World/Nation

Hundreds come face to face with bomb suspect

BOSTON - Some of the prospective jurors who could decide Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's fate got their first look Monday at the young man accused of bombing the Boston Marathon, and they seemed transfixed by the sight of the shaggy-haired 21-year-old.

Tsarnaev, for his part, rose to his feet and nodded, slightly and awkwardly, as he was introduced to the first group of 200 citizens.

So began what could be weeks of jury selection in the nation's most closely watched terror trial since the Oklahoma City bombing two decades ago.

The potential jurors seemed riveted by Tsarnaev and by U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr.'s explanation of the gravity of what they will be asked to do if they are picked: They must decide not only whether the former college student is guilty or innocent, but also what his punishment will be if he is convicted - life in prison or execution.

Boehner in line for 3rd term as Speaker of House

WASHINGTON - House Speaker John Boehner's prospects for a new term appeared secure Monday despite grumblings from tea party-aligned dissidents on the eve of a Republican takeover of Congress, while GOP leaders in both houses pointed toward a swift veto showdown with President Barack Obama over the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline.

Senate Republicans, winners of a majority in last fall's elections, began laying down markers for legislative battles ahead. "Tax reform should not be used as an excuse to raise taxes on the American people," wrote Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, who will become chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee.

Tax reform was a distant target as congressional veterans and newcomers alike looked ahead to a day of pomp and ceremony beneath the Capitol Dome.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell's ascension today to the post of Senate majority leader was automatic following his approval by rank-and-file Republicans late last year.

That wasn't the case in the House, where the election of a speaker is the main event on any opening day's agenda. Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Ted Yoho of Florida put themselves forward as challengers, and the Tea Party Patriots tweeted a request for rank and file Republicans to support one or the other.

Florida AG still fights same-sex marriage

MIAMI - Lesbian and gay couples were wed in Miami on Monday by the same judge who approved their marriage licenses, hours before Florida's coming-out party as the nation's 36th state where same-sex marriages are now legal statewide.

The addition of Florida's 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal.

The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much of the nation's third-largest state has changed since the 1970s, when Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman, started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami.

Although same-sex marriage is now reality in Florida, Attorney General Pam Bondi is still pursuing appeals at both the federal and state levels. Her position - shared by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, now considering a Republican run for president - has been that marriage should be defined by each state.

Police seek attacker in dead baby incident

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Police pleaded for the public's help Monday to find a gunman who shot the parents and uncle of a 3-week-old baby girl who later was found dead in a trash bin near the Mexican border 120 miles from her home.

Investigators have no leads and no motive for the weekend attack, which happened in a densely populated working-class neighborhood of single-family homes, Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said Monday afternoon.

The baby's parents and uncle have spoken with police but have not provided sufficient information, Luna said.

- The Associated Press