National

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts. Full Story

• New federal prosecutor nominated for Chicago
• Driver in Ill. van wreck had license suspension
• Investigator: Missing Iowa girl's blood found

Entertainment

87-year-old woman loses to Trump in civil case

An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday _ she lost. Full Story

• WWII historian taking on American Revolution
• CBS up, 'Idol' down as traditional TV season ends
• Mary J. Blige faces $3.4M federal tax lien in NJ

Health

Birth control coverage up for federal appeal

In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. has asked a federal appeals court for an exemption from part of the federal health care law. Full Story

• WHO: Scientific red tape mars efforts vs. virus
• Alabama mystery illness solved: it's common flu
• US companies challenging contraception mandate

World

Muslim hard-liners ID suspect in London attack

A man seen with bloody hands wielding a butcher knife after the killing of a British soldier on the streets of London was described as a convert to Islam who took part in demonstrations with a banned radical group, two Muslim hard-liners said Thursday. Full Story

• Markets roiled by Nikkei's 7.3 percent slide
• ECB's Draghi: 'Imperative' to set up new bank body
• Brazil police arrest 9 for abusing Indian girls

Local

Library vote had council at odds

There was a war of words last week during the Norfolk City Council meeting.  Members were upset over a vote to purchase land to build a new public library.

Full Story

Sports

McCutchen, Pirates beat Cubs for 4th straight win

Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Thursday for their fourth straight win. Full Story

• Avalanche hire Patrick Roy as coach
• Coded goal: RG3 still aiming for Redskins' opener
• Heat, Pacers say Game 2 should be even better

Politics

IRS replaces official who oversaw targeting

A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lois Lerner has been replaced as director the Internal Revenue Service division that oversaw agents who targeted tea party groups. Full Story

• GOP Ariz. rep. who supports Medicaid is threatened
• Obama lifts ban on Guantanamo transfers to Yemen
• Senate votes to cut crop insurance aid for wealthy

Finance

Sears reports bigger-than-expected 1Q loss

Sears Holdings Corp. reported a steeper-than-expected loss for its first quarter with the beleaguered retailer blaming a cooler spring for falling sales. Full Story

• Applications for US unemployment aid fall to 340K
• Ralph Lauren's 4Q profit rises 35 pct
• Marathon Oil says talks end on possible stake sale

Science & Tech

Cockroaches quickly lose sweet tooth to survive

For decades, people have been getting rid of cockroaches by setting out bait mixed with poison. But in the late 1980s, in an apartment test kitchen in Florida, something went very wrong. Full Story

• NASA head views progress on asteroid lasso mission
• Hurricane outlook: Another busy Atlantic season
• 2013 hurricane names: From Andrea to Wendy

Strange

• For Philadelphia bicyclist, a cat is his co-pilot
• Crane accident cuts power to one-third of Vietnam
• Surgeons remove tiger's basketball-sized hairball