Ukraine: Thirty-four rebels and four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in fighting to re-take the city of Sloviansk from pro-Russian gunmen. The fighting in Sloviansk has been the government’s biggest effort to reassert control in Eastern Ukraine as rebels control key …

Prayer: The Supreme Court ruled today that the town of Greece, NY can open its public meetings with a prayer led by a “chaplain of the month.” Writing for the 5-4 majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said, “ceremonial prayer is but …

Ukraine: A peaceful demonstration turned violent when pro-Russian demonstrators attacked the police station in Odessa. They had gathered to memorialize and protest the deaths 31 fellow demonstrators who were killed Friday inside a union building that burned. Ukraine’s interim Prime …

Ukraine: At least 31 pro-Russians died in a fire in a trade union building in Odessa on the Black Sea yesterday, making it the single most violent day in the Ukraine/Russia standoff so far. Ten other people were reported killed …

Nation: Fifty-five colleges and universities from the Ivy League to small private colleges and big state schools are under investigation by the Education Department for the way they handle sexual assault complaints. The list includes Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Swarthmore, UC …

Nation: Senate Republicans blocked a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, saying a hike would slow the economy and force employers to shed hundreds of thousands of jobs. The federal minimum is now $7.25. But …

Underwater: As much as 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in parts of the Southeast, bringing flooding to parts of the Alabama coast and the Florida panhandle. Some people had to be rescued from their cars and the rooftop …

Extreme: Two days of powerful storms that hit the country from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes have killed at least 28 people. Rescue workers are still digging through rubble. Tornadoes have flattened homes, tossed cars and knocked …

National: At least 17 people died yesterday in tornadoes and violent storms that struck the South and Midwest. One tornado was said to have been on the ground for 80 miles. Extensive damage was reported in several towns north of …

Black Balled: The NBA is investigating racist remarks on an audio recording attributed to LA Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling. On the recording the voice reported to be Sterling’s chides his girlfriend saying, “It bothers me a lot that you …