Baghdad, the deadliest in a string of attacks that killed at least 20 people nationwide in a week of the most sustained sectarian violence in the country since U.S. troops withdrew more than a year ago. Rising tensions between Sunnis and the Shii... Tue, 21 May 2013 20:14:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2099538-car-bomb-attacks-kill-20-iraq.html 2013-05-21T20:14:32Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099498-charismatic-las-vegas-mob-lawyer-mayor-pens-memoir.html LAS VEGAS (AP) — Oscar Goodman ran Las Vegas for 12 years with a showgirl on his arm and a martini in his fist. A former mob lawyer, he promoted his city and himself with antics that lent credibility to his self-given title of "Happiest mayor in the universe." Now, two years into a semi-retirement, Goodman has written a memoir about his career representin... Tue, 21 May 2013 10:28:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099498-charismatic-las-vegas-mob-lawyer-mayor-pens-memoir.html 2013-05-21T10:28:06Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/2099462-killing-gay-man-nyc-draws-protesters.html NEW YORK (AP) — The killing of a gay man who police say was taunted with homophobic slurs drew thousands of people to the scene of the crime to restore a sense of safety to one of the nation's most gay-friendly neighborhoods. Fabio Cotza, a gay member of an interfaith Bronx church, said he looked around cautiously when he stepped out of the subway in Gree... Tue, 21 May 2013 06:40:43 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/2099462-killing-gay-man-nyc-draws-protesters.html 2013-05-21T06:40:43Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/2097408-huge-tornado-hits-oklahoma-city-suburb-kills-51.html MOORE, Okla. (AP) — A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and officials said the death toll was expected to... Tue, 21 May 2013 06:13:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/2097408-huge-tornado-hits-oklahoma-city-suburb-kills-51.html 2013-05-21T06:13:22Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2098236-tunisian-feminist-arrested-alleged-provocation.html TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A Tunisian feminist who scandalized her country by posting topless photos of herself online has been arrested after allegedly sneaking into Tunisia's holiest city disguised in a veil, then trying to get undressed during a protest. On Sunday, Amina Tyler — a 19-year-old member of the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN, which uses nudity i... Mon, 20 May 2013 21:17:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2098236-tunisian-feminist-arrested-alleged-provocation.html 2013-05-20T21:17:27Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2097768-high-court-to-weigh-legislative-prayers.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings. The justices said they will review an appeals court ruling that held that the upstate New York town of Greece, a Rochester suburb, violated the Constitution by opening nearly every m... Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2097768-high-court-to-weigh-legislative-prayers.html 2013-05-20T16:00:37Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2097256-ny-town-eyes-limit-use-plum-island.html MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Selling an island where scientists have experimented with infectious animal diseases since the dawn of the Cold War was going to be difficult enough. But it now appears any prospective buyer won't be able to do much with Plum Island anyway. As the federal government proceeds with plans to sell the island 100 miles east of New York Cit... Mon, 20 May 2013 06:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2097256-ny-town-eyes-limit-use-plum-island.html 2013-05-20T06:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2096588-fate-la-pot-shops-left-to-voters.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles politicians have struggled for more than five years to regulate medical marijuana, trying to balance the needs of the sick against neighborhood concerns that pot shops attract crime. Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide how Los Angeles should handle its high with three competing measures that seek to either limit ... Sun, 19 May 2013 20:27:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2096588-fate-la-pot-shops-left-to-voters.html 2013-05-19T20:27:29Z