A.M. LinksL Corruption Up, Respect for Property Rights Down in the US, NSA Used Radio Waves to Plant Spy Software in Computers, LA City Council Considering $15/Hour Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers

The U.S. has
fallen out of the top ten countries for economic freedom in the
Heritage Foundation’s 20^th anniversary edition of the
Index of Economic Freedom.
The NSA has
reportedly planted spy software in more than 100,000 computers,
often using radio waves. In the meantime, President Obama is
expected to propose changing the way the NSA collects Americans’
phone records.
A federal district judge
ruled Oklahoma’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.
The LA city council is
considering raising the minimum wage for workers at large
hotels to $15 an hour.
A state judge
ordered New Jersey officials to provide a “status report” on
the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries, half of which remain
closed.
The retired Florida cop and SWAT chief who allegedly shot and
killed a man for texting in a movie theater was
denied bail.
The White House’s press secretary, Jay Carney, says
President Obama plans to meet Pope Francis and is looking forward
to it, but declined to detail when or where that might take
place.