U.S. Top News: Christie fires aide in NJ bridge scandal; prosecutor launches probe

	Click to View in Browser 01/10/2014 Christie fires aide in NJ bridge scandal; prosecutor launches probe TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Thursday fired a top aide who apparently helped orchestrate massive traffic jams at a busy commuter bridge to settle a score, saying he had been blindsided in the scandal that threatened to tarnish his political image. West Virginia chemical spill triggers widespread tap water ban (Reuters) - - President Barack Obama issued an emergency declaration for the state of West Virginia on Friday, ordering federal aid in the aftermath of a chemical spill that has left up to 300,000 people without tap water, closed schools and businesses. Colorado airports tighten rules on marijuana possession DENVER (Reuters) - Colorado's two largest airports have tightened their rules on marijuana possession after the state became the first in the nation to allow recreational pot stores to operate, airport officials said on Thursday. Gay rights group asks for federal recognition of Utah same-sex marriages SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - A gay rights group asked the U.S. federal government on Thursday to recognize the marriages of gay couples who wed in Utah after a court ruling briefly legalized gay unions in the conservative, predominantly Mormon state. VW poised for SUV go-ahead as U.S. slide threatens goals BERLIN/DETROIT (Reuters) - Volkswagen is preparing to build sport utility vehicles in North America as it struggles to conquer a market whose resistance is threatening its bid to be world No. 1. Accused Colorado gunman's statements about explosives ruled admissible DENVER (Reuters) - A judge in the case of an accused Colorado theater gunman said on Thursday that most statements made by James Holmes to law enforcement about explosives inside his booby-trapped apartment without his lawyer present can be used at trial. Analysis: For now, scandal not seen as fatal to Christie in 2016 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the road to the White House in 2016 suddenly has gotten bumpy - but it's not closed. In Supreme Court case, business group targets Obama appointments WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A powerful business group's decision to use its legal firepower to back a bottling company in a dispute with unionized workers turned a routine labor tussle in Washington state into a high-stakes Supreme Court case that could limit the ability of U.S. presidents to make appointments to critical jobs. San Diego gang ran prostitution ring across U.S., prosecutors say SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Two dozen gang members accused of running a vast, California-based human trafficking ring that sent women and underage girls across state lines for prostitution have been indicted on federal racketeering charges in a case prosecutors likened to modern-day slavery. Oklahoma executes man who killed store manager in robbery OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma executed a man by lethal injection on Thursday who was convicted of beating a Tulsa convenience store manager to death with a baseball bat during a robbery in 1995. Related Video Venezuala weeps for murdered star Breakingviews: UK election clouds have gilt-edged lining Great Debate Is nuclear power the answer on climate change? Seize this crisis to push South Sudan reform 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