GOP-controlled Congress already irritating Obama

WASHINGTON - In a blend of pageantry and politics, Republicans took complete control of Congress for the first time in eight years Tuesday, then ran straight into a White House veto threat against their top-priority legislation to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Republicans condemned the unexpected announcement, which came at the same time they were savoring the fruits of last fall's elections and speaking brightly about possible bipartisan compromises in the two years ahead.

"I'm really optimistic about what we can accomplish," said Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, moments after he was recognized as leader of the new Republican majority on one side of the Capitol.

At the other end of the majestic building, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio easily won a third term as House speaker despite attempts by tea party-backed dissidents to topple him. He said the 114th Congress would begin by passing legislation to "develop more North American energy" among top priorities, adding "We invite the president to support and sign these bipartisan initiatives into law."

It was an offer the White House could and did refuse - in advance. "If this bill passes Congress, the president wouldn't sign it," presidential press secretary Josh Earnest said before Boehner spoke. He said the measure would undermine a review process underway by the administration.

Death penalty for Boston bomber? Jury could be key

BOSTON - To try to save him from the death penalty in the Boston Marathon bombing, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lawyers will probably look for jurors who are intellectually curious and eager to learn about other cultures and religions.

Prosecutors, in turn, will no doubt try to pick conservative, patriotic types who have steady work habits, have lived comfortable lives and are particularly sensitive to the randomness of the terror attack.

Such is the conventional wisdom among jury consultants and other legal experts who say the question of whether Tsarnaev receives a death sentence will be all but decided during jury selection.

Tsarnaev, 21, is accused of taking part in the twin bombing at the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013, killing three people and wounding more than 260. He is also charged in the slaying of an MIT police officer.

Prosecutors say Dzhokhar and his brother, Tamerlan - ethnic Chechens who had lived in the United States for about a decade - carried out the attack in retaliation for U.S. wars in Muslim countries. Tamerlan, 26, died in a gunbattle with police days after the bombing.

Chlorine gas was used as weapon against Syrians

UNITED NATIONS - Chemical weapons investigators concluded "with a high degree of confidence" that chlorine gas was used as a weapon against three opposition-controlled villages in Syria last year, affecting between 350 and 500 people and killing 13, according to a report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The third report by a fact-finding mission from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons didn't apportion blame but said 32 of the 37 people interviewed "saw or heard the sound of a helicopter over the village at the time of the attack with barrel bombs containing toxic chemicals."

The investigators said 26 people heard the distinctive "whistling" sound of the falling barrel bombs containing toxic chemicals and 16 visited the impact sites and saw the bombs or their remnants. They said 29 people smelled "the distinctive odor of the gas cloud" released after the bombs hit the ground, mainly describing it "as intense, chlorine-like, similar to cleaning material used to clean toilets, but much stronger."

The report includes a description of 142 videos and 189 pieces of material obtained by the investigators as well as photos of impact sites and the inner chlorine cylinder from a barrel bomb.

The mission was established by the OPCW on April 29 to establish the facts surrounding allegations of the use of chlorine "for hostile purposes" in Syria. Chlorine gas is readily available and is used in industry around the world, but can also be used as a weapon.

Same-sex unions could boost Florida tourism

YULEE, Fla. - With gay marriage now legal in Florida, same-sex couples from around the Deep South crossed the border Tuesday as the Sunshine State became a prime regional destination for gay and lesbian weddings still banned back home.

Out-of-state couples formed lines outside county courthouses early Tuesday in the Panhandle and northern Florida counties. Some drove for hours to get marriage licenses at the first opportunity.

"As soon as we heard about the ruling we pretty much decided on a whim to come yesterday," said Scott Singletary, 22. "We wanted to make sure to do it as soon as possible, in case (the law) changed."

On that point, Florida's gay and lesbian weddings seem more secure than the first same-sex nuptials held years ago in other states.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a request by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to maintain the state's marriage ban until a final resolution.

Tail of missing AirAsia plane discovered in sea

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia - Divers and an unmanned underwater vehicle spotted the tail of the missing AirAsia plane in the Java Sea on Wednesday, the first confirmed sighting of any major wreckage 11 days after Flight 8501 disappeared with 162 people on board, an official said.

Following days of strong currents and murky water that hindered the operation, searchers managed to get a photograph of the debris, National Search and Rescue chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo told reporters.

The find is particularly important because the all-important cockpit voice and flight data recorders, or black boxes, are located in the aircraft's tail. Small pieces of the plane, such as seats, have previously been spotted.

Soelistyo said the top priority remains recovering more bodies along with the black boxes. So far, 40 corpses have been found, including an additional one announced Wednesday, but time is running out. At two weeks, most corpses will sink, said Anton Castilani, head of the country's disaster identification victim unit.

- The Associated Press