Recently in National News Category

FEC commissioners said no and denied gay couples the rights to donate for political campaigns through personal account, cited the Defense of Marriage Act's legal requirements for its decision, Washington Post reported.

According to USA Today, because the gay marriage law doesn't recognize them as spouses, the FEC clarified that commissioners were prevented from treating donations from same-sex couples the same as straight couples.

The commission ruled in a 5-0 vote that they had no choice but to reject it, Washington Post reported.

"The Defense of Marriage Act is remarkably clear," said Donald F. McGahn II, the commission's vice chair. "We just can't disregard DOMA, regardless of what we think of it," Washington Post reported.

FEC Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub said she was "very reluctantly voted no" in a statement but had no choice because DOMA serves as a "discriminatory, irrational burden," which limits the political participation of legally married same-sex couples, USA Today reported.

"It's sad that in the 21st century the federal government is still denying certain people their First Amendment rights as guaranteed under the US Constitution," Dan Winslow, a Republican candidate for Massachusetts Senate, said. "However, I am encouraged by the FEC's advice that I return to them as soon as DOMA is overturned and they will happily reverse their decision. I strongly believe DOMA will be overturned by the Supreme Court and I look forward to taking the FEC up on its offer as soon as that happens."

When the Supreme Court rules on the gay marriage law, Winslow said in a statement after the vote he will will press the issue, Washington Post reported.

United States five living presidents gathered in one place Thursday for the dedication of George W. Bush Presidential Center, USA Today reported.

President Barrack Obama, all the living former presidents, former foreign leaders and hundreds of admirors and former Bush administration officials were present to dedicate the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Southern Methodist University, the New York Times reported.

President Barrack Obama and former president Bill Clinton both complimented Bush on his efforts to fight AIDS in Africa, and Obama praised Bush for his dedication to immigration system.

"We know President Bush the man," Mr. Obama told the crowd. "To know the man is to like the man. Because he's comfortable in his own skin. He knows who he is. He doesn't put on any pretenses. He takes the job seriously but he doesn't take himself too seriously. He's a good man."

Former First Lady Laura Bush said the presidential library "is not just about one president. Each library is about our nation and the world during that time," USA Today reported.

The library and museum raised $500 million for its grograms.

And the library turned public to the National Archives and Records Administration on Wednesday, USA Today reported.

Mr. Bush concluded by saying "God bless America, and thank you very much," the New York Times reported.

Three were killed from the terrorist attack at Boston Marathon Monday and more than 140 people were injured, authorities said a 8-year-old boy was the first identified fatality, USA Today reported.

Martin Richard, 8, was greeting his father at the finish line when the two bombs exploded, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene, USA Today reported.

The second victim was a Massachusetts girl identified as Krystle Campbell. The third victim has not yet been identified, Washington Post reported.

The boy's father Bill Richard released a statement Tuesday, said: "My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers," Washington Post reported.

The FBI is investigating this "heinous and cowardly act" as an act of terrorism, President Barack Obama said Tuesday in a brief statement from the White House, CNN reported.

It is unclear whether this incident is deliberate or intentional nor who is responsible, President Barack Obama said, CNN reported.

The FBI has served a search warrant on a suburban Boston apartment, and Massachusetts State Police confirmed a search warrant Monday night in the community of Revere in the investigation of the bomb explosions, KARE 11 reported.

President Barack Obama said, "The American people refused to be terrorized because what the world saw yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions were stories of heroism and kindness and generosity and love," CNN reported.

A man was arrested for stabbing 14 people Tuesday at Lone Star Community College in Texas, according to authorities, ABC News reported.

Six victims were taken to nearby hospitals by helicopter and ambulance, Robert Rasa, a City-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, said, ABC News reported

Authorities searched the campus Thursday afternoon to ensure students' safety and "make sure there (is) not another suspect or suspects" during school lockdown, Harris County sheriff's spokesman Alan Bernstein said, CNN reported.

Witness James told ABC News affiliate KTRK-TV that several students were stabbed in the neck, ABC news reported.

According to CNN, there were a shooting incident at the North Harris campus in Huston two months before Tuesday's attack.

The school has posted on its website, "Stay away from the area. Seek shelter in a secure location until the incident is resolved."

President Barack Obama urged Congress to pass new gun control legislation Monday during his speech in Connecticut, Huffington Post reported.

Obama promised "We will not walk away" from gun control to several thousand people in the University of Hartford's basketball arena, Huffington Post reported.

The president mentioned the massacre occurred at Sandy Hook elementary school in December, hoping to gain support from lawmakers for gun control measures, Washington Post reported.

"We will not walk away from the promises we've made. We are as determined as ever to do what must be done," Obama said, Washington Post reported.

He had invited 11 parents of the school victims to fly back with him on Air Force One and to lobby Congress this week, Huffington Post reported.

The crowd's cheering were overpowering the president's remarks at times, the Washington Post reported.

During Obama's speech, he reemphasized his proposals such as universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, the Washington Post reported.

According to the Washington Post, there might be hope for the expansion of background-check requirements; however, Obama's other proposals are at stake.

Nine Atlanta teachers, who falsify students' standardized tests, reported to Fulton County Jail Tuesday, CNN reported.

There were 35 educators told to report to jail by Tuesday for the conspiracy of unexplained improvement of standardized test scores and only 7 showed up by midafternoon, the New York Times reported.

The former schools superintendent Beverly Hall denied participating in the cheating scandal, and she could face up to 40 years prison time once convicted, the New York Times reported.

The investigation traced the cheating back in 2009 when a few Atlanta school administrators were found regularly changing students' scores or providing answers, CNN reported.

"We've never had anything in education like this," said Warren Fortson, an attorney for her and two other accused teachers, the New York Times reported.

The educators cheated to gain bonuses, secure job and enhance careers, Michael Bowers, a former Georgia attorney general who investigated the cheating scandal, said, CNN reported.

"Tragically, the Atlanta cheating scandal harmed our children and it crystallizes the unintended consequences of our test-crazed policies," according to a statement written by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Georgia Federation of Teachers President Verdaillia Turner.

Health officials notified patients, who went to a dental clinic in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday to seek medical screening for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, the New York Times reported.

Dr. W. Scott Harrington, who received his state dentistry license in 1974, violated health and safety regulations in his clinic, the New York Times reported.

Health officials sent letters to 7,000 known patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, which are viruses not used in occupational settings,

Harrington was a "menace to the public health by reasons of practicing dentistry in an unsafe or unsanitary manner," according to Oklahoma Dentistry Board's 17-count complaint against him Thursday, Star Tribune reported.

"The CDC has determined that rusted instruments are porous and cannot be properly sterilized," the board said, Star Tribune reported.

Durning the initial inspection, the office was found generating serious sterilization issues and a open drug cabinet, the New York Times reported.

Harrington's office has "high population of known infectious disease carrier patients," instruments last tested 6 years ago and a drug vial found expired in 1993, according to the board complaint, Star Tribune reported.

Harrington's license could be permanently revoked after his hearing on April 19.

The Tulsa Health Department will offer free testing at a local clinic on Saturday and Monday, the New York Times reported.

Ohio high school football players found guilty Sunday in Steubenville rape case, CNN reported.

Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'lik Richmond, 16, were found guilty of raping a intoxicated 16-year-old West Virginia girl at parties last Aug. 11, New York Daily News reported.

Special Judge Thomas Lipps pronounced two teens "are hereby adjudicated delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt on all three counts as charged."

Richmond was sentenced to a minimum of one year in juvenile facility, and Mays was sentenced for a minimun of two years, CNN reported.

On the night of last Aug. 11, the girl went to several parties, which involves alcohol, with May and Richmond, New York Daily News reported.

According to the witness testimony, she was more intoxicated as the night went on and vomited several times.

A photo and video was posted on YouTube where the unconscious and intoxicated victim was shown being carried by her wrists and ankles, New York Daily News reported.

Three teens, who was granted immunity from prosecution, testified on Friday that they saw Mays and Richmond engage in sexual contact with the girl, CNN reported.

Both teen could face registry as sex offenders, and their status will be determined after they serve their sentences, New York Daily News reported.

Steubenville officials refused the claims that police have attempted to protect the football program because of its town's bad economy, New York Daily News reported.

"This case isn't about social media. ... It is about a 16-year-old girl who was taken advantage, toyed with and humiliated. And it's for [the defendants] to pay for what they did," Special prosecutor Marianne Hemmeter said in her closing arguments Saturday.

Former President Bill Clinton called on the Supreme Court Thursday to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, he signed in 1996 that banned the recognition of same-sex marriage, the New York Times reported.

"As the president who signed the act into law, I have come to believe that DOMA is contrary to those principles and, in fact, incompatible with our Constitution," Clinton said.

DOMA should be overturned because the law itself is a form of discrimination toward same-sex couples, Clinton said, the Washington Post reported.

Clinton said he signed DOMA in 1996 to avoid worse same-sex couples had to face, Huffington Post reported.

Clinton joined with the Obama administration to urge the Supreme Court to overrun DOMA, the New York Times reported.

A South Orange County man killed 3 of his carjacking victims Tuesday, and then took his own life, police said, CNN reported.

Ali Syed, 20, fatally shooting a young woman at his Ladera Ranch home, fled in his parents' vehicle, they said, the New York Times reported.

After Ali Syed left his parents' house, he was driving on Costa Mesa Freeway when he killed two other people and committed 3 carjackings, police said.

Ali Syed killed some victims with his shotgun, however, he spared some out of complete randomness, the New York Times reported.

Ali Syed killed himself before the car came to a complete stop on a road north of Tustin when police approached him, authorities say.

Police are currently investigating the motive of the shooting, CNN reported.