Kids in Washington home blast suffered chop wounds

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The two boys of a man who blew up his Washington state home, killing himself and his sons, suffered chop wounds in their final moments and died of smoke inhalation, a law enforcement official said on Monday.

Komen advisor steps down after Planned Parenthood flap

(Reuters) - A senior advisor to the breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure has resigned in the wake of a public outcry over the group's decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, which provides birth control and abortion services.

Obama proposes money for math, science education

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will seek $80 million in new funding for a program to boost science and math education in U.S. schools, the White House said on Tuesday.

All staff replaced at L.A. school after sex abuse allegations

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In an attempt to regain parents' trust, educational officials said on Monday they are replacing all staff at a Los Angeles school where two instructors are accused of having sexually abused children.

Alcohol abuse higher among college students: study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. college students seeking treatment for substance abuse are more likely to be having trouble with alcohol but less likely to be abusing drugs like heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine than their non-student peers, according to a new government study.

Job openings rise to 3.4 million in December

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of jobs waiting to be filled rose in December as employers tried to ramp up hiring in factories, retail and business services, the government said on Tuesday.

Court to rule on California gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court is set to rule on Tuesday whether California's ban on gay marriage is constitutional in a case that is likely to lead to a showdown on the issue in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former lobbyist Abramoff balks at naming ex-associates

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jack Abramoff, the former lobbyist at the center of a U.S. bribery scandal six years ago, said on Monday he does not want to publicly identify former associates because he does not want to see more people hurt.

Obama nominates Air Force's first female four-star general

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Janet Wolfenbarger to become the service's first woman four-star general, military officials said on Monday.

Haditha Marine's lawyers call Anonymous "cowards" after hack

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lawyers for a U.S. Marine court-martialed for his role in killing Iraqi civilians in Haditha slammed the international hacking collective Anonymous as "cowards" on Monday after they knocked out the firm's website and published internal e-mails on the web.