National News

The pope said what? Six stunners from Francis

By Daniel Burke - CNN
Pope Francis has encouraged his flock of 1 billion Catholics not to be "starched Christians" who chat about theology over tea. He's been taking his own advice.

Illinois man with record of unpaid meal bills dining at county expense - in jail

By Mayra Cuevas - CNN
An unpaid $70 dinner bill -- plus a record of walking out on previous meal bills -- has landed an Illinois man in jail for three years.

Spielberg foresees 'implosion' of film industry

By Lisa Respers France - CNN
  Many movie fans consider director Steven Spielberg a visionary - but his most recent vision is one of doom for the movie industry.

Zimmerman jurors to be sequestered

By Nancy Leung - CNN
Jurors in the murder trial of George Zimmerman will be sequestered, Judge Debra Nelson said Thursday. Attorneys have estimated that the trial will likely last between two to four weeks, Nelson said.

Deputies: Autistic child found caged in room, covered in feces

By NBC
It was a scene that deputies said they would not soon forget. While checking on a house in Roswell, N.M., they found a five-year-old girl covered in feces and caged in a room.

White House: Syria crosses 'red line' with use of chemical weapons on its people

By Barbara Starr - CNN
The White House acknowledged Thursday the Syrian government has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale a number of times, according to a statement. 

FBI director, congressional leaders defend data mining

By Tom Cohen - CNN
A top-secret program that collects phone records of Americans is legal, conducted properly and possibly could have helped detect a 9/11 hijacker had it been in place before the 2001 terrorist attacks, FBI Director Robert Mueller said Thursday.<

Gezi Park reeks, Turkish prime minister says

By Ben Brumfield and Gul Tuysuz CNN ISTANBUL
Turkey's prime minister called on protesters camped out in Istanbul's Gezi Park to pack up and leave.

Retail sales jump on strong car sales

By Chris Isidore NEW YORK (CNNMoney)
Retail spending jumped in May, helped by consumers hitting dealer showrooms to buy cars. The U.S. government report released Thursday showed a 0.6% increase in sales in the month, up from the modest 0.1% rise a month earlier.

Brain blood clots rare, experts say

By CNN STAFF
Mumford & Sons bassist Ted Dwane received emergency treatment this week after doctors found that he had a blood clot on the surface of his brain.

At 75, is Superman over the hill?

By Todd Leopold CNN
In the comic-book world, he is sometimes derided as "the big blue Boy Scout."

Fire crews battle Colorado wildfires that have destroyed nearly 100 homes

By Nicole Gonzales-NBC
Firefighters continue to battle raging wildfires across parts of central Colorado. The so called "Black Forest" fire has destroyed nearly 100 homes since it started Tuesday.

Whistleblower is in hiding as lawmakers learn more about programs he exposed

By Tracie Potts-NBC
More closed door briefings are happening on Capitol Hill today as lawmakers in Washington learn more about how the government snooped on Americans' communications and the hunt for the man who made it all public.

In response to Newtown shootings, some states move to put guns in classrooms

By Lauren Russell - CNN
While most of the nation's students are enjoying summer break, teachers in a handful of states are studying- not their fall curriculum, but how to take out an assailant.

Ouya, gaming's $100 console, coming soon

By Adrian Covert - CNN
After years spent lurking in the shadows, the indie gaming world is ready for its moment in the spotlight. When the Ouya "micro-console" hits shelves on June 25, it could make big waves in the industry.