Cupcakes, Hammocks Offered College Students During Exams

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - At 10 p.m. on Thursday, more than 200 students at the College of Charleston emerged from the college library and nearby streets and descended like locusts on a patio table holding boxes of cupcakes.

Volunteers Pour Into South After Tornadoes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Unemployed social worker Betty Perry walked out of the Red Cross shelter in downtown Birmingham barefoot after giving her shoes to a woman whose own pair was blown off in the storm.

Escaped Prisoner Shoots Four In Mass. Rampage

DEERFIELD, Massachusetts - A fugitive prisoner in Massachusetts shot one man dead and wounded three others -- including two police officers -- before being shot by police, authorities said on Saturday.

Jerry Brown Has Cancerous Growth Removed From Nose

LOS ANGELES - California Governor Jerry Brown had surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his nose, his office said on Saturday.

Two Firefighters Hurt Battling Mexico Border Blaze

TUCSON, Ariz - A wildfire blazing across the Arizona-Mexico border has injured two firefighters, authorities said.

Firefighters Battle Texas Wildfire With Hand Tools

LUBBOCK, Texas - Federal firefighters toiled with hand tools in rugged West Texas terrain to cut off a fast moving fire that had consumed 150,000 acres, authorities said on Saturday.

U.S. Agency Moves Closer To Blowing Up Levee

CHICAGO - A U.S. government agency moved a step closer on Saturday to blowing up a Mississippi River levee to control flooding after a court decision cleared the way for it to proceed.

Obama Ramps Up Recovery Help For Tornado-hit South

PLEASANT GROVE, Alabama - The U.S. government ramped up efforts on Saturday to help thousands of homeless victims of the country's second deadliest recorded tornado outbreak, which killed at least 350 people.

Storm Cellar Saves Alabama Couple, As Neighbors Perish

PHIL CAMPBELL, Alabama - Travis Roberts invited his neighbors into the storm cellar he built for $600, but they figured they would ride out the twister bearing down on them.

Obama Zings Trump At White House Dinner

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama went to town on Donald Trump Saturday night, mocking his possible presidential ambitions in a sendup at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Panting Alabama Tornado Videographer Was Winded, Not Afraid

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - The man who panted as he shot an Alabama tornado video that went viral on the Internet said he was not breathing heavily out of fear but had just sprinted up some stairs.

Bernanke Says Economy Needs More Time To Heal

WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy is not fully recovered from its deep recession, with housing still weighing on growth, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday in a speech spelling out ways the U.S. central bank has studied lower income communities.

New Jersey's Christie To Teachers: I Could Be Mr. Nice Guy

CAMBRIDGE, Mass - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a tough talking school reformer, said on Friday that even a hint of compromise from the state teachers union could turn him into Mr. Nice Guy.

After Brief Respite, Texas Wildfires Kick Up Again

LUBBOCK - After a brief respite of cooler, calmer weather, the wildfires that have ravaged Texas kicked up again on Friday with flames shooting up to 30 feet in the air, officials said.

Washington Governor Vetoes Medical Pot Licensing Bill

SEATTLE - Washington's governor on Friday vetoed most provisions of bill to establish state licensing for cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, saying she did not want to put state employees at risk of federal prosecution.

Strongest Tornado Of Week Hurled Bodies Into Fields

SMITHVILLE, Miss - The small town of Smithville, Mississippi may have endured the strongest tornado of the dozens that pounded the southern U.S. this week, packing such force that it hurled bodies into nearby fields, weather experts and local officials said on Friday.

Judge Says Southern Illinois Levee Can Be Blown Up

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo - A federal judge on Friday ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can blow up a Mississippi River levee, which would flood Missouri farmland but prevent the flooding of an Illinois town.

Seattle To Pay $1.5 Million In Cop-slain Woodcarver Case

SEATTLE - City officials on Friday agreed to pay $1.5 million to the family of a Native American woodcarver fatally shot by a white cop in a confrontation that stoked racial tensions and helped spark a federal probe of Seattle's police force.

Florida Pastor Cuts Michigan Protest Short

DEARBORN, Michigan - A controversial Florida pastor banned last week from protesting at a Detroit-area mosque on Friday cut short a demonstration at a city hall largely drowned out by counter-protesters.

Obama Promises Help To Rebuild Tornado-hit South

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - President Barack Obama promised federal aid on Friday to the tornado-ravaged South, where deadly twisters have killed at least 339 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

NASA Chief Says Giffords Is Feisty, Fired Up

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said on Thursday he was "really happy" that recuperating Representative Gabrielle Giffords was in Florida to watch shuttle Endeavour's launch on Friday.

Loughner Returned To Arizona After Mental Evaluation

PHOENIX - Accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner has been returned to jail in Arizona after a trip to Missouri for a mental evaluation to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial, authorities said on Thursday.

Soggy Fields Put US Farmers On A Tight Deadline

CHICAGO - Incessant rains have turned Indiana farmer Larry Winger's grain fields into ponds, making it impossible for him to seed his corn crop.

Arizona Governor Makes Colt Revolver Official State Gun

PHOENIX - The Colt revolver, a historic remnant from the shoot-em-up days of the old West, is now Arizona's official gun.

"Tornado Alley" Spawns Subculture Of Storm Chasers

OKLAHOMA CITY - When the sky grew dark, power lines snapped and trees fell in Alabama on Wednesday, Jeff Shardell pointed his modified Yukon vehicle directly toward the deadly tornadoes.

Opening Statements In Blagojevich Retrial Could Start Monday

CHICAGO - The federal judge in the corruption retrial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wrapped up the questioning of potential jurors on Thursday, raising the possibility opening arguments in the case could begin as soon as Monday when the court reconvenes.

Texas Governor: Washington Taking Care Of Alabama, Not Texas

SAN ANTONIO - Texas Governor Rick Perry on Thursday blasted the Obama administration for not responding to an April 16 request for a disaster declaration for the parched Lone Star State, where wildfires have scorched nearly 2 million acres this year.

Catholic Christian Brothers Order Files For Bankruptcy

SEATTLE - The North American branch of the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic order that runs schools around the world, has filed for bankruptcy protection amid mounting sexual abuse claims against U.S. and Canadian members.

Jaycee Dugard's Kidnappers Plead Guilty In California

SAN FRANCISCO - The California couple charged with abducting 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991 and holding her captive for 18 years pleaded guilty on Thursday to kidnapping and sexual assault charges that carry life prison sentences.

Tornadoes Tear Across South, Killing Over 300

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Tornadoes and violent storms tore through seven Southern states, killing at least 306 people and causing billions of dollars of damage in one of the deadliest swarm of twisters in U.S. history.

Graffiti Artist's Work Lands Him In Museum And Jail

NEW YORK - A graffiti artist whose work went on display this month at a prestigious Los Angeles museum was sentenced to 45 days in prison on Wednesday for practicing the same craft in New York.

Ex-workers Say American Apparel Posted Nude Pix Online

NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters Legal) - A woman who accused American Apparel Inc Chief Executive Dov Charney of keeping her as a teenage sex slave is now suing him and his clothing retailer for defamation and invasion of privacy.

Storms Knock Out TVA Nuclear Units And Power Lines

HOUSTON - Severe storms and tornadoes moving through the U.S. Southeast dealt a severe blow to the Tennessee Valley Authority on Wednesday, causing three nuclear reactors in Alabama to shut and knocking out 11 high-voltage power lines, the utility and regulators said.

Loughner Loses Bid To Stop Medical Record Release

PHOENIX - A federal judge has ordered the release of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner's medical records to a court-appointed psychiatrist assigned to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial.

Missing Maine Mother's Body Found

BOSTON - Police have found the body of 20-year-old Krista Dittmeyer, the missing Maine woman whose 14-month-old child was found insider her still running car, authorities said on Wednesday.

Boeing Suspects Workmanship In Southwest Jet Flaw

WASHINGTON - Boeing Co believes a tear in the roof of a Southwest Airlines Co 737-300 jetliner in mid-flight this month was related to a manufacturing problem limited to one aircraft.

Lawmakers In 2 States Pass New Abortion Restrictions

TALLAHASSEE/INDIANAPOLIS - Legislators in both Indiana and Florida passed sweeping abortion restrictions on Wednesday.

Post-crash, Mortgages Scarce For Minorities: Study

CHICAGO - Funds for refinancing home mortgages were much more available in predominantly white sections of major U.S. cities than in minority areas after the recent housing crash, a study showed on Thursday.

Oklahoma Senate OKs Bill Targeting Illegal Immigrants

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would create criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants who work in Oklahoma and those who smuggle them into the state.

Storms, Tornadoes Kill At Least 45 In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Tornadoes and storms killed 45 people in Alabama on Wednesday bringing the total dead in storms and flooding across the U.S. South to at least 72 people over the last three days, authorities said.

Oklahoma Passes Tax Credit For Private School Scholarships

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma House passed a bill on Tuesday supporters said was designed to increase the number of low-income students who can attend private schools by creating a state tax credit for gifts made to scholarship groups.

Fryer Grease Rustlers On The Prowl

OMAHA, Neb - Used fryer grease rustlers are roaming restaurant alleys again across the country.

Missouri Sues To Block Demolition Of River Levee

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The Missouri attorney general filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday asking a judge to stop the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plans to detonate the levee at Birds Point on the Mississippi River.

Wildfire Roars Out Of West Texas Canyons To Menace Homes

LUBBOCK, Texas - Gale-force winds whipped flames from a stubborn wildfire in West Texas out of deep mountain canyons and back in the direction of populated areas on Tuesday, prompting an evacuation of some nearby homes.

San Francisco May Vote On Banning Male Circumcision

SAN FRANCISCO - A group opposed to male circumcision said on Tuesday they have collected more than enough signatures to qualify a proposal to ban the practice in San Francisco as a ballot measure for November elections.

Firefighters Put Freeze On Federal Political Contributions

WASHINGTON - The International Association of Fire Fighters union said on Tuesday it was turning off the tap on federal political contributions and putting its money into state and local campaigns.

L.A. Zoo's Elderly Lion, Lionel, Dies At 23

LOS ANGELES - Lionel, one of two lions at the Los Angeles Zoo for years, has died at the advanced age of 23, well beyond the life expectancy of lions in the wild and old even by comparison with some counterparts in captivity.

U.S. May See Several Hurricane Landfalls In 2011: WSI

MIAMI - The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season will be active with the energy-rich U.S. Gulf Coast facing a significant threat of a hurricane landfall, a leading private weather forecaster predicted on Tuesday.

Republicans Turn Up Heat On Obama Over Oil Prices

WASHINGTON - With Americans upset over rising gasoline prices, Republicans in Congress aim to fix the blame on one person when they return next week from recess: President Barack Obama.

More Twisters And Flooding Expected In Mid-South

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Tornadoes and flooding, which killed at least 10 people in Arkansas this week, threatened more destruction in the mid-South and Ohio Valley region Tuesday night into Wednesday, forecasters said.

MLK Day Bomb Plot Suspect Pleads Innocent To Hate Crimes

SEATTLE - A reputed neo-Nazi accused of planting a backpack bomb discovered along the route of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade pleaded not guilty on Monday to newly filed charges of committing hate crimes.

Woman Mauled To Death By Pit Bulls In New Mexico

SANTA FE, New Mexico - A woman has been mauled to death by a pack of four pit bulls in the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, authorities said on Monday.

Rains Lift Mandatory Evacuations In Fire-scarred Texas

LUBBOCK, Tex - Texans returned to some of the most heavily scorched parts of the state on Monday after rains helped firefighters smother thousands of acres of wildfire.

Chicago Man Pleads Guilty To College Bomb Threats

PEORIA, Illinois - An 18-year-old Chicago man faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday to making bomb threats to dormitories at Western Illinois University last fall.

Florida Pastor To Appeal Mosque Protest Ban

DETROIT - The controversial Florida pastor who was banned by a Detroit court from protesting in front of a mosque will file an appeal to that decision on Tuesday, a member of his Florida church said on Monday.

California Gay Judge Challenged On Marriage Ruling

SAN FRANCISCO - Proponents of California's gay marriage ban on Monday said a judge who struck down the law was biased because he is in a same-sex relationship himself, and that his ruling should be thrown out.

Four Dead In Arkansas As Floods, Tornadoes Hit Again

ST. LOUIS, Mo - A tornado destroyed 50 to 80 houses and killed at least one person in an Arkansas town on Monday and floods caused at least three deaths in the state as storms continued to lash the region, authorities said.

New Finds Raise Questions In Southwest Jet Probe

WASHINGTON - Detailed inspections of a Southwest Airlines Co jet that experienced a mid-flight fuselage rupture revealed possible manufacturing flaws and further evidence of fatigue cracks.

U.S. Extends Mexico Travel Warning Over Drug Mayhem

PHOENIX - Spreading drug cartel violence in northern and central Mexico has led U.S. authorities to increase the number of states Americans should avoid for safety reasons.

Three Children Drowned With Mother Buried Apart From Her

SPRING VALLEY, New York - Tiny white caskets of three children who drowned with their mother when she intentionally drove into the Hudson River were buried on Monday several miles away from her grave.

Giffords Cleared To Attend Shuttle Launch: Husband

HOUSTON - Astronaut Mark Kelly says doctors have cleared his wife, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, now recovering from a gunshot wound to the head, as healthy enough to attend his space shuttle launch on Friday.

Two Killed, Four Injured In Florida Driving Stunt

MIAMI - A Florida man attempting a late-night driving stunt ended up killing himself and a passenger and injuring four others when his truck flipped over, the state Highway Patrol said on Sunday.

Small Plane Full Of Cocaine Crashes In New Mexico Lake

SANTA FE, New Mexico - A small planed loaded with bundles of cocaine crashed into a lake in northern New Mexico on Sunday morning, apparently killing all on board, according to the New Mexico State Police.

Two Missing Skiers Found Dead In Tetons

SALMON, Idaho - Two skiers missing for nearly a week in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming were found dead on Sunday, buried in 15 feet of snow by an avalanche that likely smothered them as they slept, park officials said.

Boeing Plant Lapse Eyed In Jet Tear Probe: Report

NEW YORK - U.S. investigators suspect a manufacturing lapse at a Boeing Co plant 15 years ago could be to blame for a midair tear in a Southwest Airlines Co aircraft earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Sunday.

Texas Firefighters Race Against Clock To Beat Fires

SAN ANTONIO - Hundreds of weary firefighters were racing against the clock on Sunday, pushing back massive brush fires that have destroyed near-record swatches of Texas countryside.

Idaho Miner's Body Recovered Nine Days After Cave-in

SALMON, Idaho - Search teams on Sunday recovered the body of a silver miner in Idaho trapped more than a mile underground and cut off from the outside world nine days ago by an unexplained cave-in, mine company executives said.

Paroled Robber Suspected Of Planting Bomb Near Columbine

DENVER - The FBI on Sunday identified a recently paroled bank robber as the man suspected of planting a bomb at a crowded shopping mall near Columbine High School last week on the 12th anniversary of the school massacre.

Some Signs Of Life In Housing, Credit Drought Goes On

CHICAGO - Like an increasing number of well-heeled Americans, the Hodgsons decided it was time to buy a new home, even if most of the U.S. housing market remains in the dumps.

Leaked Guantanamo Files Reveal Detainee Details: Report

WASHINGTON - A cache of classified U.S. military documents provides intelligence assessments on nearly all of the 779 people who been detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Wal-Mart Tests Online Grocery Delivery In California

CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc has begun testing an online grocery delivery service in San Jose, California, a company spokesman said on Saturday.

New Mexico Searching For A Few Good Inmates To Fight Fires

Santa Fe, New Mexico - With New Mexico's fire season promising to be brutal and unrelenting, state forestry officials want to increase their firefighting crews -- with prison inmates.

Weather May Help Fight Against Massive Texas Wildfires

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 23 - - Substantially higher humidity, lighter winds, and the possibility of drenching thunderstorms had firefighters battling the huge PK Complex brush fire in north Texas more optimistic on Saturday than they have been in days, officials said.

Investigators Seek Clues On Missing Missouri Couple

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Investigators are looking at leads and 210 pieces of potential evidence in a couple's disappearance this week from the same southwest Missouri county where three women vanished 19 years ago.

Florida Pastor Vows Return To Protest After Ban

DETROIT - The controversial Florida pastor banned from protesting near a Detroit-area mosque says he plans to return next week for a protest aimed at the court that found him to be a risk to public safety.

Ted Stevens Memorial Holiday Established In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The last Saturday of July will now be known in Alaska as "Ted Stevens Day," under a new law that memorializes the nation's longest-serving Republican senator, who died last year in a plane crash.

Viral Video Star Antoine "hide Your Wife" Dodson Arrested

CHICAGO - Kevin Antoine Dodson, star of a viral Internet song warning neighbors to watch out for a sexual predator, was arrested and charged with marijuana possession after being stopped for speeding, police said on Saturday.

Company Owner Hoping For "miracle" With Trapped Idaho Miner

SALMON, Idaho - The head of the company that owns the Idaho silver mine where a worker has been trapped underground for eight days said he still hopes rescuers will bring the miner safely home to his family.

Thunderstorms From Texas To Ohio, Some Tornadoes

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Severe thunderstorms were expected in a band from Texas through to Ohio on Saturday with isolated tornado warnings as residents recoiled from a storm that swept the west side of St. Louis, forecasters said.

St. Louis Airport Takes First Flights Since Tornado

ST. LOUIS - Flights began landing at St. Louis' tornado-battered airport on Saturday night, a spokesman said, after an all-out effort to repair the damage from a storm that also wrecked houses, tossed cars and knocked out power.

Human Teeth Found In Serial Killer Search In New York

NEW YORK - Police in Long Island turned up two human teeth while scouring the suspected dumping grounds of a serial killer on Friday, while authorities said a missing prostitute's body found in Maine was not connected to the case.

O'Donnell Files Amended Delaware Senate Campaign Report

PHILADELPHIA - Christine O'Donnell, the defeated Republican candidate for the Senate in Delaware in 2010 and a Tea Party favorite, has filed amended campaign reporting forms to fix mistakes, her lawyer said on Friday.

Powder Triggers Scare On Alaska Airlines Flight

LOS ANGELES - Hazardous materials crews investigated an Alaska Airlines flight with 150 people on board at John Wayne Airport in Orange County on Friday after a flight attendant found a powdery substance that was ultimately found to be harmless, authorities and the airline said.

Rescuers Pushing Hard To Missing Idaho Miner

SALMON, Idaho - Crews working to free a miner trapped a mile underground for a week by a cave-in at an Idaho silver mine edged closer on Friday to breaking through to the accident site.

Alaska Cop Found To Be Illegal Immigrant: Prosecutors

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage police officer accused of being an illegal immigrant using a fake identity has been arrested and charged with passport fraud, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

Cooler, Wet Weather Gives Texas Firefighters A Break

AUSTIN - Improved weather conditions allowed Texas firefighters to mount an offensive overnight against wildfires that have charred more than 1.8 million acres across the state and killed two responders this year, officials said on Friday.

Utah Church Offers Free Korans In Easter Gesture

SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah church is giving away free copies of the Koran in an Easter season ecumenical riposte to the recent burning of the Islamic holy book by a controversial Florida pastor.

First Lady's Jet Got Wrong Info On Other Plane

WASHINGTON - Air traffic controllers mistakenly told the pilot of a plane carrying U.S. first lady Michelle Obama this week he was further away from a nearby military cargo jet than he actually was, according to a report issued on Friday.

Storms Close St. Louis Airport, Injuries Reported

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - A vicious storm that spawned a possible tornado ripped through the St. Louis area on Friday night and shut the city's airport, where glass and other flying debris sent travelers for cover but few injuries.

Mosque Protest Barred By Michigan Court

DEARBORN, Michigan - A controversial Florida pastor was barred from protesting outside the largest mosque in the United States on Friday after a Michigan jury found his appearance was likely to provoke violence.

Camera Images Yet To Capture Missing Idaho Miner

SALMON, Idaho - Tiny cameras probing the rubble of an Idaho mine collapse have found no sign of a miner missing there for a week, as search teams tunneled on through solid rock trying to reach him, officials said on Thursday.

Special Utah Parking Meters To Collect Coins For Homeless

SALT LAKE CITY - Looking for loose change to feed a parking meter might also help feed the homeless and ward off panhandling, say sponsors of a new charity program unveiled in Utah's capital on Thursday.

Alabama Nears Final Approval Of Immigration Crackdown

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Following in the footsteps of the Alabama House of Representatives, the state Senate on Thursday passed a measure to crackdown on illegal immigration, bringing the measure close to becoming law.

Texas Governor Calls For Prayers For Rain Amid Fires

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Governor Rick Perry called on Texans to pray for rain as cooler temperatures on Thursday helped firefighters contain wildfires that have charred more than 1.5 million acres across the state.

Man Sought In Probe Of Mall Bomb Found Near Columbine

GOLDEN, Colo. - Authorities asked for the public's help on Thursday in locating a gray-haired man caught on surveillance videos and sought in the investigation of a homemade bomb planted at a shopping mall near Columbine High School.

U.S. Drone Strike Kills 25 In Pakistan's North Waziristan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Four missiles fired by two suspected U.S. pilotless aircraft hit a house in Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan on the Afghan border on Friday, killing 25 militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Americans Hold Dim View Of U.S. Economic Outlook: Poll

WASHINGTON - Americans are more pessimistic about the U.S. economic outlook than they have been since the start of the Obama administration and most believe the United States is on the wrong track, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released on Thursday.

Suspect In MLK Day Bomb Plot Charged With Hate Crimes

SEATTLE - A reputed neo-Nazi accused of planting a backpack bomb along the parade route of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration was newly charged on Thursday with committing federal hate crimes.

Montana Probes Killing Of Yellowstone Buffalo

SALMON, Idaho - Montana authorities are examining the remains of a bison from Yellowstone National Park found dead from suspicious circumstances on Thursday after at least two other buffalo were illegally shot to death in the area.

Michigan Jury To Weigh Mosque Protest Bid

DEARBORN, Michigan - A Dearborn, Michigan jury will consider on Friday whether a controversial Florida pastor will have to post a "peace bond" before a planned demonstration in front of the largest mosque in the United States.

Coney Island Gets First New Roller Coasters In 80 Years

NEW YORK - The first new roller coasters to be built at Coney Island in eight decades were opened on Wednesday as part of efforts to reverse the decline of New York City's world-famous theme park.

Calmer Winds Give Hope In Texas Wildfires; Another Death

SAN ANTONIO - Calmer winds and higher humidity on Wednesday gave the army of firefighters battling several major blazes in north and west Texas hope of halting the worst wildfires in the state's history.

U.S. Sues Over Treatment Of Workers From Asia

LOS ANGELES - A U.S. federal agency has sued over unequal treatment of more than 500 workers from India recruited to work at shipyards in Mississippi and Texas and over 200 Thai farm laborers brought to Hawaii and Washington state, officials said on Wednesday.

Cameras Find Void Near Trapped Idaho Miner

SALMON, Idaho - Search teams snaking a tiny camera through newly drilled bore holes have found a void in the rubble of a cave-in that trapped an Idaho silver miner, the first sign in five days that he might have survived.

Prenatal Pesticide Exposure Linked With Lower IQ

CHICAGO - Babies exposed to pesticides before birth may have significantly lower intelligence scores by age 7 than children who were not exposed, three separate studies published on Thursday said.

Oklahoma Is Fourth State To Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Wednesday signed into law a measure prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, making it the fourth state to ban such late term abortions.

WikiLeaks Soldier Bradley Manning Arrives At Kansas Jail

WASHINGTON - The U.S. soldier accused of leaking secret documents that appeared on the WikiLeaks website was transferred to a Kansas military jail on Wednesday, the Pentagon said.

Gulf Gets Taste Of Recovery One Year After Spill

GRAND ISLE, Louisiana - A year after the worst U.S. offshore oil spill swamped the Gulf coast with petroleum and misery, officials on Wednesday declared the hard-hit region reborn.

Obama Administration Backs FAA Despite Uproar

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has full confidence in the top U.S. aviation safety official and his agency following a string of highly publicized lapses by air traffic controllers, including one this week involving a plane carrying first lady Michelle Obama.

Homemade Bomb Found At Mall Near Columbine High

DENVER - A busy shopping mall near Columbine High School was evacuated on Wednesday after authorities responding to a small fire at the retail complex found two propane tanks and a pipe bomb, officials said.

Montana Opens Inquiry Into "Three Cups Of Tea" Charity

HELENA, Montana - "Three Cups of Tea" author Greg Mortenson's Montana-based charity is being examined by the state's attorney general, after a "60 Minutes" broadcast raised questions about it, officials said on Tuesday.

Idaho Governor Declares Wolves A "disaster Emergency"

SALMON, Idaho - Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed a bill on Tuesday declaring the gray wolf a "disaster emergency" in his state, days after Congress voted to strip the animal of federal protections there and in Montana.

Colorado Man Faces Charges Over Destructive Wildfire

DENVER - A man who admitted accidentally starting a 3000-acre wildfire that destroyed 13 homes in the mountains west of Fort Collins, Colorado earlier this month will be charged with arson, police said on Tuesday.

Texas Wildfires Creep Closer To Dallas Area

ARLINGTON, Tex - Wildfires in Texas crept closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Tuesday, razing some upscale homes near a lake and threatening hundreds more homes.

Charlotte Airport Security Faulted After Fall From Plane

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The Charlotte airport needs tighter security and more police staffing, a new report concludes, after the death of a teenager who snuck onto the landing gear of a U.S. Airways 737 jet last November.

Thousands Show Up To Apply For Fast-food "McJobs"

CHICAGO - They may be mostly the kind of low-wage positions disparaged by some highly paid economists and politicians as "McJobs," but they drew a torrent of eager job-seekers on Tuesday to the world's leading hamburger chain.

Obama Urges Pressure On Congress To Act On Immigration

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that he cannot reform U.S. immigration laws alone and pressure must be brought to bear on Congress to fix what he called a "broken" system.

Prosecutor Tries To Stop Koran-burning Pastor

DETROIT - A Detroit prosecutor has filed a petition in district court to stop a Florida fundamentalist Christian preacher, who recently caused riots in Afghanistan after he burned a Koran, from holding a rally outside a large Michigan mosque.

Plane Carrying Michelle Obama Aborts Landing Near Washington

WASHINGTON - A jet carrying first lady Michelle Obama abandoned a landing approach outside Washington to avoid another plane in an apparent mistake by air traffic controllers, U.S. aviation officials said on Tuesday.

Obama Declares North Carolina Disaster Area

CHICAGO - President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a federal disaster declaration for North Carolina, which has been battered by storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Rhino Head, Snow Leopard Sold In U.S. Auction

ANCHORAGE - The mounted head of an endangered white rhinoceros and the stuffed remains of a highly endangered snow leopard, remnants of the fortune amassed and lost by an Alaska real-estate titan, have been auctioned off to pay some of his debts, officials said on Monday.

Girl, 16, Survives Jump From Golden Gate Bridge

SAN FRANCISCO - A 16-year-old girl who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has survived the fall, authorities said on Monday.

Incumbent Wisconsin Judge Claims Election Victory

MADISON, Wisconsin - A Wisconsin Supreme Court judge claimed victory on Monday in a tight local election widely viewed as a referendum on a hotly contested Republican measure curbing the power of unions.

Gang Members Indicted In Online Prostitution Ring

SAN DIEGO - Three dozen Crips street gang members and two motel owners have been indicted for running a prostitution ring that targeted underage girls through social networking sites including MySpace, Craigslist, Twitter and Facebook, prosecutors said on Monday.

Arizona Governor Vetoes Birther, Campus Gun Bills

PHOENIX - Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer on Monday vetoed two controversial bills, one mandating proof of U.S. citizenship to run for president, the other allowing guns on college campuses, in a clear setback for conservatives who control the state legislature.

Evidence Lacking For McChrystal Allegations: Report

WASHINGTON - Evidence was lacking to substantiate allegations that retired Army General Stanley McChrystal had violated military policy standards, a Pentagon document released on Monday said.

New Alzheimer's Guidelines View Disease In Stages

CHICAGO - The first new U.S. diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease released in 27 years paint the disorder as a disease that occurs gradually over many years, starting with changes in the brain, then mild memory problems and finally progressing to full-blown dementia.

NASA Awards Funds To Develop Commercial Space Taxis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - NASA divided up more than $269 million on Monday among several companies vying to build commercial spaceships to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, the space agency said.

NY Times And LA Times Each Win Two Pulitzer Prizes

NEW YORK - The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times each won two coveted Pulitzer Prizes for journalism on Monday, and for the first time no award was given for breaking news coverage.

Deaths From Weekend Storms Most In Three Years

WASHINGTON - The death toll of at least 45 people from a nasty series of tornadoes and severe storms across the southern United States over the weekend was the highest in more than three years, experts said on Monday.

Winds Spare City Threatened By Texas Wildfires

LUBBOCK, Texas - Shifting winds gave some relief to Texans menaced by wildfires that have scorched more than 230,000 acres near rural towns but forecasts point to more fire potential in coming days, officials said Saturday.

Rescue On For Miner Trapped By Mine Collapse In Idaho

SALMON, Idaho - Rescuers on Saturday had yet to make contact with a miner trapped more than a mile below ground after a silver mine in Idaho collapsed for unknown reasons Friday evening, officials said.

Bill Clinton Home Made A National Historic Site

HOPE, Arkansas - Former President Bill Clinton returned to his childhood home on Saturday to celebrate its dedication as a national historical site.

Palin Returns With Feisty, Anti-establishment Speech

MADISON, Wisconsin - Conservative Sarah Palin returned to the U.S. political arena on Saturday after several months absence with a feisty speech attacking both the establishment Republican Party and Democratic President Barack Obama and proclaiming "the 2012 elections begin here."

Remote Digging Machine Sent To Help Trapped Idaho Miner

SALMON, Idaho - A drone digging machine arrived on Sunday at a silver mine in Idaho where a lone worker has been trapped by a cave-in more than a mile underground with no outside contact since late Friday.

FAA Issues New Rules To Keep Controllers Awake

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday issued new work rules aimed at preventing air traffic controllers from falling asleep on the job during overnight hours.

West Texas Ranchers Lose Cattle, Livelihood To Fires

FORT DAVIS, Texas - Bobby McKnight knew fire was coming when he saw the pall of white smoke rising into the blue West Texas sky April 9 and, within an hour, a 20-foot wall of flame had reached the rancher's Fort Davis home.

Paul Leaves Lakers In Dust As Hornets Stun LA

LOS ANGELES - Chris Paul ran circles around the Los Angeles Lakers in a scintillating performance to lead his New Orleans Hornets to a 109-100 upset victory over the defending champions in their NBA playoff series opener Sunday.

Texas Seeks More Help As Wildfires Burn Austin Homes

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought additional federal help in battling wildfires across his drought-parched state as a woodland blaze gutted at least six homes on Sunday and threatened hundreds more in Austin, the state capital.

Death Toll At 43 As Tornadoes And Storms Rake South

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Three days of severe storms and tornadoes in the southern United States have killed at least 43 people while downing power lines and wrecking hundreds of buildings, officials said on Sunday.

Philadelphia Orchestra To Seek Bankruptcy Protection

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the nation's "Big Five" symphonies, on Saturday voted to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a board member said.

Federal Practices Hamper Study Of Gulf Dolphin Deaths

BILOXI, Mississippi - A federal agency's practice of returning weakened dolphins to deeper Gulf of Mexico waters is thwarting efforts to probe dolphin deaths after last year's BP oil spill, scientists said on Saturday.

About 37,000 North Carolina Residents Lose Jobless Benefits

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - About 37,000 North Carolina residents lost their unemployment benefits on Saturday when Gov. Beverly Perdue refused to sign a budget bill that extended the benefits for those unemployed more than 99 weeks.

As Gas Prices Rise, Some Drivers Head To Mexico

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - U.S. drivers on the southern border could cut $1.20 or more per gallon from their rising gas costs right now -- but there is a catch.

Winds Spare City Threatened By Texas Wildfires

LUBBOCK, Texas - Shifting winds gave some relief to Texans menaced by wildfires that have scorched more than 230,000 acres near rural towns but forecasts point to more fire potential in coming days, officials said Saturday.

Rescue On For Miner Trapped By Mine Collapse In Idaho

SALMON, Idaho - Rescuers on Saturday had yet to make contact with a miner trapped more than a mile below ground after a silver mine in Idaho collapsed for unknown reasons Friday evening, officials said.

Tornadoes, Storms Kill At Least 20 In South

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - Tornadoes tore into the Carolinas on Saturday afternoon as the death toll rose to 20 people from storms across the southern United States over the last three days.

Another Air Controller Sleeps; U.S. To Change Scheduling

WASHINGTON - U.S. aviation regulators, investigating unsettling disclosures of sleeping air traffic controllers, will ban scheduling practices most likely to result in drowsiness at work.

Bill Clinton Home Made A National Historic Site

HOPE, Arkansas - Former President Bill Clinton returned to his childhood home on Saturday to celebrate its dedication as a national historical site.

Palin Returns With Feisty, Anti-establishment Speech

MADISON, Wisconsin - Conservative Sarah Palin returned to the U.S. political arena on Saturday after several months absence with a feisty speech attacking both the establishment Republican Party and Democratic President Barack Obama and proclaiming "the 2012 elections begin here."

High Bacteria Levels In Meat At U.S. Stores: Report

NEW YORK - Meat found on grocery store shelves often contains high levels of bacteria, with more than half of the bacteria resistant to multiple types of antibiotics, a study released on Friday said.

Red River Crests At Grand Forks; Snow Falls

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota - The swollen Red River crested at the third highest level on record at Grand Forks, and flood conditions were complicated by forecasts for snow and freezing temperatures, forecasters said on Friday.

Tornadoes, Storms Across South Kill At Least 10

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Violent storms ripped across the southern U.S. overnight and Friday, killing at least 10 people including three children, and cutting a path of destruction through Little Rock, Ark. and Jackson, Miss., authorities said.

Iraqi Jailed In Arizona For 34 Years In Daughter's Killing

PHOENIX - An Arizona judge on Friday sentenced an Iraqi immigrant to 34-1/2 years in jail for murder and assault charges including killing his daughter by running her down with a Jeep because she had become too Westernized.

Bosnian War Crimes Suspect Held Without Bail In Oregon

PORTLAND, Oregon - A single mother accused of committing war crimes in the Balkans was ordered held without bond on Friday to await a hearing on a request for extradition to her native Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Maine Man Admits Threats To NPR Hosts

DEERFIELD, Massachusetts - A Maine man pleaded guilty on Friday to federal charges stemming from threats to rape, torture and kill hosts of a popular National Public Radio Program.

Foes Of Ohio Anti-union Bill Start Repeal Fight

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Foes of a controversial Ohio law which limits collective bargaining for public workers can proceed with their attempt to repeal it, the Ohio attorney general said on Friday.

Firefighter Killed As Wildfires Rampage Across Texas

LUBBOCK, Tex - A firefighter was killed on Friday west of Fort Worth as wildfires erupted across a wide swath of Texas, fanned by 60 mile per hour winds and feeding on brittle brush after the driest March in state history.

Mom Given 10 Years For Playing On Facebook As Baby Drowned

DENVER - A Colorado woman who admitted her 13 month-old son drowned in the bathtub while she played on Facebook was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said.

New York Court System To Lay-off Up To 500 Employees: Union

NEW YORK - The New York State court system will lay-off as many as 500 workers in the coming weeks, according to a union memo released on Friday, as the state works to close a $10 billion budget gap.

Minnesota Man's $20 Million Fraud Fed Lavish Life: Indictment

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota man courted investors with visions of a NASCAR-type race track and golf resorts in a more than $20 million investment fraud to support his luxury lifestyle, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

Connecticut Governor Offers Middle-class $300 Property Tax Break

NEW YORK - Connecticut's middle-class would get a $300 property tax credit -- down from the current $500 break Governor Dannel Malloy initially wanted to abolish, under a revised budget plan he unveiled Thursday.

Congress Votes To Lift Federal Wolf Protections

SALMON, Idaho - The gray wolf will become the first creature ever taken off the U.S. endangered species list by an act of Congress, rather than by scientific review, under legislation sent to the White House on Thursday.

BP Alaska President Pleads For Lower State Taxes

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska must lower its state oil production taxes to attract the investment needed to boost dwindling flow in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, the president of BP's Alaska unit told a pro-industry group Thursday.

Ex-U.N. Official Ritter Convicted In Underage Internet Sex Sting

PHILADELPHIA - A Pennsylvania jury on Thursday found former high-ranking United Nations official Scott Ritter guilty in an Internet underage sex sting.

Amid Serial Killer Search, Man Recalls Woman's Cries

NEW YORK - As an FBI plane flew overhead in search of more bodies, a Long Island man on Thursday recalled one of the suspected victims of a serial killer running screaming into his home.

World's Oldest Man Dies In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - A 114-year-old retired railroad worker reputed to be the world's oldest living man died of natural causes on Thursday in the farming community of Great Falls, Montana.

Tornado Kills One, Destroys School In Oklahoma Town

OKLAHOMA CITY - A tornado killed at least one person and destroyed the only school in the small southeastern Oklahoma town of Tushka on Thursday evening, authorities said.

Luxury Spending By Rich To Rise; Value Sought

NEW YORK - Spending by rich Americans on luxury goods is set to grow by $26.6 billion in 2011, with the number of affluent families planning to spend more almost doubling in the past three years, a poll found on Friday.

Detroit To Send Layoff Notices To All Its Public Teachers

CHICAGO - The emergency manager appointed to put Detroit's troubled public school system on a firmer financial footing said on Thursday he was sending layoff notices to all of the district's 5,466 unionized employees.

More U.S. Air Controllers Fall Asleep On The Job

WASHINGTON - Two more air traffic controllers were suspended this week for sleeping on the job, including one in Nevada on Wednesday while a medical flight was trying to land, officials said.

Denmark Scientist Accused Of Stealing Autism Research Money

ATLANTA - A scientist in Denmark has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta for allegedly stealing $1 million in grant money that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had earmarked for autism research.

Blagojevich Says Prosecutors Thwarting His Corruption Defense

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich criticized prosecutors on Wednesday for trying to bar his lawyers from telling jurors that wiretaps admitted as evidence against him represent only a fraction of secret recordings made on the eve of his 2008 arrest.

U.S. Shuts Down Massive Cyber Theft Ring

WASHINGTON/BOSTON - U.S. authorities claimed one of their biggest victories against cyber crime as they shut down a ring they said used malicious software to take control of more than 2 million PCs around the world, and may have led to theft of more than $100 million.

Washington Man, Oregon Woman Arrested Over Bosnian War Crimes

SEATTLE/PORTLAND - A Washington state man and an Oregon woman were arrested on Wednesday at the request of officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to face accusations they committed war crimes there 18 years ago.

Montana Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Repeal

HELENA, Mont - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have repealed the state's seven-year-old, voter-approved law legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Barry Bonds Convicted Of Obstructing Justice

SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. jury convicted Barry Bonds on Wednesday of one count of obstructing justice but deadlocked on other charges that baseball's home run king lied to a grand jury about whether he knowingly used steroids.

New York Governor Gets One Labor Accord, But Truce Unlikely

ALBANY, N.Y., New York - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced a new contract with a law enforcement union and urged much larger public employee unions to accept the same terms or risk nearly 10,000 layoffs.

Bill Curbing Abortion Insurance Coverage Heads To Okla. Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma House approved a bill on Wednesday that prohibits health insurance companies from offering coverage of elective abortions in standard policies sold in the state.

NJ Voters Don't Want Governor Christie For President

NEW YORK - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is often mentioned as a presidential contender, but fewer than one in four voters in his home state would back him as a candidate, a poll released on Thursday said.

Madoff Judge Orders Bank Employees' Names Unsealed

NEW YORK - The judge overseeing the liquidation of Bernard Madoff's investment firm on Tuesday rejected requests by banks to keep secret the names of current and former employees mentioned in lawsuits seeking to recover alleged improper profits tied to the imprisoned Ponzi schemer.

Struggling South Dakota Mining Town Rejects Nude Dancing

CHICAGO - Voters in the town of Lead, South Dakota, rejected a proposal on Tuesday that would have allowed nude dancing at bars in its historic downtown, a move supporters had said would give an economic boost to the struggling mining town.

Fired Workers Say Chipotle Was Soft On Immigration

MINNEAPOLIS/WASHINGTON - The hundreds of illegal immigrants recently fired from fast-growing burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc had a pretty good run when it came to job security.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback Signs Bills Restricting Abortion

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed two anti-abortion bills, including one that bans abortion after 21 weeks based on the view that a fetus can feel pain at that point, officials said Tuesday.

Redistricting Error Keeps Arkansas Legislature In Session

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The Arkansas House of Representatives has left two precincts unattached to their newly drawn congressional districts, a mistake that is keeping the state legislature in session for an extra day.

L.A. Chabad Blast Suspect Charged After Fleeing To Ohio

LOS ANGELES - The man suspected of firing a makeshift missile into a Los Angeles-area Jewish community center was charged on Tuesday with launching the projectile and fleeing to Ohio in a bid to avoid prosecution.

Alaska To Ban Firing Stun Guns At Wild Animals

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska officials are moving to outlaw the use of stun guns to zap wild animals in America's last frontier.

Deal Struck To Let Yellowstone Buffalo Roam In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - For the first time in a century, buffalo from the nation's last purebred herd will be able to roam from Yellowstone National Park into parts of Montana without facing capture and likely slaughter, based on a government agreement approved on Tuesday.

Agents Raid Medical Marijuana Offices Near Detroit

DETROIT - Federal agents executed search warrants at several Detroit area locations on Tuesday including a medical marijuana facility owned by a businessman who owns a long-closed auto plant that has become a symbol of Detroit's decline.

Jury Convicts Mexican Trafficker Of Agent's Murder

SAN DIEGO - A federal jury on Tuesday found a Mexican drug trafficker guilty of second degree murder for killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent by deliberately swerving a truck at him in a dash back to Mexico to escape arrest.

Is It Torture? Those Who Decide Have Not Felt It

WASHINGTON - Those who approve "enhanced interrogation techniques" probably have a flawed idea of whether this constitutes torture, because few have felt the pain these methods can cause, researchers reported Monday.

Bones Found In Long Island Serial Killer Search

NEW YORK - Police searching on Long Island for more victims of a suspected serial killer on Monday found what look like human remains in two separate locations near a Nassau County beach.

Milwaukee-area DIY Project Uncovers Explosives In Wall

ST. FRANCIS, Wis - Do-it-yourself plumbing repairs are rarely easy. This one almost blew up in a Wisconsin couple's face.

Mexico Calls In U.S. Help To Battle Wild Fires

MEXICO CITY - The United States will send fire-fighting aircraft to help contain blazes raging in northern Mexico, the Mexican government said on Monday.

Synagogue Blast Suspect Arrested In Ohio - FBI

LOS ANGELES - Authorities on Monday arrested a man believed to be responsible for a bomb blast outside a Los Angeles-area synagogue, after a manhunt that began in California and ended in Ohio, the FBI said.

Air France Jet Clips Small Plane At NY JFK Airport

WASHINGTON - An Air France Airbus 380 jetliner clipped the tail of a smaller regional jet on the ground at New York's John F. Kennedy airport on Monday night, but no injuries were reported, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Missouri's Democratic AG Splits With Obama Over Health Care

KANSAS CITY - Missouri's Democratic attorney general on Monday joined the largely Republican-led effort to have President Barack Obama's 2010 health care overhaul ruled unconstitutional.

Winklevoss Twins Must Accept Facebook Deal: Court

SAN FRANCISCO - Mark Zuckerberg won a legal battle against former Harvard classmates who accuse him of stealing their idea for Facebook, but the feud made famous on the silver screen is not over yet.

Pakistani-American Gets 23 Years For Subway Plot

WASHINGTON - A naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan pleaded guilty on Monday to joining what he thought was an al Qaeda plot to bomb the Washington area subway system and received a 23-year prison sentence.

Housing Still Best Investment Despite Downturn: Study

PHOENIX - Even as a five-year slump in house prices drags on, eight-out-of-10 Americans say bricks and mortar remain the best long-term investment, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Shooting In Philadelphia Suburb Kills Two, Wounds Eight

PHILADELPHIA - Gunfire at a party on Friday night in a Philadelphia suburb has left a second person dead and eight people wounded, authorities said on Sunday.

Forecasters Warn Of Severe Weekend Weather In Midwest

CHICAGO - Forecasters put much of the nation's midsection on alert for rough weekend weather on Saturday as the first front of spring warmth was set to bring strong, volatile storms, including tornadoes, to the region.

Red River Begins Slow Decline In Fargo Area

FARGO, North Dakota - The Red River on Sunday had started a gradual decline in the Fargo-Moorhead area after reaching a preliminary crest at the fourth-highest level on record with rain storms coming in lighter than expected.

U.S. Judge Keeps Protections In Place For Endangered Wolves

SALMON, Idaho - A federal judge on Saturday rejected a plan negotiated between the government and wildlife advocates to remove most wolves in the Northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List.

Summer Vacations May Test New Utah Regional Airport Hopes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The skies are opening up in southern Utah as a new $159 million regional airport is in service and air travelers now have daily flights from Los Angeles when planning their travel.

Police Seek Suspect In Blast Near Santa Monica Synagogue

LOS ANGELES - A blast outside a Los Angeles-area synagogue this week was caused by an explosive device and police on Saturday were looking for a suspect, authorities said.

Family Farm's Rent-A-Chick Program Helps It Survive

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - A small South Carolina sea island family farm that has tapped the growing agriculture tourism market in order to survive has launched its "Rent-A-Chick" program just in time for Easter.

Severe Weather With Warm Front For Western New York To Louisiana

WASHINGTON - Severe weather including damaging winds, rain and hail cut through the Midwest and Plains on Sunday and is forecast to move eastward overnight.

Gallon Of Gas Jumps To $3.76: Survey

NEW YORK - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States has moved closer to $4, jumping more than 19 cents since mid-March to a level less than 10 percent below its all-time high, a widely followed survey said on Sunday.

Texas Wildfires Destroy Homes, Buildings

LUBBOCK, Tex - Wildfires scorched more than 230,000 acres in Texas on Sunday, roaring through a West Texas town, destroying an estimated 80 homes and buildings and critically injuring a firefighter.

Wisconsin Court Race Won't Be Certified Without Probe

CHICAGO - The agency overseeing Wisconsin elections will not certify results of Tuesday's state Supreme Court race until it concludes a probe into how a county clerk misplaced and then found some 14,000 votes that upended the contest.

Insider Conspirator Friend Of Defendants: Sources

CHICAGO - The unidentified co-conspirator who funneled tips and cash between a lawyer and trader accused of running a 17-year scheme to trade on corporate merger secrets was a former colleague of both defendants, the New York Times reported.

Washington Woman Fined $500 Over Acid Attack Claim

VANCOUVER, Washington - A woman who claimed a stranger doused her with acid, only to later admit she injured herself was sentenced on Friday to pay a $500 fine and seek mental health treatment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to authorities.

Shooting In Philadelphia Suburb Kills One And Wounds Eight

PHILADELPHIA - Gunfire at a party in a Philadelphia suburb left one person dead and eight people wounded, authorities said on Saturday.

Jet Returns To California Airport After Striking Bird

LOS ANGELES - A passenger jet sucked a bird into one of its engines shortly after taking off from Sacramento on Saturday, but the engine kept running and the plane returned to land safely, the airline said.

Forecasters Warn Of Severe Weekend Weather In Midwest

CHICAGO - Forecasters put much of the nation's midsection on alert for rough weekend weather on Saturday as the first front of spring warmth was set to bring strong, volatile storms, including tornadoes, to the region.

Red River Crest Near At Fargo-Moorhead

FARGO, North Dakota - The Red River edged toward an expected crest on Saturday, when rain was predicted for the region which has been fortified against flooding by miles of sandbags, reinforced dikes and other protective measures.

U.S. Judge Keeps Protections In Place For Endangered Wolves

SALMON, Idaho - A federal judge on Saturday rejected a plan negotiated between the government and wildlife advocates to remove most wolves in the Northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List.

Firefighters Struggle To Contain Massive Texas Wildfire

LUBBOCK, Texas - Firefighters from across the country expected no help from the weather on Saturday as they battled a remote, fast-moving 61,000-acre blaze in Texas.

Police Seek Suspect In Blast Near Santa Monica Synagogue

LOS ANGELES - A blast outside a Los Angeles-area synagogue this week was caused by an explosive device and police on Saturday were looking for a suspect, authorities said.

North Dakota, Minnesota Brace For Red River Crest

FARGO, North Dakota - North Dakota and Minnesota residents braced on Friday as the Red River edged toward a near-record crest in the Fargo-Moorhead area, with rain showers expected as the river peaks over the weekend.

Texas City Renames Street, Drive For Slain ICE Agent

AUSTIN - A Texas border city has renamed a street and a private drive for Jaime Jorge Zapata, the U.S. federal agent shot to death by suspected cartel hit men in Mexico earlier this year, authorities said on Friday.

Man Says 1-year-old Daughter's Overdose Accidental

DENVER - A Colorado man charged in the overdose death of his one-year-old daughter said the girl ingested the painkiller oxycodone after he lost one of the pills, according to an arrest warrant affidavit released on Friday.

Southwest Airlines Sees Narrow Concern Over 737 Jet

DALLAS - Southwest Airlines is willing to expand inspections for its older Boeing 737 aircraft but sees no reason for concern a week after one of its jets made an emergency landing with a hole in its fuselage, the discount carrier's chief executive officer said on Friday.

Giffords' Office Releases Plans For Shuttle Launch Visit

PHOENIX - Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' staff released plans on Friday for her visit to Florida to watch the launch of the space shuttle mission skippered by her husband Mark Kelly later this month.

Illinois House Passes Bill Shielding Gun Owner Names

CHICAGO - The Illinois House passed a bill on Friday that would allow gun owners to have their identities shielded from public disclosure.

Washington Woman Fined $500 Over Acid Attack Claim

VANCOUVER, Washington - A woman who claimed a stranger doused her with acid, only to later admit she injured herself was sentenced on Friday to pay a $500 fine and seek mental health treatment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to authorities.

Troops Are Political Dynamite In Budget Battle

WASHINGTON - A looming government shutdown would be felt thousands of miles away by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and there could be a high political cost for the lawmakers who let it happen.

Trash, Astronauts Caught Up In Budget Fight

WASHINGTON - Trash could pile up in the streets of the capital, the Statue of Liberty will close and astronauts will stay home if the U.S. Congress fails to reach a budget deal and the government shuts down.

Wisconsin Court Race Won't Be Certified Without Probe

CHICAGO - The agency overseeing Wisconsin elections will not certify results of Tuesday's state Supreme Court race until it concludes a probe into how a county clerk misplaced and then found some 14,000 votes that upended the contest.

Arizona Restores Organ Transplant Funding

PHOENIX - Arizona has restored funding for some organ transplants that the state cut last year in a controversial move to help close a yawning budget deficit.

Sparks From Mower Likely Caused 1,500-acre Oklahoma Fire

OKLAHOMA CITY - A six-square-mile fire that destroyed four houses likely was caused by sparks thrown off by a brush hog tractor mower that struck metal, Oklahoma City's deputy fire chief said on Thursday.

Indian Company Halts U.S. Sales Of Execution Drug

LOS ANGELES - An Indian company that supplied an anesthetic used to execute murderers on death row said on Thursday it has stopped selling the drug for use in capital punishment as it goes against the "ethos of Hinduism."

Alabama Infections Likely Caused By Faulty Sterilizing

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A failed sterilization process likely caused bacterial infections in 19 Alabama patients who received contaminated intravenous nourishment, a health official said on Thursday.

"Barefoot Bandit" Suspect In Plea Negotiations

SEATTLE - Prosecutors and attorneys for the 20-year-old man accused in a series of crimes attributed to the "Barefoot Bandit" are negotiating a plea deal, a defense lawyer told Reuters on Thursday.

Oregon Bomb Case Prosecutors Seek To Block Material Release

PORTLAND, Oregon - Federal prosecutors, citing national security concerns, urged a judge on Thursday not to force them to turn over to the defense more materials in the case of a Somali man charged with trying to blow up an Oregon Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

Missouri Senate Passes Bill Restricting Late-term Abortion

KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would put further restrictions on when a woman may have a late-term abortion for health reasons.

Arizona House Passes Law Allowing Guns On Campuses

PHOENIX - The Arizona House on Thursday approved a landmark bill allowing guns on campuses, making it only the second state in the nation to allow firearms to be carried at colleges and universities.

Jobless Claims Fall, Retail Sales Stronger

WASHINGTON - New claims for jobless benefits fell last week and retailers racked up much stronger-than-expected sales in March, signs that high fuel prices have not knocked the economy off its growth path.

U.S. Troops Are Political Dynamite In Budget Battle

WASHINGTON - A looming government shutdown would be felt thousands of miles away by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and there could be a high political cost for the lawmakers who let it happen.

As Boomers Age, A Soul-searching Budget Battle

WASHINGTON - In 1983, a civil servant named Robert Ball worked a political miracle: he convinced Republican Ronald Reagan to raise taxes and Democrat Tip O'Neill to accept trims to Social Security.

One Person Wounded In Shooting At Omaha Hospital

OMAHA - A university medical center in Omaha was locked down on Wednesday after a gunman fired shots and wounded a victim inside the facility, the second such incident at the school in six months.

Wild Fires Break Out Again In Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY - Another outbreak of wild fires blackened the skies over Oklahoma on Wednesday as the state continued to cope with drought conditions.

U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Jeff Skilling Conviction

SAN FRANCISCO - Former Enron Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling was unsuccessful in his latest bid to overturn his criminal conviction as a U.S. appeals court called any errors in his trial "harmless."

Older Passenger Jets Facing Tougher Inspections

WASHINGTON - Airlines flying older jets are facing tougher, more time-consuming U.S. inspections after the fuselage of a Southwest Airlines jet ruptured last week, leaving a 5-foot hole and questions about how companies and regulators will manage aircraft fatigue.

Errors Still Common In U.S. Hospitals

CHICAGO - About one in three people in the United States will encounter some kind of mistake during a hospital stay, U.S. researchers said Thursday.

RadioShack Stores In Montana, Idaho Offer Free Guns

SALMON, Idaho - RadioShack stores in parts of Idaho and Montana are offering free guns to first-time subscribers of satellite TV services, aiming to boost business in states where hunting and gun ownership are popular.

Fiscal Woes To Last Decades For States, Cities: GAO

WASHINGTON - The fiscal conditions of state and local governments will steadily decline through 2060 because of rising healthcare costs, a federal watchdog agency said on Wednesday, but it added that short-term pressures have eased over the last year.

Ohio Bill Would Allow Recall Against Kasich, Legislators

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Democratic legislators are proposing a bill that would allow voters to recall Governor John Kasich, who has signed a controversial bill limiting collective bargaining for public workers.

Wisconsin High Court Challenger Declares Victory

MADISON, Wis - The union-backed challenger in the race for a seat on Wisconsin's state Supreme Court declared victory on Wednesday in a contest that became a referendum on a new restrictions on public sector unions.

Pot-growing Trailer Stolen From Denver Trade Show

DENVER -A pot-growing trailer known as the "GrowBot" was stolen from a medical marijuana trade show in Denver over the weekend, and the owner on Tuesday offered a $5,000 reward for its return.

Bristol Palin Got $262,500 From Sex Abstinence Work

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Bristol Palin was paid more than $260,500 advocating against teen pregnancy in 2009, tax documents released on Tuesday show.

A New Mexico Chile From China? Absolutely Not

SANTA FE, N.M - Chile eaters in New Mexico will now know whether the beloved pepper is grown locally or flown in from China or India.

Two Tennessee Workers Die In Sewage Plant Collapse

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Two workers were killed in Tennessee on Tuesday when the wall of a basin that holds up to 1.5 million gallons of sewage at a treatment plant collapsed on them, authorities said.

Arkansas NPR Transmitter Fire Investigated As Arson

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Federal officials are investigating a fire as a possible arson at the transmitter site of Little Rock's National Public Radio affiliate, the station manager said on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Approve Budget And Bond Fix

MADISON, Wis - Wisconsin lawmakers on Tuesday approved proposals to close a gap in the state budget that were not voted on when majority Republicans pushed through a controversial anti-union measure last month.

Alabama Lawmakers Approve Immigration Crackdown

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The Alabama state House of Representative passed an Arizona-style crackdown on illegal immigration on Tuesday, despite opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups.

Accused 'Grim Sleeper' Suspected In More Deaths

LOS ANGELES - A retired sanitation worker accused of murdering 10 women and girls who has been dubbed the "Grim Sleeper" may have killed eight additional victims, police said on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Incumbent Judge Clings To Lead In Vote

MADISON, Wis - A routine election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat that became a referendum on the state's new curbs on unionized public employees appeared too close to call early on Wednesday with the incumbent clinging to a narrow lead.

Romney Still Up In New Hampshire; Trump A Wild Card

BOSTON - Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney leads potential Republican primary opponents in the early voting state of New Hampshire, but celebrity candidate Donald Trump has substantial support, according to a new poll.

FAA To Order Emergency Checks Of Older 737s

WASHINGTON - The government will order emergency checks of certain older model Boeing Co 737s for the kind of fatigue cracks that prompted Southwest Airlines Co to cancel hundreds of flights.

Mississippi Lawmakers Approve New Civil Rights Museum

BILOXI, Miss - Mississippi lawmakers on Monday voted to build a civil rights museum, a project pushed by Governor Haley Barbour amid criticism that he was doing so to help a possible presidential campaign.

Transocean: Wording On 2010 Safety May Have Been Insensitive

SAN FRANCISCO - Transocean Ltd acknowledged that its description of 2010 as its "best year in safety" despite a blowout that sank one of its rigs, killing 11 workers and causing a huge oil spill, might be insensitive.

Pilot Pleads Not Guilty To Charge Of Flying Drunk

DENVER - A commercial airline pilot charged with flying drunk while serving as second-in-command on a United Express flight pleaded not guilty in federal court on Monday.

Texas Inmate Seeks Last Minute Execution Delay, Citing Drug

SAN ANTONIO - An attorney for a death row inmate set to die on Tuesday urged Governor Rick Perry on Monday to place the execution on hold while questions are answered about the process the state used to redesign its execution drug protocol.

Republican To Call For Sweeping Medicare Changes

WASHINGTON - A Republican proposal for sweeping changes to Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs appears unlikely to pass Congress, but could electrify the debate over the budget going into next year's elections.

Nuclear Regulators Probe Fault At Alabama Reactor

ATLANTA - Tennessee Valley Authority officials met nuclear regulators on Monday to explain the failure last year of a key valve used to operate a reactor cooling system at a nuclear plant in Alabama.

Sept. 11 Suspects To Be Tried At Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama yielded to political opposition Monday, agreeing to try the self-professed mastermind of the September 11 attacks in a military tribunal at Guantanamo and not in a civilian court as he had promised.

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Arizona Execution

PHOENIX - The Supreme Court has granted a stay of execution for a convicted killer in Arizona who was due to die by lethal injection on Tuesday, but the inmate could still be executed this week if the court rejects a petition from his lawyers.

Jaycee Dugard's Accused Kidnapper Set For Plea: Lawyer

LOS ANGELES - The California man accused of abducting 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard in 1991 and holding her captive for 18 years will plead guilty this week, a lawyer for his wife and co-defendant said on Monday.

Obama Pushes For Oil Use Reduction, Clean Fuel Technology

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said on Saturday curbing foreign oil dependence and investments in clean fuel technology are the main tenets of his plan to meet long-term energy needs and in turn strengthen the domestic economy.

Obama Likely To Announce Re-election Bid Next Week

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is likely to announce plans next week to run for re-election and file campaign papers with the Federal Election Commission as early as Monday, Democratic officials said on Saturday.

Three-year-old Boy Falls To His Death From Rollercoaster

CHICAGO - A 3-year-old boy freed himself from a safety harness. stood up and fell to his death from a roller coaster he was riding with his family at a Chicago suburban amusement park, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

NTSB To Review Discount Bus Safety After New York Crash

NEW YORK - The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a review of the safety system governing the discount tour bus industry in the wake of last month's deadly Bronx bus crash that killed 15 passengers, authorities announced on Sunday.

Wisconsin Judge Vote Turns Into Proxy Fight Over Unions

CHICAGO - Wisconsin voters head to the polls on Tuesday for the first time since Republicans approved controversial restrictions on the union rights of public workers that Democrats and their supporters vowed to reverse.

Third Fatal Northeast Bus Accident In Less Than A Month

CONWAY, Mass - One man died and another was critically injured after both fell out of the window of a moving tour bus in Massachusetts, the third fatal bus accident in the Northeast in less than a month, authorities said on Sunday.

Man Arrested For Parachuting Off Chicago Hi-rise Building

CHICAGO - An Illinois man was arrested for parachuting off a 20-story building under construction in downtown Chicago early on Sunday morning, authorities said.

New Reality Show: Millions Watch Bald Eagles Nesting

CHICAGO - A new reality show has gone viral on the Internet featuring a life and death struggle, a love story and a birds eye view of -- an eagle family.

Wildfires Rage Across Five States Of Parched Southwest

DENVER - Gale force winds and drought spawned raging wildfires across five states of the parched Southwest on Sunday, damaging dozens of homes and businesses and forcing a Kansas town to evacuate, authorities said.

Widespread Cracks Found On Southwest Jet

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - Evidence of widespread fuselage cracks and fatigue were found on a Southwest Airlines Co jet that made an emergency landing in Arizona with a hole in the cabin, a U.S. safety investigator said on Sunday.

Obama Likely To Announce Re-election Bid Next Week

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is likely to announce plans next week to run for re-election and file campaign papers with the Federal Election Commission as early as Monday, Democratic officials said on Saturday.

New Yorkers Prefer Spitzer Not Run For Mayor: Poll

NEW YORK - Almost two-thirds of New Yorkers do not want disgraced former New York state governor Eliot Spitzer to run for mayor of their city in 2013, a new poll found on Friday.

Massachusetts Finds Expired Food In School Cafeterias

BOSTON - Out-of-date food has been found lingering in public school cafeterias across Massachusetts, sent from warehouses up to six weeks past "use by" dates, the state department of education said on Friday.

Campus Gun Debate Is Personal At University Of Texas

AUSTIN, Texas - University of Texas junior Sonia Escot was studying at her usual first-floor spot at a campus library on that morning last September when a fellow student walked in with an AK-47.

Japan Crisis Spurs Survival Planning By U.S. Mormons

SALMON, Idaho - While the nuclear crisis in Japan unfolds a continent away, Mormon-dominated communities in the western United States say the disaster overseas is bringing close to home a lesson about preparing for the worst.

Nebraska Woman Is Mayor And Only Resident, Of Rural Town

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Elsie Eiler is the most admired person in Monowi, Neb. She is also the smartest, wealthiest, best-looking and youngest.

Obama Pushes For Oil Use Reduction, Clean Fuel Technology

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said on Saturday curbing foreign oil dependence and investments in clean fuel technology are the main tenets of his plan to meet long-term energy needs and in turn strengthen the domestic economy.

Giant Yellow Teddy Bear To Brighten New York City

NEW YORK - London has Paddington Bear but New York now has a giant yellow teddy bear, a great sculptural masterpiece that could sell for more than $9 million at auction in May, Christie's said on Saturday.

Haley Barbour's Wife Says White House Run "horrifies Me"

BILOXI, Miss - The wife of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a possible contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, said in an interview that a bid for the presidency by her husband "horrifies me."

Southwest May Cancel Another 300 Flights Sunday

LOS ANGELES - Southwest Airlines could cancel 300 flights on Sunday as it continues to inspect 79 aircraft from its Boeing 737 fleet, after one of its planes with a gaping hole in the fuselage made an emergency landing, a company spokeswoman said.

Two More U.S. States Turn Over Executions Drug In Probe

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee and Kentucky turned over their supplies of a lethal injection drug to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which is probing how the drug was imported, officials said on Friday.

Appeals Court Clears Way For Arizona Execution

PHOENIX - An Arizona death row inmate on Friday lost an attempt to block his execution, when a U.S. appeals court ruled authorities can use a controversial drug next week for his lethal injection.

Employers Step Up Hiring, Jobless Rate Drops

WASHINGTON - U.S. employment grew firmly for a second straight month in March and the jobless rate hit a two-year low of 8.8 percent, underscoring a decisive shift in the labor market that should help to underpin the recovery.

Massachusetts Finds Expired Food In School Cafeterias

BOSTON - Out-of-date food has been found lingering in public school cafeterias across Massachusetts, sent from warehouses up to six weeks past "use by" dates, the state department of education said on Friday.

Los Angeles Mayor To Pay Record Fine Over Free Tickets

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has agreed to pay a fine of $42,000 for accepting free tickets to shows and sports events such as Lakers games, in the largest ethics-related fine a California agency has ever imposed.

New Yorkers Prefer Spitzer Not Run For Mayor: Poll

NEW YORK - Almost two-thirds of New Yorkers do not want disgraced former New York state governor Eliot Spitzer to run for mayor of their city in 2013, a new poll found on Friday.

Nation's Most Dangerous Small City Rehires Police

NEW YORK - Camden, New Jersey, the nation's most crime-ridden small city, on Friday welcomed back 55 police officers and 31 firefighters laid off in January because of lack of funding.

Colorado Boy Arrested In Murder Of Great-grandparents

DENVER - A 16-year-old boy from rural Colorado was arrested on Friday for the shotgun killings of his great-grandparents, a crime that stunned residents of the small farming and ranching community where the couple lived for decades.

Plane Makes Emergency Landing With Hole In Cabin

PHOENIX - A Southwest Airlines plane with a gaping hole in fuselage made an emergency landing at a military base in Arizona on Friday after a sudden drop in cabin pressure, airline officials said.

Florida Pastor Is Focus Of Muslim Outrage - Again

MIAMI - An American Christian preacher who caused an international uproar last year by threatening to burn the Koran has put himself back in the spotlight after incinerating Islam's holy book -- again with deadly consequences.