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Poll: Brown still leads in Calif. governor's race, Juliet WilliamsDemocrat Jerry Brown may still be the presumed front-runner in next year's California governor's race, but a new poll indicates he shouldn't take that position for granted....
House narrowly approves year-end jobs, Andrew TaylorDemocrats in the House Wednesday muscled through a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing about $50 billion for public works projects with another almost $50 billion for cash...
House Roll Call: How the House voted on jobs planThe 217-212 roll call Wednesday by which the House passed a measure aimed at creating and saving jobs through public works spending and grants to state and local government...
House narrowly approves Democratic jobs plan, Andrew TaylorDemocrats in the House Wednesday muscled through a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing about $50 billion for public works projects with another almost $50 billion for cash...
Obama on war decision: `You feel it viscerally'President Barack Obama spoke in personal terms Wednesday about the weight of war, calling his middle-of-the-night trip to Dover, Del., to greet the remains of fallen soldie...
Major items in the House's $174 billion jobs billKey features of the House's $174 billion jobs bill:_$36 billion for highways and mass transit._$20 billion to keep Highway Trust Fund solvent for existing obl...
McCain backs bills that would split big banks, Jim KuhnhennTwo senators, one from each party, called Wednesday for breaking up large financial firms that perform both commercial and investment banking, adding a wrinkle to already d...
Congress opens probe into Afghan trucking contract, Richard LardnerCongress is investigating allegations that U.S. tax dollars are being paid to warlords and the Taliban for security on supply routes used to truck food, water, fuel and amm...
Feds revising asylum detention policies, Suzanne GamboaThe Obama administration said Wednesday it will stop detaining asylum seekers who have a credible fear of persecution in their home countries.To be released into the...
Obama signs $1.1 trillion spending bill into lawPresident Barack Obama has signed into law a $1.1 trillion bill that increases the budgets in many areas of the government by about 10 percent, including health, law enforc...
Single-payer health care plan dies in Senate, David EspoThe liberals' longtime dream of a government-run health care system for all died Wednesday in the Senate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont vowed it will return when the r...
Analysis: Obama won't break new ground at summit, Dina Cappiello And H. Josef HebertA warning to delegates in Copenhagen: If you're looking for President Barack Obama to cave to pressure and deepen U.S. efforts to curb greenhouse gases, don't bet on it.No ho, ho spirit at 'Harry Christmas' time, Laurie Kellman
Ho, ho — hold that holiday thought.Whatever seasonal spirit resides on Capitol Hill these days has been driven into the shadows by the churlish mood of lawmakers w...
Committee passes Native Hawaiian legislation, Kevin FrekingA House committee approved legislation Wednesday that would let Native Hawaiians establish their own government, but supporters acknowledge that some behind-the-scenes nego...
Blacks urge more efforts to improve census count, Hope YenBlack groups on Wednesday urged the government to improve the count of African-Americans in next year's high-stakes census, saying they won't be satisfied with a tally that...
Roll Call: House votes to increase debt limitThe 218-214 roll call Wednesday by which the House voted to let the government borrow another $290 billion and avoid a January default on its debt.A "yes" vote is a ...
Product Recalls: Timberland children's boots, soupThe following recalls have been announced:_ About 21,000 children's Timberland Classic Scuffproof boots, made in Thailand and imported by The Timberland Co., of Stra...
House nears vote on year-end plan to create jobs, Andrew TaylorPresident Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the House rallied support Wednesday for a year-end plan to create jobs, mixing almost $50 billion for public works with help f...
House approves $290 billion increase in debt limit, Andrew TaylorThe House on Wednesday passed legislation giving the federal government the ability to borrow a whopping $290 billion to finance its operations for just six additional week...
Audit finds Afghan anticorruption unit ineffectiveA U.S. government watchdog says the organization created to spearhead Afghanistan's battle against corruption has too little authority, independence and personnel to be eff...
US to expand eyes in the sky over Afghanistan, Lolita C. BaldorThe U.S. military is adding more drones and expanding its video surveillance in the skies over Afghanistan to meet the needs of American forces as 30,000 more troops head i...
Senators: Drugmakers will pay more for health billDemocratic senators said Wednesday they've been told the pharmaceutical industry will contribute billions of dollars more than it has previously promised for President Bara...
Flight attendant caught wayward pilots unaware, Joan Lowy And Joshua FreedA call from a flight attendant to the pilots of the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis catapulted the cockpit crew from complacency to confusion.Inte...
ABC to interview ex-Edwards aide about sex scandalABC News will air an exclusive interview next month with the man who once claimed to have fathered the child of former Sen. John Edwards' mistress, the network said Wednesd...
GOP delay tactics slow Dems on health care votes, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar And Ken ThomasHopes for rapid progress on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul dimmed Wednesday as Republican delaying tactics complicated the work of Senate Democratic leaders ...
Product Recalls: Timberland children's bootsThe following recall has been announced:_ About 21,000 children's Timberland Classic Scuffproof boots, made in Thailand and imported by The Timberland Co., of Strath...
Roll Call: House passes defense billThe 395-34 roll call Wednesday by which the House passed a $636 billion defense bill that includes funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides a 3.4 percent pay...
High and lows: Bernanke honored then denounced, Jim KuhnhennTime's Person of the Year one moment; object of Senate scorn the other.Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faces a vote Thursday in the Senate Banking Committee on...
Democrats: Estate tax repeal to be short-lived, Stephen OhlemacherHeirs who come into big money after the federal estate tax expires at the end of the month might want to hold off spending it.The Senate rejected a bill Wednesday to...
Powdery substance at Senate office tests negativeA threatening letter with a powdery substance was discovered in Sen. Max Baucus' mailroom Wednesday, but the senator's office said initial tests found no hazard.Bauc...
House passes defense bill, rushes to adjournment, Jim AbramsThe House voted Wednesday to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensure the jobless don't lose their benefits, spearheading a flurry of legislative activity as lawmake...
White House sees UN support for Iran penaltiesThe White House is confident there's enough U.N. support for more penalties unless Iran acts soon to prove it's not working on a nuclear weapons program.The Obama ad...
US sees Iran edging closer to nuclear arms knowhow, Robert Burns And Pamela HessBehind the U.S. drive for harsh new sanctions on Iran is growing concern that the Iranians are acquiring the know-how to build a nuclear weapon. The latest worry is a purpo...
Senate health care read-a-thon ends, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivarThe Senate has resumed debate on health care overhaul, but the outlook for progress on President Barack Obama's signature issue remained unclear.The world's greatest...
Feds to stop detaining asylum seekers, Suzanne GamboaThe Obama administration says it will stop detaining asylum seekers who have a credible fear of persecution in their home countries.Immigration and Customs Enforceme...
WH knocks down Dean challenge to health billThe White House spokesman says President Barack Obama rejects a call by the former Democratic Party chairman to defeat the current Senate health care bill.Former Dem...
Suspicious package found at Sen. Baucus' officeThe U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a suspicious package with a powdery substance that was found at the office of Sen. Max Baucus.The Montana Democrat is chair...
White House promotes clean energy tax credits, Julie PaceThe White House is promoting a $5 billion increase in tax breaks for clean energy manufacturing in hopes of contributing to job growth and expanded use of renewable energy....
First of 30,000 new troops arriving in AfghanistanPentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell says the first of 30,000 additional troops being sent to Afghanistan have begun to arrive.In a Pentagon press briefing, Morrell told...
How the AP-GfK poll on Obama was conductedThe Associated Press-GfK Poll on President Obama and the direction of the country was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media from Dec. 10-14, 2009. It is based o...
AP-GfK Poll: Gains for Obama, not his Afghan plans, Liz SidotiAmericans like seeing President Barack Obama finally tackle Afghanistan — even if most don't support his plans.The latest Associated Press-GfK poll shows the presi...
TV sports star calls childhood obesity 'startling', Frederic J. Frommer"Monday Night Football" analyst Ron Jaworski told Congress on Wednesday that childhood obesity levels in the U.S. are "startling" and that kids need to get more exercise to...
House OKs defense bill, rushes to finish for year, Andrew TaylorThe House approved a $636 billion defense bill Wednesday that funds the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides a 3.4 percent pay hike for military personnel...
Judge asked to block wild horse roundup in Nevada, Matthew DalyAn animal protection group asked a federal judge Wednesday to block a plan to round up about 2,500 wild horses to remove them from a Nevada range.The mustang roundup...
US says NKorea must address uranium programPresident Barack Obama's special representative for North Korea said Wednesday that any future nuclear disarmament talks will have to deal with an atomic program the North ...
DHS made improper intel report on Nation of Islam, Devlin BarrettHomeland security officials improperly gathered intelligence on the Nation of Islam, a black Muslim group, but government rules were "unintentionally and inadvertently viol...
Michelle Obama's veggie garden is ready for winter, Darlene SupervilleFirst lady Michelle Obama's vegetable garden is ready for the winter.White House assistant chef Sam Kass, who oversees the garden, is using "hoop houses" to help it ...
Bailout banks keep tax breaks as they repay loans, Stephen OhlemacherCitigroup and other banks starting to repay the billions of dollars they borrowed from the government are getting another boost as they exit the bailout program: Billions m...
Health care overhaul bill slowed by read-a-thon, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivarSenate Democrats' drive to pass the health care overhaul by Christmas sputtered Wednesday as a lone moderate holdout remained undecided and Republican delaying tactics stre...
Nebraska's Nelson: An undecided man in the middle, Ken ThomasDemocratic Sen. Ben Nelson still isn't on board a massive health care bill even after a one-on-one meeting with President Barack Obama.Nelson told reporters from his...
Flight attendant's call caught pilots unaware, Joan Lowy And Joshua FreedA single call from a flight attendant to the pilots of the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis catapulted the cockpit crew from complacency to chaos.I...
Highlights of House wrapup legislationHighlights of the year-end wrapup legislation that passed the House Wednesday:DEFENSE SPENDING_$636 billion for the Pentagon for the budget year that began Oc...
Credit Suisse Group to pay $536M in Iran caseCredit Suisse Group has agreed to pay $536 million to settle a Justice Department probe and admit to violating U.S. economic sanctions by hiding the booming illegal busines...
White Americans' majority to end by mid-century, Hope YenThe estimated time when whites will no longer make up the majority of Americans has been pushed back eight years — to 2050 — because the recession and stricter immigrat...
Pilots described being caught totally by surprise, Joan LowyThe pilots of the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis described to safety investigators being caught completely by surprise when a flight attendant called th...
Health care issues: Who's insured, and howA look at key issues in the health care debate:THE ISSUE: How many people have health insurance now, and how would that change if the system is overhauled?THE...
APNewsBreak: McCain again urges pardon for boxer, Frederic J. FrommerTwo lawmakers are appealing to President Barack Obama to pardon renowned black boxer Jack Johnson, imprisoned a century ago because of his romantic link to a white woman.House votes to turn down volume of noisy TV ads, Ann Sanner
The House on Tuesday voted to level off the abrupt spikes in volume felt by television viewers during commercial breaks.The bill — approved by a voice vote — is ...
Treasury receives $9.45 million for TCF warrants, Martin CrutsingerThe Treasury Department has received $9.45 million in the sale of warrants it had received from TCF Financial Corp. as part of the support the government provided the bank ...
Dean urges defeat of emerging health care billFormer Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued Wednesday that the health care overhaul bill taking shape in the Senate further empowers private insurers at the expense...
Dems ready to push health bill despite setbacks, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivarHistory may be calling but time's running out to act by Christmas, so Senate Democrats are trying to come to terms with the idea they won't get everything they want from a ...
AP source: Obama writes letter to NKorean leader, Matthew LeePresident Barack Obama has written a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as part of an intense effort to draw the reclusive nation back to nuclear disarmamen...
Democrats accepting compromises on health care, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivarHistory may be calling but time's running out to act by Christmas, so Senate Democrats are coming to terms with the idea they won't get everything they want from health car...
Obama to host new safety chairwoman, NASA chiefPresident Barack Obama meets Wednesday at the White House with recently installed Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum.Tenenbaum has promised...
Senate Democrats contemplate half a loaf, Ricardo Alonso-zaldivarHistory may be calling but time's running out to act by Christmas, so Senate Democrats are coming to terms with the idea they won't get everything they want from health car...
House rushes to finish its work for year, Andrew TaylorThe House launched a frenetic day of legislating Wednesday, seeking to wrap up such end-of-session tasks as financing the military, helping the jobless and permitting the g...
US calls Japan base delay decision unfortunate, Foster KlugThe United States is frustrated by Japan's delay in relocating a major U.S. military base, even as the U.S. signals a willingness to be patient with Tokyo's new government....
Native Hawaiian bill poised to pass 2 committees, Kevin FrekingA bill that would let native Hawaiians establish their own government won't be rushed to the House floor without state officials getting the chance to address newfound conc...
SPIN METER: No real consensus on bank overhaul, Daniel WagnerAfter meeting with bank executives, President Barack Obama noted "a big gap" between the CEOs and their lobbyists on his campaign to rewrite the rules governing the financi...
Documents in probe of wayward plane to be released, Joan LowyFederal safety officials say they will release information gathered in their investigation of the Northwest Airlines plane that flew more than 100 miles past Minneapolis wh...
Obama, GOP sharpen debate over deficits, stimulus, Charles BabingtonPresident Barack Obama is sharpening the debate over federal spending, saying Republicans are stoking voters' fears by harping on deficits in a still-troubled economy.<...
AP Exclusive: Tourists enjoy White House breakfast, Ben EvansA Georgia couple who showed up at the White House a day early for a tour somehow wound up at an invitation-only breakfast with President Barack Obama and the first lady.
Today in History - Dec. 17Today is Thursday, Dec. 17, the 351st day of 2009. There are 14 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright...
NC woman accused of hiding mother's spring death, Kevin Maurer And Alysia PattersonA woman was charged Wednesday with keeping the corpse of her elderly mother in their home for months before the body was discovered in the woman's bed.Amy Blanche St...
Police probe shooting in LA hospital parking lotPolice are searching for at least one gunman who fired shots in the parking lot of a Los Angeles hospital.Officer Rosario Herrera says at least six shots were fired ...
Wisconsin hockey players dispatch stray batA junior hockey team in Wisconsin is under fire for killing a bat that flew into its arena during a game.Green Bay Gamblers coach Jon Cooper on Wednesday defended hi...
Shots fired at Calif. hospital, at least 1 hurtPolice say someone has opened fire in the main lobby of a Los Angeles hospital.Officer Gregory Baek says at least one person was injured when the shooting occurred W...
FAA inspector injured in Maui chopper accidentA Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector and a helicopter tour pilot are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries after mechanical problems forced the aircra...
Police say 2 dogs fed on Nebraska owner's bodyThe Nebraska Humane Society is seeking a new home for two small dogs that police say fed on their owner's body after he killed himself.Police in the Omaha suburb of ...
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 856As of Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at least 856 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan i...
Lafayette man charged in 3 Baton Rouge slayingsA man was charged Wednesday with killing three women in Baton Rouge, the first in 1999, and is a suspect in several other unsolved murders in the city, authorities said.Grand jury probing former Memphis mayor disbands
Associates of former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton say a grand jury that was investigating allegations of corruption against him has disbanded.No indictment has been...
Authorities: Man falls into pit in Ky. cave, dies, Roger AlfordA man slipped into a deep pit and was killed Wednesday while exploring a treacherous southeastern Kentucky cave, officials said.Crews worked for hours to recover the...
Self-styled vampire jailed for threatening judgeA man who claims to be the leader of a group of vampires has pleaded guilty to charges that he threatened to torture and kill an Indianapolis judge and his family.Fo...
Boy Scout, 11, returns purse with nearly $2,000An 11-year-old North Carolina boy has found and returned a stolen purse with nearly $2,000 inside. The News & Record of Greensboro reported Wednesday that Edward Myers ...
Passers-by rescue woman trapped in burning JeepAuthorities in Maryland say passers-by rescued a driver from her burning jeep by ripping through the vehicle's cloth top.The Jeep was struck from behind by a tractor...
Group: Record number of journalists killed in 2009The November massacre of 30 media workers in the Philippines made 2009 the deadliest year ever for journalists, according to a report by a press advocacy group.The C...
BLM to field offices: Mark fences for sage grouse, Mead GruverThe U.S. Bureau of Land Management is telling its field offices to mark certain fences and guy wires to make them more visible to sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and lesse...
Hotel not source of fatal Legionnaires' diseaseA public health official says a guest who died from Legionnaires' disease after staying at a luxury Miami hotel did not contract the disease there.Dr. Vincent Conte ...
One of America's richest sued by ex-wife in NYCThe ex-wife of one of America's richest men has sued the billionaire in New York for racketeering, saying he hid millions of dollars from her for decades.Patricia Co...
Family kept corpse of NC woman in bed for months, Kevin Maurer And Alysia PattersonRelatives of an elderly North Carolina woman kept her corpse in their home for months, until authorities discovered the woman's body this week, and a prosecutor said Wednes...
'2010' numerals delivered to Times SquareThe year 2010 is days away and the numerals marking the new decade have rolled into Times Square.Two pedicabs delivered the digits "1" and "0" on Wednesday. They'll ...
Gun residue on both women in Calif. murder suicide, Gillian FlaccusCalifornia authorities said they found gunshot powder residue on the hands of two both women involved in an apparent murder suicide and aren't able to determine who was the...
Head of notorious UN gang sentenced to 30 years, Gene JohnsonA man who parlayed a group of rough friends, a disdain for the Hells Angels and what prosecutors describe as "laudable organizational skills" into one of Canada's most noto...
Study: Religion repressed in third of all nationsIn Indonesia, Muslim groups burn down a mosque belonging to the minority Ahmadiyya. In Singapore, the government refuses to recognize Jehovah's Witnesses. In Belgium, 68 re...
Groups criticize Park Service profit-sharing plan, Mead GruverEnvironmentalists are voicing concern about a soon-to-be-implemented National Park Service policy that would enable parks to share profits from research within their bounda...
Scandals' domino effect shakes Ga. GOP leaders, Shannon MccaffreyWhat's going on at the Georgia Statehouse these days?The House speaker, who tried to kill himself by swallowing pills, stepped down amid allegations of an affair wit...
New charge for Pa. woman in sex-for-WS ticket caseA Philadelphia woman charged with offering sex for World Series tickets faces a new prostitution charge on top of the earlier pending charges.Police testified at a p...
NC woman accused after woman found dead in house, Kevin Maurer And Alysia PattersonAuthorities say a North Carolina family failed to report the death of an elderly relative who lived in their home, leaving her body in her bed for months.New Hanover...
Wis. Legislature passes drunken driving billOn the day state lawmakers overwhelmingly passed drunken driving reform that backers called the most significant change in Wisconsin history, Judy Jenkins stayed at home.9/11 families argue to remove ashes from NYC dump
A lawyer has asked a federal appeals court to let families of victims of the World Trade Center attacks remove ashes of their loved ones from a garbage dump.Attorney...
Pa. police chief accused of cover-up ordered held, Kathy MathesonA police chief ordered held without bail on charges he tried to cover up the fatal beating of a Mexican immigrant by white teenagers was named in a 2006 lawsuit that claime...
Fed holds rates low as weak economy caps inflation, Jeannine AversaThe economy is growing, but only weakly. Layoffs have slowed, yet jobs remain scarce. And interest rates will need to rise — but not anytime soon.That was the mixe...
NYC schoolkids a step closer to losing free rides, Karen MatthewsThe board of the nation's largest transit agency reluctantly approved a 2010 budget Wednesday that would cut bus and subway service and leave New York City children without...
SC gov again dodges removal; lawmakers OK rebuke, Jim DavenportLawmakers voted Wednesday to formally rebuke Gov. Mark Sanford, again sparing him from impeachment over secret trips to see his Argentine mistress and his use of state plan...
BLM tells field offices: Mark fences for grouse, Mead GruverThe U.S. Bureau of Land Management is telling its field offices to mark certain fences and wind-turbine guy wires to make them more visible to sage grouse, sharp-tailed gro...
Correction: Cell Phone Searches storyIn a Dec. 15 story about an Ohio Supreme Court ruling requiring warrants for cell phone searches, The Associated Press erroneously reported the vote count. The court ruled ...
Swine flu vaccine now plentiful in half the states, Mike StobbeAfter weeks of shortages, swine flu vaccine is plentiful enough that nearly half the states now say everyone can get it, not just people in high-risk groups.But the ...
Sen. Schumer regrets comment to flight attendantSen. Charles Schumer made an inappropriate comment about a flight attendant who demanded he turn off his cell phone, his office said Wednesday.Schumer spokesman Max ...
Pair accused of faking death from bad oystersA couple were charged in federal court in Sioux Falls with faking the husband's death to collect on life insurance. A woman, 39, and her 45-year-old husband pleaded not gui...
Laredo could be largest US city without bookstore, Paul J. WeberThe final chapter has been written for the lone bookstore on the streets of Laredo.With a population of nearly a quarter-million people, this city could soon be the ...
Colo. boy shot with gun hidden by Christmas treeAuthorities say a 12-year-old Colorado boy accidentally shot himself in the leg while playing with a loaded pistol his parents had hidden behind the family Christmas tree.<...
Fla. police chief 'friendly' with Ponzi suspectThe Fort Lauderdale police chief says he developed a "friendly relationship" with a South Florida lawyer charged by federal authorities with operating a $1 billion Ponzi sc...
Rapist linked to 13 attacks strikes again in Va.Police are trying to find a man who sexually assaulted two teenage trick-or-treaters in Virginia on Halloween after linking him to more than a dozen attacks on women since ...
Texas parents battle school over son's long locks, Jeff CarltonPre-kindergartner Taylor Pugh likes his floppy hair just how it is: long on the front and sides, covering his earlobes and shirt collar.But his long locks violate th...
Ala. city requires firefighters at candle servicesChurches in an Alabama city better count on a few extra guests at Christmas Eve candlelight ceremonies.The Birmingham suburb of Homewood requires a permit and four o...
Stimulus funds drill wells as Calif water vanishes, Garance BurkeThe government is spending $40 million in federal stimulus funds to pull water from underground aquifers in drought-stricken California, even as evidence is growing that th...
Quinn says he knew about prison release programIllinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he knew ahead of time that his Corrections Department planned to begin releasing some prisoners after just a few days behind bars.But Qu...
Ohio parents sue day care amid sleep aid probeParents of an infant say she often seemed groggy after attending a church day care where some workers are accused of giving children an over-the-counter dietary supplement ...
Reggae star Banton will be transferred to Tampa, Jennifer KayGrammy-nominated Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton will fight a drug charge against him in Tampa instead of Miami.Banton waived his bail hearing Wednesday in Miami fe...
Two-legged dog gives hope to disabled Army vets, Sue ManningFor several years, Jude Stringfellow and her Lab-chow mix have toured the country with a simple message: Faith walks.Born without front legs to a junkyard dog around...
Police treating missing Utah mom as criminal case, Brock Vergakis And Jennifer DobnerInvestigators said Wednesday that they suspect foul play was involved in the disappearance of a Utah mother of two as they grew increasingly suspicious of her husband after...
Mom lost custody of girls same day as 4 killings, Gillian FlaccusA court commissioner had tentatively ordered a Houston woman to relinquish temporary custody of her two young children to her ex-husband's sister hours before the family wa...
Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent EditorialsExcerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:Dec. 15Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch, on Tiger Woods situation:If ...
Pa. abduction hoax mother wins early 2010 releaseA white Pennsylvania woman who falsely claimed she and her 9-year-old daughter were abducted by two black men, only to be found later at Disney World, could be freed from p...
Charred remains are those of missing Calif. teenRiverside County authorities have confirmed that charred remains found in a Southern California backyard last month are those of a missing teenager.Coroner's officia...
Police probe playground death as 'suicide by cop'Police say they are investigating the shooting death of a woman wielding a meat cleaver on a California elementary school playground as a possible case of "suicide by cop."...
Police suspect foul play in missing Utah mom case, Brock Vergakis And Jennifer DobnerUtah authorities say they suspect foul play may be involved in the disappearance of a 28-year-old mother.West Valley City Asst. Police Chief Craig Black says Susan P...
Georgetown students say campus satire is racist, Brett ZongkerGeorgetown University students are slamming a humor magazine for an online satirical piece they say is racist and not funny.The story in The Georgetown Heckler descr...
With demand up, charities face tough holidays, David CraryFor many of America's social service charities, this holiday season is providing a daunting mix of heavier demand for services, reduced funding and an ever-widening range o...
Brazilian court: Hand boy over to father in NJA U.S. Congressman says a Brazilian court has ordered a 9-year-old who has lived there for the last five years to be handed over to his father and returned to New Jersey.Religion News in Brief
President Barack Obama's address to the Muslim world last June was chosen as the top religion story of 2009 in a survey of journalists who cover the beat.Obama exten...
Men admit stealing seed pods from Utah nat'l park, Mike StarkTwo men have pleaded guilty to trying to steal 600 pounds of wildflower seed pods in Utah's Zion National Park in hopes of a payday on the commercial market.Forty-fo...
SC lawmakers approve formal rebuke for governor, Jim DavenportSouth Carolina lawmakers voted Wednesday to formally rebuke Gov. Mark Sanford, again sparing him from impeachment over secret trips to see his Argentine mistress and his us...
DNA tests aim to identify Calif. family killerAuthorities are conducting DNA tests to determine if a woman who lost custody of her two children is responsible for killing her family in a murder-suicide.The Orang...
Maine investigates lobster price-fixing complaints, Clarke CanfieldMaine's attorney general is investigating allegations of price-fixing among some lobster dealers in the state.A spokeswoman for state prosecutors, Kate Simmons, says...
Blago atty: Obama as a witness would be 'awesome'One of Rod Blagojevich's attorneys said Wednesday it was possible the defense could call President Obama to take the witness stand if the corruption charges against the for...
Police: Fire truck that crashed had wrong partsA police report that was part of an investigation into a Boston fire truck crash that took the life of a veteran firefighter concluded that a fire department contractor ins...
SC lawmakers nix Sanford ouster, consider rebuke, Jim DavenportSouth Carolina lawmakers have voted down a measure to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford for taking secret trips to visit his mistress in Argentina and improperly using state aircra...
AP NewsAlertPolice say they suspect foul play in disappearance of Utah mother reported missing Dec. 7....
Death row inmate who used cell phone loses appeal, Michael GraczykA Texas death row inmate whose threatening calls to legislator prompted a prison system lockdown and a crackdown on contraband has lost his appeal over a 2004 double slayin...
Ariz. judge tosses rape case against Liberian boy, Bob ChristieSexual assault charges against a 9-year-old Liberian boy accused in the gang-rape of an 8-year-old girl were dismissed on Wednesday by a juvenile court judge in Phoenix.Pittsburgh City Council delays vote on tuition tax
Pittsburgh City Council has delayed a preliminary vote on the mayor's proposal to tax tuition paid by students who attend college in the city.Mayor Luke Ravenstahl s...
Air Force Academy says religious climate improving, Dan ElliottThe Air Force Academy says religious tolerance has improved dramatically since allegations five years ago that evangelical Christians harassed cadets who didn't share their...
Attorney: Husband of missing Utah mom submits DNA, Brock Vergakis And Jennifer DobnerThe husband of a missing Utah woman has complied with a police request to submit a DNA sample, his attorney said Wednesday.Josh Powell provided West Valley City poli...
Bail tops $2M for Brit held in Las Vegas slayingA judge set bail Wednesday at $2.26 million for a British motivational speaker accused of killing a Las Vegas woman during a meditation session and stuffing her severed bod...
Study suggests greater sea level rise from warming, Malcolm RitterGlobal warming in this century might raise sea levels more than expected in future centuries, says a study that looked at what happened at a time when Neanderthals roamed E...
Pa. police accused of cover-up face abuse suits, Michael RubinkamA police chief charged with trying to cover up the fatal beating of a Mexican immigrant by white teenagers was named in a 2006 civil suit that made a startling claim: Borou...
Michelle Obama donates to Toys for TotsDelivering a red Christmas sack bulging with toys, first lady Michelle Obama appealed Wednesday for donations for older children for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's annual ...
Trucker shot to death in moving big rig in Calif.Police say a trucker was shot to death during an apparent robbery in his moving big rig, sending the truck crashing along a freeway onramp.Police say two people were...
Ariz. judge dismisses rape case against boy, age 9A juvenile court judge in Phoenix has dismissed rape charges against a 9-year-old boy charged in the gang-rape of an 8-year-old girl.Maricopa County Superior Court J...
NY transit agency board approves 2010 budgetThe board of the nation's largest transit agency reluctantly approved a 2010 budget Wednesday that includes service cuts and could leave New York City children without free...
Oklahoma City police: Fire that killed 3 was arsonOklahoma City police say an apartment fire that killed three men last month was intentionally set.Police Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said Wednesday the deaths of 49-year-o...
Attorney: Fort Hood suspect moved out of ICUThe Army psychiatrist charged in last month's deadly shooting at Fort Hood has been moved from a hospital's intensive care unit to a private room, his attorney said Wednesd...
Debate over rebuke for SC gov gets emotionalSouth Carolina lawmakers got emotional Wednesday as they debated whether to recommend impeachment or a formal rebuke over Gov. Mark Sanford's secret trips to see his Argent...
Study: Some Indianapolis teens have high STD riskSex researchers who tracked teenage girls in Indianapolis found that half of those studied had at least one sexually transmitted infection within two years of first having ...
Train kills Ohio student, injures 2nd near schoolAn Amtrak passenger train struck two high school Ohio students crossing some tracks as they walked to school, killing one and critically injuring the other.Authoriti...
A look at the 2010 Ford Mustang2010 Ford Mustang GT Premium CoupeBASE PRICE: $20,995 for base model; $23,995 for base Premium model; $27,995 for GT; $30,995 for GT Premium.AS TESTED: $33,23...
Ford Mustang is still cool after all these years, Ann M. JobIf only we all could age as well as the Ford Mustang has.Now 45 years old and revamped for 2010 with new styling and more powerful V-8, the "pony car" that debuted i...
Fired nurse gets life in prison for double killingA nursing supervisor enraged at two co-workers who accused him of sexual harassment drew a life sentence Wednesday for killing a nurse and a bystander during a shooting ram...
2 men to stand trial in Philly pedestrian deathsTwo men will face trial on murder charges in the deaths of three children and a mother who were killed on a sidewalk by a car fleeing police.Twenty-year-old Ivan Rod...
NC woman lay dead in bed for months despite visitsThe body of an elderly woman remained in her bed for up to eight months even though caretakers paid daily visits to the house and kept it tidy, authorities said Wednesday.<...
Dead rodents, skinny snakes found in Texas raid, Angela K. BrownA raid on an exotic animal delivery company in Texas found starving snakes, hundreds of reptiles packed in shipping crates and rodents that had killed and eaten each other,...
Money robbed from western Pa. bank mailed backSomeone mailed an envelope filled with money to a western Pennsylvania bank that was robbed earlier this month, and the FBI suspects it was either the repentant robber or a...
Suspect arrested in Ohio city hall firebombingA man accused of firebombing an Ohio city hall has been arrested on charges of aggravated arson and manufacturing a dangerous ordnance.The federal Bureau of Alcohol,...
Teen runs up dad's cell bill to nearly $22,000A 13-year-old teen was probably in hot water with his father after running up a cell phone bill of nearly $22,000. Ted Estarija said he was expecting his bill to be higher ...
Time magazine names Bernanke 'Person of the Year'Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (bur-NANG'-kee) has been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009.Last year's winner was then-President-elect Barack...
Neb. man jailed for unregistered machine gunsOfficials say a 24-year-old Nebraska man who was found with two unregistered, homemade machine guns has been sentenced to 8 1/2 months in prison.According to a U.S. ...
Laid-off Wall Streeters take stock, start fresh, Samantha GrossEighteen months without a job. Fourteen months. Twelve.It's been a long, dry spell for many of the suit-clad Wall Streeters who were handed their pink slips before h...
The nation's weather, Weather UndergroundThe storm system that pounded through the Great Lakes and Northeast was forecast to depart the region Wednesday, bringing a drying trend. Nevertheless, localized lake effec...
Christian goods spoof commercial brands or logos, Jay ReevesChristian stores have just the Christmas gift for Facebook fans: A "Jesus Christ wants to be your friend" T-shirt that mimics the design of the popular social networking si...
Study: Sexually active girls at risk of infectionIndiana University researchers say half of all urban teenage girls may get one or more sexually transmitted infections within two years of becoming sexually active.T...
American proposes JAL as exclusive Asian partner, Harry R. WeberAmerican Airlines is telling partner Japan Airlines it will not compete for connecting traffic to Asia if the Japanese carrier does not defect to a rival alliance led by De...
Chances slim 2 climbers are alive, authorities say, Tim FoughtFive days into the search for two missing climbers, authorities in Oregon were piecing together a theory about what may have gone wrong as hope dwindled that the pair would...
SC legislators consider formal rebuke of governorSouth Carolina lawmakers are preparing to discuss a formal rebuke of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for his travels to see a mistress in Argentina and his misuse of state...
Best traits of successful people can also be worst, Nancy ArmourExceptional people, be they superstar athletes, politicians, celebrities or CEOs, are driven to be the very best at what they do.To that end, Tiger Woods is no excep...
Bail hearing for Pa. police accused of cover-up, Michael Rubinkam And Kathy MathesonAfter taking part in a fight that left a Mexican immigrant mortally wounded on the street, teenagers Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak fled. They didn't get very far be...
'You lie!' on Yale list of year's memorable quotes, John ChristoffersenThe fierce debate over health care hasn't led to a new law yet, but it's produced some of this year's top quotes, according to a Yale University librarian.Fred Shapi...
Custody dispute may have led to shooting deaths, Amy TaxinA Texas attorney involved in a bitter custody dispute was ordered to return to a Southern California court Monday afternoon with her two young daughters. She never made it....
Mo. farmers with best land face 2011 tax rise, Chris BlankFarmers who own the best agricultural land in Missouri might be saddled with higher taxes starting 2011 while those with less desirable plots could see their duties cut, un...
Ohio justices: Cell phone searches require warrant, Stephen MajorsThe Ohio Supreme Court said Tuesday police officers must obtain a search warrant before scouring the contents of a suspect's cell phone, unless their safety is in danger.Evangelist Oral Roberts leaves a complex legacy, Eric Gorski
Revered by millions who heard his message of God's healing power, ridiculed by others for tying his own mortality to a fundraising need, Oral Roberts was a towering figure ...
Teen runs up dad's cell bill to nearly 22,000A 13-year-old teen was probably in hot water with his father after running up a cell phone bill of nearly $22,000. Ted Estarija said he was expecting his bill to be higher ...
Michael Jackson estate administrators seek payment, Anthony MccartneyThe administrators of Michael Jackson's estate and a cadre of attorneys are seeking millions for managing the King of Pop's affairs after death, court documents filed Tuesd...
Navajos vote to reduce size of Tribal Council, Felicia FonsecaNavajos voted Tuesday to drastically reduce the size of the Tribal Council and give their president a line-item veto in the first ballot initiatives ever brought before tri...