Obama Urges Iran To Release Three U.S. Hikers

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Friday called on Iran to immediately release three Americans who were detained a year ago after straying across the border while hiking in the mountains of northern Iraq.

UNESCO Declares Everglades Endangered Site

BRASILIA - A U.N. panel has declared the Florida's Everglades to be an endangered World Heritage site due to the wetlands' continued degradation, officials said on Friday.

Turkey Sued In California Over Armenian Genocide

LOS ANGELES - Lawyers for two Armenian men have sued Turkey and two of its major banks, claiming they and others were victims of genocide and seeking what could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

U.S. Worried More Secret Documents May Be Released

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are worried about what other secret documents the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks may possess and have tried to contact the group without success to avoid their release, the State Department said on Friday.

U.S. Bank Failures Total 108 After 5 Shut On Friday

WASHINGTON - U.S. bank failures reached 108 so far in 2010 on Friday as regulators seized five small banks in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast, none publicly traded.

BP To Try Well Kill Tuesday

BILOXI, Mississippi - BP said on Friday it could seal its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well by next week as the House of Representatives voted to toughen regulation of offshore energy drilling.

Congress To Probe Michigan Oil Spill

DETROIT - A U.S. congressional committee will probe the spill of more than 800,000 gallons (3 million liters) of oil from an Enbridge Inc pipeline in southern Michigan this week, a Michigan congressman said on Saturday.

Grand Jury Eyes Monitor Shutdown At Massey Mine: Report

CHICAGO - A federal grand jury looking into an explosion that killed 29 workers at a Massey Energy Co coal mine in West Virginia heard testimony this week about possible illegal tampering with a mine safety monitor, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Activists Rally For Arizona Immigration Law

PHOENIX, Arizona - A few hundred supporters of a new Arizona law that cracks down on illegal immigrants rallied in central Phoenix Saturday, as tensions over the measure simmered.

Bill And Hillary Clinton's Daughter Marries In NY

RHINEBECK, New York - Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter married her long-time boyfriend in the picturesque New York village of Rhinebeck on Saturday in what has been dubbed America's royal wedding.

Enbridge Says No Restart Date For Ruptured Line

DETROIT/CALGARY - Enbridge Inc's chief executive said on Friday he was unable to say when the company would be able to restart the Michigan pipeline that ruptured earlier this week, spilling more than 800,000 gallons of oil.

NY Mets Owner Wilpon Sued Over Madoff Losses

NEW YORK - New York Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon was sued on Friday over alleged losses suffered by retirement plan participants at his firm Sterling Equities.

New Strain Of E. Coli Sickens Americans: Report

WASHINGTON - A new, virulent and drug-resistant strain of E. coli bacteria is infecting people in the United States and posing a significant public health threat, doctors reported on Friday.

UNESCO Declares Everglades Endangered Site

BRASILIA - A U.N. panel has declared the Florida's Everglades to be an endangered World Heritage site due to the wetlands' continued degradation, officials said on Friday.

Turkey Sued In California Over Armenian Genocide

LOS ANGELES - Lawyers for two Armenian men have sued Turkey and two of its major banks, claiming they and others were victims of genocide and seeking what could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

BP To Try Well Kill Tuesday

BILOXI, Mississippi - BP Plc said on Friday it could seal its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well by next week as the House of Representatives voted to toughen regulation of offshore energy drilling.

U.S. Worried More Secret Documents May Be Released

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are worried about what other secret documents the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks may possess and have tried to contact the group without success to avoid their release, the State Department said on Friday.

U.S. Bank Failures Total 108 After 5 Shut On Friday

WASHINGTON - U.S. bank failures reached 108 so far in 2010 on Friday as regulators seized five small banks in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast, none publicly traded.

Obama Urges Iran To Release Three U.S. Hikers

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Friday called on Iran to immediately release three Americans who were detained a year ago after straying across the border while hiking in the mountains of northern Iraq.

Arizona Immigration Law Appeal Set For November

PHOENIX, Arizona - A U.S. court denied a request for an expedited hearing on Friday and instead set a November date for Arizona's appeal to a federal court ruling that blocked key parts of a state law cracking down on illegal immigration.

Dead Whale Found Pinned To Alaska Cruise Ship

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A dead whale was discovered pinned to the bow of a Princess Cruises luxury liner near Juneau, the third such incident involving the company's Alaska fleet in a decade, officials said on Thursday.

EPA Says Michigan Spill Appears Contained

DETROIT - Oil spilled from a pipeline in Michigan does not present a threat to the Great Lakes and the spill has been contained on a river about 50 miles inland from Lake Michigan, federal officials said on Thursday.

NY Subpoenas MetLife, Pru On Soldier Death Benefits

NEW YORK - New York's attorney general has subpoenaed MetLife Inc and Prudential Financial Inc as part of a probe into whether life insurers are defrauding families of deceased military personnel by siphoning off millions of dollars of death benefits for themselves.

Brownsville, The 'hood That New York Left Behind

NEW YORK - Josephine Spearman alternately fought back tears and grew defiant with anger when discussing the murder of her son, one of 11 shootings in 15 days recently that have made the neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of the most dangerous in the United States.

Special Report: A Mississippi Yankee In BP's Battered Court

HATTIESBURG, Miss./CHICAGO - Bob Dudley is not one to wear his disappointment on his sleeve.

Arizona Appeals Immigrant Law Ruling Amid Protests

PHOENIX - Arizona on Thursday appealed a judge's decision to block key parts of the state's crackdown on illegal immigrants and police in Phoenix arrested scores of activists protesting the remaining measures in the law.

U.S. Closes Consulate In Mexico's Ciudad Juarez

MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government has shut indefinitely its consulate in Mexico's most violent drug war city Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, to evaluate security conditions.

California Pot Sweep Linked To Mexican Drug Cartels

LOS ANGELES - California authorities said on Thursday they have made dozens of arrests and destroyed marijuana plants worth billions of dollars on farms that officials said are controlled by Mexican drug traffickers.

Madoff Trustee Sues Family Entities

NEW YORK - The trustee liquidating Bernard Madoff's investment firm late on Thursday filed three lawsuits against entities affiliated with family members of the imprisoned swindler, accusing them of taking nearly $200 million of investor cash to fund "lavish lifestyles."

Four Killed In Air Force Plane Crash In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - All four crew members were killed in a U.S. Air Force cargo plane that crashed in flames while practicing for an aviation show at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the Air Force said Thursday.

Kevin Durant Likely To Lead U.S. Squad At World Championships

NEW YORK - With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh focused on building their own NBA Dream Team in Miami, USA Basketball unveiled a Plan B line-up on Wednesday for next month's world championships.

Gulf Spill Raises Long-term Beach Safety Questions

MIAMI - It could be years before some Gulf of Mexico beaches recover fully from BP Plc's massive oil spill and are declared free of toxic pollutants, including heavy metals, that can make people sick, a leading environmental advocacy group said on Wednesday.

Mortgage Brokers To Be Fingerprinted And Registered

WASHINGTON - Mortgage loan originators will have to be fingerprinted and sign up to a central registry to do business in future, according to final rules issued on Wednesday by the Federal Reserve and other regulators.

Ten Key Indicators Show Global Warming "undeniable"

WASHINGTON - Melting glaciers, more humid air and eight other key indicators show that global warming is undeniable, scientists said on Wednesday, citing a new comprehensive review of the last decade of climate data.

Bear Kills Man, Injures Two Near Yellowstone Park

SALMON, Idaho - One man was killed and a man and a woman were injured by bear attacks in the middle of the night on Wednesday at a popular campground on the edge of Yellowstone Park, wildlife officials said.

Amazon Offers $139 Wireless Kindle For Mass Appeal

SEATTLE - Amazon.com launched a cheaper, wireless-only Kindle on Wednesday, betting that the $139 price will turn its latest electronic reader into a mass-appeal device as Apple Inc's iPad gains ground.

Foreclosures Up In 75 Percent Of Top U.S. Metro Areas

NEW YORK - Foreclosures rose in 3 of every four large U.S. metro areas in this year's first half, likely ruling out sustained home price gains until 2013, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday.

BP Aims For Quick Well Kill And Weighs Asset Sales

HOUSTON/MIAMI - BP Plc may permanently shut the well that caused the worst off-shore oil spill in U.S. history as early as Monday, the company said as speculation grew over assets it might sell to cover mounting costs.

New York To Spend Big To Kill Bloodsucking Guests

NEW YORK - In the city that never sleeps there is one increasingly busy nocturnal resident who New York wants to evict -- the bedbug.

Key Parts Of Arizona Anti-immigration Law Blocked

PHOENIX - A U.S. judge on Wednesday blocked key parts of Arizona's tough new immigration law hours before it was to take effect, handing a victory to the Obama administration as it tries to take control of the issue.

Local Governments Warn: More Job, Service Cuts

WASHINGTON - Local government revenue has withered so drastically that U.S. cities and counties will have to cut hundreds of thousands of jobs in the coming months, leaving communities without basic services and raising jobless rates, according to a survey.

Government Taps 19 States For Education Grant Finals

WASHINGTON - The Department of Education has selected 19 states to vie for $3.4 billion in grants aimed at improving their schools, Secretary Arne Duncan said in a speech on Tuesday.

Women Taking Control Of Money, Lack Confidence: Poll

NEW YORK - Nearly all women in the United States are involved in household finance decisions and one-fourth of them are in control, yet many lack confidence in their fiscal management abilities, a study found on Tuesday.

BP Gets "wake-up Call" And $32 Billion In Spill Charges

LONDON/HOUSTON - BP Plc's newly named chief executive on Tuesday called the Gulf oil spill a "wake-up call" for the entire industry as the company tallied up its losses and disclosed two U.S. investigations.

Crook Or Big Talker? Lawyers Differ On Blagojevich

CHICAGO - Prosecutors portrayed former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday as corrupt and bent on enriching himself but his lawyers said he was a talkative dreamer with no intention of doing anything illegal.

New York To Pay Family Of Black Man Killed By Police

NEW YORK - The family of an unarmed black man killed in a hail of 50 bullets fired by New York City police officers will receive $3.25 million in a settlement announced by city officials on Tuesday.

California City OKs Tax Rates For Marijuana

SAN FRANCISCO - Anticipating California voters will back a November ballot measure to legalize casual marijuana use, officials in Oakland have approved two tax rates on pot sales in their city, already a hub of the state's medicinal marijuana scene.

Utah Court Orders New Trial For Polygamist Leader

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a new trial of a polygamist leader of a breakaway Mormon sect, who was convicted of forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her first cousin.

New York's MTA Proposes Higher Fares But No Service Cuts

NEW YORK - New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority detailed plans on Wednesday to close daunting deficits with a combination of higher fares and tolls and cost savings that hinge on winning over union workers.

Electric Fault, Oversight Blamed In DC Subway Crash

WASHINGTON - Safety investigators on Tuesday blamed a 2009 Washington, D.C. subway crash that killed nine people on faulty track electronics but also said the region's transit agency lacked a safety culture.

Chipotle Counters Violate Disability Law: Court

NEW YORK - Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc violated a U.S. disability law by making the walls between customers and food-preparation counters in its restaurants too high, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.

Obama To Make Historic Visit To Talk Show "The View"

LOS ANGELES - President Barack Obama will appear on female chat show "The View" on Thursday, in what the ABC network said on Monday was the first appearance by a sitting U.S. president on a daytime TV talk show.

Red Tape Cut For Private International Flights

WASHINGTON - Security officials on Monday unveiled simpler procedures for clearing private planes to fly to and from the United States, allowing them to submit a single manifest for review against government watchlists.

Harry And William Macklowe Officially Split

NEW YORK - New York developer Harry Macklowe, who rolled the dice during the commercial property boom and lost the General Motors Building, officially split with his son, who has launched William Macklowe Co.

North Dakota And Alaska Lead U.S. Job Creation: Study

NEW YORK - North Dakota and Alaska have added the most jobs, while Nevada, California and Florida have lost the most, in the last five years, according to research released on Monday.

Fewer U.S. Parents To Cut Back-to-school Budget-poll

NEW YORK - Fewer U.S. parents plan to cut their back-to-school budgets, but they will count on smartphones and social networking to find the best bargains during the second biggest shopping season of the year, according to a Deloitte survey released on Tuesday.

Special Report: Targeting Teens For Gastric Bands

CHICAGO - After one patient died and others suffered serious complications following Lap-Band surgery, Dr. Neelu Pal had seen enough. A petite surgical resident now aged 40, she began quietly calling patients about to undergo the weight-loss procedure at New York University's Medical Center, telling them she feared for their safety.

Migrants Sell Up, Flee Arizona Ahead Of Crackdown

PHOENIX - Nicaraguan mother Lorena Aguilar hawks a television set and a few clothes on the baking sidewalk outside her west Phoenix apartment block.

Trial Closes In New York Airport Bomb Plot Case

NEW YORK - Two accused Islamist militants on trial for conspiracy to bomb a New York airport were egged on by a government informant, with one being all talk and the other a bystander, their lawyers said on Monday.

BP's Hayward Quits As Spill Cost Put At $32 Billion

LONDON - BP Plc chief executive Tony Hayward will step down as head of the oil giant on October 1 and be replaced by fellow executive Robert Dudley.

Special Report: High Finance And Corporate Pot, California Style

SAN FRANCISCO - Jeff Wilcox, a middle-aged, clean-cut man who dresses in the Bay Area casual business attire of clean jeans, collared shirt and running shoes, may be the face of Marijuana, Inc, the corporatization of cannabis.

Judge Tells Former Media Mogul Black To Stay In U.S.

CHICAGO - A U.S. judge on Friday ordered former media tycoon Conrad Black to stay in the continental United States while he awaits an appeals court ruling on whether his 2007 fraud conviction should be thrown out.

Key Rig Alarm Disabled Before Blast: Rig Worker

HOUSTON - An emergency alarm that could have warned workers aboard the doomed Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico drilling rig was intentionally disabled, a rig engineer told U.S. investigators on Friday.

Lawsuit Vs Coke's Vitaminwater To Proceed: Judge

NEW YORK - The Coca-Cola Co has failed to win dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public through health-related claims on bottles of its vitaminwater beverage.

Bonnie Fades But Disrupts Gulf Oil Output

MIAMI - The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie dissipated over the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday after the mere threat of the storm took a big bite out of production in the Gulf oil patch.

Fraudsters Angle For Piece Of BP Oil Spill Fund

BOOTHVILLE, Louisiana - Swindlers, scammers and even a few strippers are flocking to the Gulf Coast in search of a piece of the $20 billion BP Plc has set aside to compensate residents for spill-related losses.

Migrants Sell Up And Flee Arizona Ahead Of Crackdown

PHOENIX - Nicaraguan mother Lorena Aguilar hawks a television set and a few clothes on the baking sidewalk outside her west Phoenix apartment block.

Comic Con Superheroes Set To Soar In 2011 And Beyond

SAN DIEGO - Comic book movie fans who are mad at Hollywood in a summer season bereft of many superheroes, fear not. Help is on the way.

BP's Hayward To Step Aside As Gulf Work Resumes

LONDON - BP Plc was expected to announce changes at the top on Monday with the anticipated departure of CEO Tony Hayward, who came under fire for his handling of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Storms Continue Amid Flood Cleanup

CHICAGO - Large swathes of the United States suffered another day of extreme weather on Sunday, with hot temperatures in the nation's capital and Southeast coastal areas giving way to thunderstorms later in the day.

Key Rig Alarm Disabled Before Blast: Rig Worker

HOUSTON - An emergency alarm that could have warned workers aboard the doomed Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico drilling rig was intentionally disabled, a rig engineer told U.S. investigators on Friday.

Lawsuit Vs Coke's Vitaminwater To Proceed: Judge

NEW YORK - The Coca-Cola Co has failed to win dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public through health-related claims on bottles of its vitaminwater beverage.

Michigan Woman Charged With Murder In Facebook Feud

DETROIT - A Pontiac, Michigan, woman was charged with murder on Friday after chasing down and ramming another car in a fight over a man that started on Facebook, police said.

Special Report: High Finance And Corporate Pot, California Style

SAN FRANCISCO - Jeff Wilcox, a middle-aged, clean-cut man who dresses in the Bay Area casual business attire of clean jeans, collared shirt and running shoes, may be the face of Marijuana, Inc, the corporatization of cannabis.

Judge Tells Former Media Mogul Black To Stay In U.S.

CHICAGO - A U.S. judge on Friday ordered former media tycoon Conrad Black to stay in the continental United States while he awaits an appeals court ruling on whether his 2007 fraud conviction should be thrown out.

LOOP Doesn't Expect Shutdowns Due To Stormy Weather

HOUSTON - The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port LLC (LOOP) does not expect to shut the nation's only deepwater oil port due to Tropical Depression Bonnie in the Gulf of Mexico, a spokeswoman said on Saturday.

BP Stalls Payments To Oil Spill Victims: Feinberg

BAYOU LE BATRE, Alabama - British energy giant BP Plc is holding up payments to economic victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Kenneth Feinberg, administrator of a $20 billion compensation fund, said on Saturday.

Bonnie Fades But Disrupts Gulf Oil Output

MIAMI - The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie dissipated over the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday after the mere threat of the storm took a big bite out of production in the Gulf oil patch.

Flooding, Tornadoes In Midwest As Storms Continue

CHICAGO - Powerful storms spawned by intense heat and humidity produced flooding and tornadoes in the Midwestern United States on Saturday, disrupting travel and cutting power to thousands of homes.

BP Resuming Oil Spill Work As Storm Fizzles

HOUSTON - Ships and workers moved back into BP Plc's Gulf of Mexico oil spill site on Sunday as seas calmed, and BP could begin pumping mud into the blown-out well later this week in a bid to plug the gusher.

No Ruling In Hearing Over Arizona Immigration Law

PHOENIX - A U.S. judge grilled lawyers for the Obama administration and Arizona on Thursday over the legality of the state's tough, new immigration law set to take effect next week, but gave no timetable for a ruling.

Wisconsin Flooding Prompts State Of Emergency

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin's governor declared a state of emergency on Friday after torrential rains flooded homes and opened sinkholes in Milwaukee and closed the city's main airport.

Connecticut Couple Gets $1 Million SEC Award For Pequot

NEW YORK - A Connecticut couple has been awarded a record $1 million for information that led to an insider trading settlement against a prominent hedge fund adviser and civil proceedings against the wife's former husband.

California City Official Quits Nearly $800,000 Post

SAN FRANCISCO - A local official in California earning close to $800,000 a year as the manager of a city with nearly a quarter of its population in poverty has quit following a public uproar, the mayor said on Friday.

NJ Governor Vetoes 3 Bills, Cites "economic Crisis"

PHILADELPHIA - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Friday vetoed three bills that would have provided tax credits to homebuyers and funded health services, citing the combined $132 million cost as the state struggles to close an $11 billion budget shortfall in the current year.

Michigan Woman Charged With Murder In Facebook Feud

DETROIT - A Pontiac, Michigan, woman was charged with murder on Friday after chasing down and ramming another car in a fight over a man that started on Facebook, police said.

Lawsuit Vs Coke's Vitaminwater To Proceed: Judge

NEW YORK - The Coca-Cola Co has failed to win dismissal of a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public through health-related claims on bottles of its vitaminwater beverage.

Public Sector Losing Jobs In This Recession: Report

WASHINGTON - State and local governments have cut fewer jobs than the private sector during the recession, but public education is still facing its worst job losses in 30 years, according to a report.

Special Report: High Finance And Corporate Pot, California Style

SAN FRANCISCO - Jeff Wilcox, a middle-aged, clean-cut man who dresses in the Bay Area casual business attire of clean jeans, collared shirt and running shoes, may be the face of Marijuana, Inc, the corporatization of cannabis.

Judge Tells Former Media Mogul Black To Stay In U.S.

CHICAGO - A U.S. judge on Friday ordered former media tycoon Conrad Black to stay in the continental United States while he awaits an appeals court ruling on whether his 2007 fraud conviction should be thrown out.

Energy Companies Brace For Possible Gulf Of Mexico Storm

NEW YORK - Energy companies in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday were closely monitoring a tropical depression that could become a storm as it crosses the region, with some pulling workers from offshore platforms.

Gulf Rig Worker Survey Showed Safety Concerns

NEW YORK - Workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico expressed concern about safety practices a month before the oil rig exploded and sunk, according to a survey conducted by its owner, Transocean Ltd.

Lacking Contract, Union Hotel Workers Protest Hyatt

CHICAGO - Hundreds of unionized hotel workers seeking a new contract and protesting staff cuts and working conditions staged a sit-in in front of a Hyatt Hotels Corp flagship Chicago hotel on Thursday.

Police Nab Bandit Who Used Underwear As Mask

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma - An unemployed woman who said she was desperate for money has been arrested on charges she robbed an Oklahoma McDonald's with a white stretch girdle wrapped around her face as a makeshift mask.

Court Throws Out Mattel Win Over Bratz Doll

NEW YORK - A federal appeals court said Mattel Inc was wrongly granted ownership of the popular Bratz dolls, a decision that could force the Barbie doll maker to retry the case for control of the $1 billion franchise.

Wal-Mart To Roll Out Electronic Tags To Track Clothing: Report

- Wal-Mart Stores Inc plans to roll out electronic tags to keep track of individual garments like jeans and underwear, in a move that would help the retail giant control its inventories better, the Wall Street Journal said.

Scam Artists Target Victims Of Gulf Oil Spill

MIAMI - An e-mail scam featuring someone purporting to be BP Plc's Chief Executive Tony Hayward is targeting victims of the company's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Florida's attorney general said on Thursday.

Louisiana Declares Emergency Due Storm

HOUSTON - Louisiana's governor on Thursday declared a state of emergency due to a storm which is forecast to hit the state's coast on Sunday.

Gulf Tourism May Lose $22.7 Billion To Oil Spill

WASHINGTON - The lucrative tourism industry in the Gulf of Mexico could suffer for up to three years with $22.7 billion in lost revenue because of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, a travel group said on Thursday.

No Ruling In Hearing Over Arizona Immigration Law

PHOENIX - A U.S. judge grilled lawyers for the Obama administration and Arizona on Thursday over the legality of the state's tough, new immigration law set to take effect next week, but gave no timetable for a ruling.

U.S. Man Charged For Supporting Al Shabaab Group

WASHINGTON - A 20-year-old Virginia man was arrested on Wednesday on charges of providing material support to al Shabaab, an extremist group based in Somalia with ties to al Qaeda, the U.S. Justice Department said.

N.J. Plans Takeover Of Atlantic City Casino District

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced plans on Wednesday to seize control of Atlantic City's gaming district, seeking to revitalize the gambling industry, prop up city finances and create a family-friendly attraction similar to Las Vegas.

New J&J Plant Woes Include Pepcid Flavor Mixups

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - U.S. inspectors found problems with test procedures, record-keeping and handling of consumer complaints at a Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co manufacturing plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a report released on Wednesday said.

No Criminal Charges In Bush-era U.S. Attorney Firings

WASHINGTON - U.S. prosecutors ended a 22-month investigation into the Bush administration's firing of federal attorneys, deciding not to bring criminal charges against former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or others, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.

Blue Cross Reaps Surpluses While Rates Rise: Report

WASHINGTON - Blue Cross Blue Shield's nonprofit health plans raised insurance premiums even as they set aside millions of dollars in surpluses over the past decade, according to a report published on Thursday.

Resentment Grows Over Out-of-town Gulf Oil Workers

FORT JACKSON, Louisiana - The oil clean-up crews descend from the yellow school buses each evening, dirty and exhausted, their vests flapping in the hot breeze.

Pipeline Leaks In Alaska's Oldest Oil Field

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An estimated 630 gallons of oil has leaked from a buried pipeline in Alaska's oldest operating oil field, state environmental officials said Wednesday.

California City Manager's Pension Could Top $30 Million

SAN FRANCISCO - A municipal manager in California who makes nearly $800,000 a year working for a small, poor city could draw pension payments exceeding $30 million in retirement, according to an activist who has been calling for an overhaul of the state's public pension system.

Judge Refuses To Reinstate First Oil Drill Ban

WASHINGTON - A U.S. judge on Wednesday refused a request by environmental groups to reinstate the Obama administration's original moratorium on deepwater drilling set in the wake of the BP Plc oil spill.

Ex-media Baron Conrad Black Freed From U.S. Prison

CHICAGO - A U.S. judge on Wednesday released former media baron Conrad Black from prison on $2 million bond, while she decides whether to throw out his 2007 conviction for defrauding shareholders.

Local Official In California Paid Nearly $800,000

SAN FRANCISCO - While Bell, California, may be one of the poorest cities in Los Angeles County, it has lavished extraordinary salaries on top officials, and the county district attorney is curious as to why.

House Democrats Plan Manufacturing Jobs Push

WASHINGTON - Democrats in the House of Representatives are planning action on a number of bills to boost U.S. manufacturing jobs, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday.

Scandal-hit School Tries To Wipe Slate Clean

LOS ANGELES - The University of Southern California (USC) will return its copy of the Heisman Trophy awarded to the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush for his part in an amateur player payments scandal that has left the school reeling.

Colorado Man Delivers Pizza, Saves Heart Attack Victim

DENVER - A laid off paramedic who turned to delivering pizzas to make ends meet is credited with saving the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest just as a pizza was delivered to his door.

Hollywood Braced For Teamsters Walkout

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Television would be hit hardest if Hollywood transportation workers go on strike for the first time in 22 years next month when their current labor agreement expires, according to industry observers.

At Least 25 Hurt In Turbulence Aboard United Flight

DENVER - A wide-body United Airlines jet shaken by severe turbulence was diverted on Tuesday to Denver International Airport with at least 25 people injured on board, officials said.

Arizona Fights Obama Challenge To Immigration Law

PHOENIX - Arizona on Tuesday urged a federal judge to reject the U.S. government's bid to quash its strict new immigration law, arguing the border state is acting within its powers.

Rod Blagojevich May Not Testify In His Own Defense

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may not mount a defense in his corruption case, despite his repeated vows that he would testify to assert his innocence, media reported and his attorney hinted at on Tuesday.

BP Denies CEO Leaving As It Readies $7 Billion In Assets Sales

LONDON/HOUSTON - BP Plc on Wednesday denied a report its heavily criticized chief executive would soon leave, after the company lined up $7 billion in asset sales to help pay for the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Gulf Cattle Ranchers Fear Toxins After Oil Spill

VENICE, Louisiana - The cattle in these parts don't seem to mind the helicopters hauling oil booms overhead, nor the response boats hurrying past their banks.

Watchdog Questions GM And Chrysler Dealer Closings

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration may have acted hastily in demanding that General Motors Co and Chrysler accelerate the closing of dealerships to ensure their viability, a government watchdog found on Sunday.

Clintons In Tears Over Chelsea? You Can Bet On It

NEW YORK - Chelsea Clinton's hush-hush wedding may as well be classified but one thing is no secret: There will be tears.

Firms Want To Rehire; Skilled Workers Scarce

NEW YORK - Fifty-four percent of large U.S. businesses that laid off employees in the past year want to rebuild their workforces but some will have trouble finding sufficiently skilled people to hire, a study said on Monday.

U.S. Said To Toughen Up Broadband Deployment Report

WASHINGTON - High-speed Internet providers are expected to get a subtle rebuke from U.S. regulators this week when a report omits language that has previously said they are rolling out broadband to all areas in a "reasonable and timely fashion."

Rhode Island City Overseer Starts By Firing Mayor

BOSTON - A state-appointed receiver named to turn around the finances of the near-bankrupt Rhode Island city of Central Falls marked his first day on the job on Monday by firing its mayor.

NY Synagogues Get Increased Anti-terrorism Funds

NEW YORK - New York City nonprofit and religious groups including more than 25 synagogues will receive nearly $6 million in anti-terrorism grants, up 40 percent from last year, a U.S. congressman said on Monday.

Poverty-stricken U.S. Cities Have HIV Epidemics

VIENNA - Many low-income urban areas across the United States have epidemics of HIV, with 2.1 percent of heterosexuals in poverty-stricken urban areas infected with the incurable AIDS virus, U.S. scientists said on Monday.

BP To Continue Test As Seepage Unrelated To Well

HOUSTON/LONDON - BP Plc can keep its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well capped for at least another day, after it was determined that nearby seepage was not related to the leak, a U.S. official said on Monday.

AIDS Gel With Gilead Drug Protects Women In Study

VIENNA - A gel containing a prescription drug can sharply reduce HIV infections in women, a study described as groundbreaking by the World Health Organization showed on Monday.

U.S. Troops To Arrive At Mexico Border August 1

WASHINGTON - U.S. National Guard troops will begin arriving along the border with Mexico on August 1 to bolster security as the Obama administration tries to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, weapons and narcotics, officials said on Monday.

Wesley Snipes Loses Appeal In Tax Case

MIAMI - Actor Wesley Snipes is headed for jail after losing his appeal of a three-year prison sentence for failing to file income tax returns for 1999 through 2001.

BP Says "hopeful" Well Can Stay Shut Indefinitely

HOUSTON - BP Plc is "hopeful" that its blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico can remain sealed until a pair of relief wells permanently stop the flow, a company executive said on Sunday.

Defiant Jobs Stands By IPhone 4

CUPERTINO, California - A defiant Steve Jobs on Friday rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases to address reception complaints that have hurt Apple Inc's image and shares.

Gulf Coast Fishermen Angry Over Oil Claims Ruling

BILOXI, Mississippi - Fishermen in Mississippi say they are angry that under the terms of BP's $20 billion oil spill fund, money they earn doing clean-up will be subtracted from their claim against the company.

U.S. Government Told To Review Terrorist List Decision

WASHINGTON - The State Department must review its designation of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, or PMOI, as a foreign terrorist organization, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday.

George Steinbrenner Buried At Florida Cemetery

TAMPA, Florida - New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was buried at a Florida cemetery on Saturday after a private service for family and friends, a local television station reported.

6.7 Magnitude Quake Hits Off Coast Of Alaska

WASHINGTON - A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Sunday, but no widespread threat of a tsunami was seen, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Watchdog Questions GM And Chrysler Dealer Closings

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration may have acted hastily in demanding that General Motors Co and Chrysler accelerate the closing of dealerships to ensure their viability, a government watchdog found on Sunday.

Spill Probe Eyes Anomalies In Crew's Response: Report

NEW YORK - U.S. authorities probing BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are looking into why workers missed signs of an impending explosion and have drawn up a list of more than 20 anomalies in the crew's response to them, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Engineers Detect Seepage Near BP Oil Well

HOUSTON - Engineers monitoring BP Plc's damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico detected seepage on the ocean floor that could mean problems with the cap that has stopped oil from gushing into the water, the government's top oil spill official said on Sunday.

Baseball Great Yogi Berra Recovering After Fall

NEW YORK - Baseball great Yogi Berra is recovering after a fall near his New Jersey home, the New York Yankees said on Saturday.

Back-up Brignac Slugs Rays To Win Over Yankees

NEW YORK - Infielder Reid Brignac smashed two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays spoiled the New York Yankees' annual Old Timers' Day party with a 10-5 victory on Saturday.

Doctors, Nurses Joined Medicare Scam, U.S. Says

MIAMI - U.S. authorities charged 94 doctors, nurses and clinic owners with scheming to defraud the taxpayer-funded Medicare program out of $251 million, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday.

Wesley Snipes Loses Appeal In Tax Case

MIAMI - Actor Wesley Snipes is headed for jail after losing his appeal of a three-year prison sentence for failing to file income tax returns for 1999 through 2001.

Defiant Jobs Stands By IPhone 4

CUPERTINO, California - A defiant Steve Jobs on Friday rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases to address reception complaints that have hurt Apple Inc's image and shares.

Gulf Coast Fishermen Angry Over Oil Claims Ruling

BILOXI, Mississippi - Fishermen in Mississippi say they are angry that under the terms of BP's $20 billion oil spill fund, money they earn doing clean-up will be subtracted from their claim against the company.

U.S. Government Told To Review Terrorist List Decision

WASHINGTON - The State Department must review its designation of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, or PMOI, as a foreign terrorist organization, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday.

George Steinbrenner Buried At Florida Cemetery

TAMPA, Florida - New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was buried at a Florida cemetery on Saturday after a private service for family and friends, a local television station reported.

6.7 Magnitude Quake Hits Off Coast Of Alaska

WASHINGTON - A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Sunday, but no widespread threat of a tsunami was seen, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

BP Extends Test Of Gulf Of Mexico Oil Well

HOUSTON - BP Plc extended for another 24 hours a critical test of its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well that so far has shut off the huge oil leak, the top U.S. official overseeing the spill response said on Saturday.

U.S. Political Fundraiser Gets 12 Years For Bank Fraud

NEW YORK - Hassan Nemazee, an Iranian-American businessman who raised money for the political campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc and HSBC Holdings Plc out of $292 million.

Cuban Spy Gets Life In Prison

WASHINGTON - A retired U.S. State Department official got life in prison Friday and his wife a sentence of 6-3/4 years for spying for Havana for three decades because they shared the Cuban revolution's ideals.

U.S. Citizen Labeled An Al-Qaeda Leader In Yemen

WASHINGTON - A U.S.-born Muslim cleric is a leader of al-Qaeda in Yemen and helped direct the failed attempt to blow up a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day, 2009, the U.S. government said on Friday.

Yanks Rally To Beat Rays, Honour Steinbrenner

NEW YORK - The New York Yankees battled to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, padding their division lead to three games on the night they paid tribute to owner George Steinbrenner.

Doctors, Nurses Joined Medicare Scam, U.S. Says

MIAMI - U.S. authorities charged 94 doctors, nurses and clinic owners with scheming to defraud the taxpayer-funded Medicare program out of $251 million, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday.

Court Hears Arizona Immigrant Law Challenge

PHOENIX - An Arizona police officer on Thursday urged a federal judge to stop a strict new state immigration law from going into effect in the first of a series of legal challenges to the controversial statute.

Defiant Jobs Stands By IPhone 4, Dishes Out Cases

CUPERTINO, California - A defiant Steve Jobs on Friday rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4's design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases to address reception complaints that have hurt Apple Inc's image and shares.

Capped BP Gulf Well Under Scrutiny

HOUSTON/WASHINGTON - The cap on BP Plc's stricken Gulf of Mexico oil well appeared to hold on Friday, but officials intensified monitoring after a critical test showed pressure rising slower than they hoped.

U.S. Government Told To Review Terrorist List Decision

WASHINGTON - The State Department must review its designation of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, or PMOI, as a foreign terrorist organization, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday.

Gulf Coast Fishermen Angry Over Oil Claims Ruling

BILOXI, Mississippi - Fishermen in Mississippi say they are angry that under the terms of BP's $20 billion oil spill fund, money they earn doing clean-up will be subtracted from their claim against the company.

Public Unfamiliar With Wall Street Bill

WASHINGTON - A big majority of Americans are unfamiliar with the sweeping overhaul of financial rules that was headed to final approval in Congress on Thursday, according to an Ipsos Public Affairs online poll.

Dramatic Rise In Painkiller Drug Abuse: U.S. Officials

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials reported a 400 percent increase over 10 years in the proportion of Americans treated for prescription painkiller abuse and said on Thursday the problem cut across age groups, geography and income.

J&J Revamping Tylenol Plant, Slashing Jobs There

NEW YORK - Johnson & Johnson said on Thursday that it aims to revamp a now-closed Pennsylvania plant that made Tylenol and other consumer medicines recalled in recent months due to quality-control lapses, and eliminate 300 of the factory's employees.

U.S. Car Brands Top Imports In Consumer Appeal Study

DETROIT - U.S.-based automakers led by Ford Motor Co have surpassed foreign brands in vehicle appeal for the first time in 13 years, according to a closely watched annual survey released on Thursday.

Ancient Ship Unearthed At World Trade Center Site

NEW YORK - The decayed hull of a centuries old ship was unearthed at the World Trade Center construction site in New York city, providing a glimpse into the history of Manhattan, archeologists said.

LA Judge Dumps $2.4 Million Judgment Against Dole

LOS ANGELES - A California judge on Thursday tossed out a $2.4 million judgment against Dole Food Co won by six Nicaraguans claiming pesticide injuries in what the judge branded a phony case invented as part of a larger fraud conspiracy.

NY Lawyer In Terrorism Case Gets 10 Year Sentence

NEW YORK - A New York lawyer who helped a terrorism suspect smuggle messages to his followers from prison was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday.

Department Of Labor Unveils 401(k) Fee Rules

NEW YORK - Advisers and brokers who manage 401(k) plans will have to provide detailed information about the fees they charge under new rules unveiled by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday, but the changes are not as onerous as the brokerage industry first feared.

Court Hears Arizona Immigrant Law Challenge

PHOENIX - An Arizona police officer on Thursday urged a federal judge to stop a strict new state immigration law from going into effect in the first of a series of legal challenges to the controversial statute.

U.S. Political Fundraiser Gets 12 Years For Bank Fraud

NEW YORK - Hassan Nemazee, an Iranian-American businessman who raised money for the political campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc and HSBC Holdings Plc out of $292 million.

Pottery Barn Recalls Drop-side Cribs, U.S. Plans Ban

WASHINGTON - Pottery Barn Kids voluntarily recalled 82,000 drop-side cribs on Wednesday, as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed a ban on such products that it said had suffocated or strangled 32 babies or toddlers in the last decade.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney Gets New Heart Device

WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has a long history of heart problems, said on Wednesday he has had a new heart pump implanted.

Novartis In $175 Million Gender Bias Settlement

NEW YORK - Novartis AG will pay $175 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the Swiss drugmaker of discriminating against 5,600 current and former female sales representatives in pay and promotions.

Spies For Cuba Limit Cooperation With U.S.: Prosecutors

WASHINGTON - An American couple who has pleaded guilty to spying for Cuba will be sentenced on Friday after a debriefing prosecutors said was tarnished but did not breach their plea agreement.

Failed Times Square Bomber Made Video: TV

DUBAI - A Pakistan-born American who has admitted to trying to set off a car bomb in Times Square said in a video taped before the failed attack it was to avenge the U.S. war in Afghanistan, Al Arabiya television said on Wednesday.

J&J To Submit Plan To Fix Tylenol Quality Problems

NEW YORK - Johnson & Johnson is expected to outline for U.S. regulators on Thursday a strategy to fix quality-control problems that have led to repeated recalls of Tylenol and other consumer medicines since last year.

Tennessee Governor Bredesen Spares Woman From Death Penalty

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee's governor stepped in on Wednesday to prevent the rare execution of a female U.S. convict, commuting to life imprisonment the death sentence of a woman convicted of hiring another man to kill her husband.

U.S. Pockets $20.6 Billion In Sin Taxes

NEW YORK - Americans armed themselves to the teeth and paid through the nose to have a smoke, according to a U.S. government report released on Wednesday.

Fears Grow As Millions Lose Jobless Benefits

CINCINNATI - Deborah Coleman lost her unemployment benefits in April, and now fears for millions of others if the Senate does not extend aid for the jobless.

Census Defies Anti-government Boycott Calls

WASHINGTON - The $15 billion U.S. Census is near completion with a response rate unchanged from a decade ago, defying concerns it might be derailed by anti-government sentiment and widespread violence against census takers.

Updated Alzheimer's Guidelines Add Very Early Stage

HONOLULU - Proposed new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's released on Tuesday would look at the disease at its earliest stages, when clumps of a protein called amyloid are just beginning to form in the brains of people who are otherwise healthy.

National League Ends 14-year Wait For All-Star Win

ANAHEIM - The National League eked out a first All-Star game victory in 14 years on Tuesday, securing home-field advantage for their pennant winners in the World Series.

Court Strikes Down FCC Indecency Policy

NEW YORK - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission's indecency policy is unconstitutionally vague and could create a chilling effect beyond "fleeting expletives" heard on broadcasts, an appeals court ruled on Tuesday in a major win for broadcasting companies.

Congress To Extend Middle-class Tax Cuts: Dems

WASHINGTON - The Congress will likely act to extend tax cuts for the middle class to avoid choking off the fragile economic recovery, key congressional Democrats said on Tuesday.

U.S. Deports Another Person In Russian Spy Probe

WASHINGTON - The FBI's investigation into a Russian spy ring that operated in the United States has resulted in another Russian being detained and then deported, U.S. government officials said on Tuesday.

New Cap Test To Stem Gulf Oil Flow Delayed

HOUSTON - BP Plc on Tuesday delayed a critical test that will determine if it can close a cap atop its ruptured Macondo well that has leaked oil into the Gulf of Mexico for the last 12 weeks.

Blagojevich To Take Stand At Corruption Trial

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, accused of conspiring to sell his office and barter President Barack Obama's old Senate seat, will try to persuade jurors in the defense phase of his corruption trial next week he was only engaging in politics as usual.

Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner Dies At 80

NEW YORK - George Steinbrenner, one of the most colorful and controversial figures in U.S. sports who helped the New York Yankees reclaim their place as the most successful franchise in baseball, died Tuesday at age 80.

Six More Policemen Charged In Katrina Killings

WASHINGTON - Six more New Orleans police officers have been indicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of four others who were walking on a bridge after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Fears Grow As Millions Lose U.S. Jobless Benefits

CINCINNATI - Deborah Coleman lost her unemployment benefits in April, and now fears for millions of others if the Senate does not extend aid for the jobless.

Justice Sotomayor Aims To Inspire By Writing Memoir

NEW YORK - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will write a "coming-of-age memoir" detailing her modest immigrant upbringing in New York to her appointment as the first Hispanic to serve on the nation's highest court, said publisher Alfred A. Knopf on Monday.

Muslims Seek To Add Holidays On NY School Calendar

NEW YORK - Muslim parents, students and civic groups are campaigning to add two of their religious holidays to the New York City public school calendar, pinning their hopes on state lawmakers after failing to win over Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the idea.

UAW And Jesse Jackson Coalition Aim Push For Jobs

DETROIT - The United Auto Workers has teamed with Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition to organize a march in Detroit in late August calling for corporate and government policies that boost job growth in U.S. cities.

Three Die In Shooting At New Mexico Company

TAOS, New Mexico - A former employee fatally shot two people in a rampage at a solar power products maker Emcore Corp's headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Monday before killing himself, police said.

Polanski Freed As Swiss Deny Extradition

LOS ANGELES/GSTAAD, Switzerland - Switzerland on Monday refused to extradite director Roman Polanski to California for sentencing on a 30-year-old sex crime and freed him from house arrest, causing delight in Europe but dismay in the United States.

David Ortiz Earns Home Run Derby Crown

ANAHEIM - Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz won his first Major League Baseball Home Run Derby title on Monday.

U.S. Makes It Easier For Veterans To Claim Stress

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Veterans Affairs department published new rules on Monday meant to make it easier for veterans seeking treatment and financial support for post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Palin Fundraising Success Stirs 2012 Speculation

WASHINGTON - Republican Sarah Palin has raised more than $865,000 in political contributions over the past three months, fueling speculation the former vice presidential nominee could be readying a 2012 White House bid, experts said on Monday.

Majority Of Americans Lack Faith In Obama: Poll

WASHINGTON - Nearly 60 percent of American voters say they lack faith in President Barack Obama, according to a public opinion poll published on Tuesday.

BP To Test Oil Spill Cap

NEW ORLEANS/HOUSTON - BP prepared on Tuesday to try sealing off its runaway well with a new cap that it says could for the first time in 12 weeks finally arrest the flow of oil spewing from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Filmmaker Who Became A Legal Spy

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Documentary filmmaker Jason Glaser, who went to Nicaragua to interview people about alleged pesticide exposure on Dole banana plantations, has testified in a civil lawsuit that he was an undercover operative for a Texas law firm.

FAA Orders Safety Checks On Cockpit Windows

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines were ordered on Friday to inspect or replace cockpit windows on more than 1,200 workhorse Boeing Co jetliners to prevent possible cracking or fire due to loose wires in an electrical anti-icing system.

Pennsylvania's Allentown Spurns State Rescue Program

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania's Allentown calls itself the "City Without Limits" but it has hit a barrier with so-called "legacy" pensions for public workers, which were approved years ago but became too costly in the recession.

Audits, Not Raids Mark U.S. Immigration Crackdown: Report

CHICAGO - The government is taking a new approach in its effort to crack down on illegal workers by quietly auditing the employment records of thousands of companies suspected of hiring undocumented immigrants rather than staging high-profile worksite raids, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Johnson & Johnson Sued Over Pediatric Drug Recall

CHICAGO - Johnson & Johnson, the U.S. drugmaker forced to recall children's Tylenol and other over-the-counter pediatric medicines, has been sued in federal court here by consumers unhappy with the company's plan to offer coupons or replacement products to those who bought the affected drugs.

NY Yankees Announcer Sheppard Dies Aged 99

NEW YORK - Bob Sheppard, the New York Yankees' public address announcer who welcomed fans to Yankee Stadium for over 50 years, died Sunday at the age of 99.

Rains Forecast For Midwest; No Damage From Heat

SINGAPORE - Rains are expected to move through the Midwest this week with above normal temperatures, but the region is unlikely to experience excessive heat capable of stressing the pollinating corn crop, a forecaster said.

BP Sees Progress On New Oil Containment System

HOUSTON - BP Plc said on Sunday it is making progress on a new system to capture almost all the oil spewing from its blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico and a relief well could finally plug the leak by early to mid-August.

Russia-U.S. Spy Swap Participants Phone Families

MOSCOW - Two participants in Friday's Vienna spy swap contacted relatives and said they were well, while no details on the activities of the remaining 12 emerged, according to Moscow press reports on Saturday.

Relief Well Could Intercept Blown Well End July: Exec

HOUSTON - The first of two relief wells is expected to intercept BP Plc's blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico by the end of July and the leak could be plugged by early to mid-August, a BP executive said on Sunday.

Wells Fargo Cuts Free Checking Ahead Of New Rules

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Wells Fargo & Co will no longer offer free checking for all new customers opening accounts at the bank, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.

LeBron Toasted By Miami But Mourned In Cleveland

MIAMI - Cleveland were left mourning the departure of LeBron James as Miami woke to the news Friday that the NBA's best player was joining them next season and already talking up the prospect of winning the championship.

IRS Keeping Close Eye On Musicians' Tour Dollars

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - U.S. touring revenue from international musicians appears to be on the taxman's radar.

FAA Orders Safety Checks On Cockpit Windows

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines were ordered on Friday to inspect or replace cockpit windows on more than 1,200 workhorse Boeing Co jetliners to prevent possible cracking or fire due to loose wires in an electrical anti-icing system.

Pennsylvania's Allentown Spurns State Rescue Program

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania's Allentown calls itself the "City Without Limits" but it has hit a barrier with so-called "legacy" pensions for public workers, which were approved years ago but became too costly in the recession.

Ford Motor, Chrysler Recall Vehicles

WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co is recalling 33,700 of its Transit Connect small commercial vans over an interior liner while Chrysler Group said it was recalling certain 2010 SUVs and trucks over a possible brake fluid leak.

Audits, Not Raids Mark U.S. Immigration Crackdown: Report

CHICAGO - The government is taking a new approach in its effort to crack down on illegal workers by quietly auditing the employment records of thousands of companies suspected of hiring undocumented immigrants rather than staging high-profile worksite raids, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Johnson & Johnson Sued Over Pediatric Drug Recall

CHICAGO - Johnson & Johnson, the U.S. drugmaker forced to recall children's Tylenol and other over-the-counter pediatric medicines, has been sued in federal court here by consumers unhappy with the company's plan to offer coupons or replacement products to those who bought the affected drugs.

Russia-U.S. Spy Swap Participants Phone Families

MOSCOW - Two participants in Friday's Vienna spy swap contacted relatives and said they were well, while no details on the activities of the remaining 12 emerged, according to Moscow press reports on Saturday.

BP Starts Work To Install New Cap On Gushing Well

HOUSTON/PORT SULPHUR, Louisiana - BP Plc removed a containment cap from its stricken Gulf of Mexico oil well on Saturday in the first step toward installing a bigger cap to contain all the crude gushing into the sea and fouling the coast.

BP Could Start Cap Switch On Saturday: Coast Guard

HOUSTON - BP Plc is preparing for a key procedure to replace the containment cap over its blown-out Macondo well, which could temporarily cause more oil to gush into the Gulf of Mexico, the top official overseeing the spill response said on Friday.

Russia, U.S. Swap 14 In Cold War-style Spy Exchange

MOSCOW/VIENNA - Russia and the United States conducted the biggest spy swap since the Cold War on Friday, trading agents on the Vienna airport tarmac in an evocative climax to an espionage drama that had threatened improving ties.

Wells Fargo Cuts Free Checking Ahead Of New Rules

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Wells Fargo & Co will no longer offer free checking for all new customers opening accounts at the bank, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.

LeBron Toasted By Miami But Mourned In Cleveland

MIAMI - Cleveland were left mourning the departure of LeBron James as Miami woke to the news Friday that the NBA's best player was joining them next season and already talking up the prospect of winning the championship.

IRS Keeping Close Eye On Musicians' Tour Dollars

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - U.S. touring revenue from international musicians appears to be on the taxman's radar.

FAA Orders Safety Checks On Cockpit Windows

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines were ordered on Friday to inspect or replace cockpit windows on more than 1,200 workhorse Boeing Co jetliners to prevent possible cracking or fire due to loose wires in an electrical anti-icing system.

Pennsylvania's Allentown Spurns State Rescue Program

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania's Allentown calls itself the "City Without Limits" but it has hit a barrier with so-called "legacy" pensions for public workers, which were approved years ago but became too costly in the recession.

Ford Motor, Chrysler Recall Vehicles

WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co is recalling 33,700 of its Transit Connect small commercial vans over an interior liner while Chrysler Group said it was recalling certain 2010 SUVs and trucks over a possible brake fluid leak.

J&J Says Latest Drug Recalls Involved 3 Million Bottles

NEW YORK - Johnson & Johnson provided additional details on Friday about its two most recent recalls of Tylenol and other over-the-counter drugs, saying the actions on Thursday and June 15 involved a total of about 3 million bottles of the medicines.

BP Set To Install Bigger Cap On Leaking Gulf Well

MALIBU, Calif./NEW ORLEANS - BP was set on Friday to install a bigger cap that could contain almost all the oil leaking from its blownout Gulf of Mexico well, a top U.S. official said.

J&J Recalls More Tylenol, Over-the-counter Drugs

NEW YORK - Johnson & Johnson recalled more Tylenol and other over-the-counter drugs on Thursday after they were linked to a musty or moldy odor, expanding a recall the company started in January.

Mississippi Coast Faces Environmental Crisis

WAVELAND, Mississippi - Coastal Mississippi is facing its biggest environmental crisis since Hurricane Katrina as oil from a leaking BP well in the Gulf of Mexico fouls its beaches and creeps onto inshore wetlands.

Chrysler Launches Money-back Guarantee

DETROIT - Chrysler Group LLC will offer consumers a 60-day, money-back guarantee on new vehicles and also make the first two months of payments for buyers, as it tries to shore up sales amid lackluster consumer confidence.

Gays In U.S. Military Urged To Fill Out Survey

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged gays and lesbians on Thursday to fill out a Pentagon survey before any possible repeal of the ban on openly gay people serving in the military.

Tropical Depression Soaks Mexico-Texas Border

MONTERREY, Mexico - A tropical depression churned over Mexico's border with Texas on Thursday, dumping heavy rains on a region badly flooded by Hurricane Alex last week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

LeBron James Joins The Heat In Search Of Elusive Title

NEW YORK - LeBron James said Thursday he is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at the Miami Heat next season in the hope of winning an elusive NBA championship.

Judge Rules U.S. Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

BOSTON - In a victory for gay rights in the United States, a U.S. district court judge in Massachusetts ruled on Thursday that a federal ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

U.S. Eavesdropping Agency Says Private Citizen Is Purely R&D

WASHINGTON - A contract has been awarded for research to help counter computer-based threats to national-security networks, the chief U.S. code-cracking and eavesdropping agency said, amid mounting concern over cyber vulnerabilities.

Court Refuses Stay In Deepwater Drilling Case

NEW ORLEANS/WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is preparing to unveil a revised deepwater oil drilling moratorium after a federal court refused on Thursday to reinstate an earlier ban imposed after BP Plc's massive oil spill.

California Transit Cop Verdict Sparks Looting

LOS ANGELES/OAKLAND, California - A white former transit police officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a videotaped shooting death of an unarmed black man last year in Oakland, California, sparking a wave of looting and destruction in the city on Thursday.