Last summer, the administration attempted to find a compromise to ensure that those who work for religious hospitals, universities and alike have access to contraceptive coverage as required under the health law while still respecting the principles of their religious employers. The compromise requires ensures other third parties to provide the coverage but many religious employers say the compromise still falls short and have sued. Following Justice Sotomayor’s action in the Colorado case, one of about 20 similar cases still pending, the White House said it is confident its rule has struck appropriate and legal balance. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington.

 

Legal pot went on sale in Colorado this morning in long line remain constant the state’s more than three dozen stores. Colorado Public Radio’s Ben Markus reports.

 

At several Denver locations, hundreds of customers showed up to be among the first to buy recreational marijuana. Brandy Harris and his buddy drove out from Ohio Tuesday night.

 

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here to be some of first obtains legal marijuana when it is suddenly legal in our state. 

 

But the demand has threatened some business’s ability to keep up. Tony Fox owner of Denver pot shop was asked she had enough. 

 

Today yes, tomorrow I do not know.

 

She says if demand does let it up there could be serious shortages ahead. For NPR News, I am Ben Markus in Denver.

 

Swore in at one minute after midnight this morning, New York City’s new Mayor Bill de Blasio waste a little time in getting down the business, mayor then let a new city’s Labor director is promising to take more sympathetic stands to public workers when the nation’s largest city begins to renegotiate expired contracts. Blasio also said he is dedicated to a more equitable city for all its residents.

 

So let me be clear. When I said we would take dead aim at the Tale of Two Cities, I meant it. 

 

Public employees union in New York demanding up to eight billion dollars retroactive pay increases as part of new contract left by the outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the post for 12 years. 

 

Italian automaker Fiat has agreed to buy the 41.5% of Chrysler it does already own. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne agrees to pay 4.35 billion dollars, the stake of the company currently owned by United Auto Workers Retiree Healthcare Trust. It all means Fiat will have full ownership of Chrysler less than five years after the company’s government finance bankruptcy. It was expected to close later this month.

 

After close on, one of best year in decades, Wall Street is close today for New Year’s holiday. 

 

You are listening to NPR.

 

Officials in Somalia now say at least half a dozen people are dead with number likely to go higher after a series of car bombings in the capital of Mogadishu. Police say a number of others were wounded in the attack. Two of the car bombs exploded outside the hotel in the capital often used by foreigners and government officials. Those in there say it is not clear who is blamed to this attacks. Such bombings are frequently carried out by the al-Qaeda-linked rebel group al-Shabab.

 

A new law that takes effect in Connecticut today, making it illegal to have an unregistered assault weapon or magazine clip holding more than 10 bullets. From member station WSHU Ebong Udoma reports, state officials say the lawmaker make it easier to keep track assault weapons.

 

Connecticut state police say a week before the midnight December 31st deadline more than 17,000 gun owners had registered assault weapons and large capacity magazine clips. Governor Dan Malloy says this means a lot of assault weapons are now registered. 

 

That does not represent 17,000. That represents many more than that. Some of these folks own upwards of 100 of those. Many folks own multiples. But this is going to be a very successful program. It has been executed relatively well.

 

20 1st graders and six educators were killed in the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown. The gunman used a legally purchased bushmaster assault rifles loaded with 30-round magazine clip. Such weapon must now be registered. For NPR News, I am Ebong Udoma in Connecticut.

 

More wintery weather in the forecast a parts of New England is upstate New York where weather washing calling for up to a foot additional snow overnight. As new storm moves through, New York City meanwhile could see as much as seven inches of snow.