DC Relaunching Comic Book Titles At Issue No. 1

LOS ANGELES - DC Comics will reset the dial by renumbering its lineup of superhero comics when it releases 52 issues tagged No. 1, starting with its famed Justice League series, the company said on Tuesday.

F-16s Escorted Flight To Dulles After On-board Fight

WASHINGTON - Fighter jets escorted a United Airlines plane back to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., after a fight broke out between a pair of passengers on the flight bound for Ghana, officials said on Tuesday.

Hundreds Feel Sting Of Jellyfish On Florida's East Coast

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - Thousands of jellyfish washed up on Florida's east coast over the Memorial holiday weekend, stinging swimmers and thwarting beachgoers.

Blagojevich Outlines Senator Considerations

CHICAGO - By the summer of 2008, then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich realized he might have the power to appoint a senator to represent Illinois, Blagojevich testified on Tuesday at his federal corruption trial.

Martin Luther King's Daughter Leaves Atlanta Megachurch

ATLANTA - Bernice King, the daughter of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has left a suburban Atlanta megachurch that has been at the center of a recent sex controversy, and plans to start her own ministry.

Flooding Forces North Dakota Evacuations

SALMON, Idaho - Rising waters forced evacuations in Minot, North Dakota, on Tuesday as officials in South Dakota raced to finish levees to protect the state capital and other cities from the swollen Missouri River.

Shuttle Leaves Orbit, Heads Toward Florida Landing

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - The space shuttle Endeavour left orbit early on Wednesday and headed toward a landing in Florida after delivering a pioneering physics experiment to the International Space Station on the shuttle program's second-to-last flight.

Number Of Missing From Joplin Tornado Drops To 10

JOPLIN, Mo - Missouri officials continued on Tuesday the process of identifying the remains of bodies recovered from the devastating Joplin tornado and reduced the count of missing people to 10.

Jurors Hear 911 Call Reporting Caylee Anthony Gone

ORLANDO, Fla - The mother of accused child killer Casey Anthony testified on Tuesday that her daughter's car smelled "worse than rotting flesh" when she and her husband found it in an impound lot a month after she had last seen her 2-year-old granddaughter Caylee.

U.S. Files New Charges Against September 11 Accused

MIAMI - U.S. military prosecutors have filed new charges against the self-described mastermind of the September 11 attacks in 2001, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four alleged co-conspirators held at the Guantanamo detention camp.

Texas Lawmakers To Return For Special Session

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas lawmakers will head into a special legislative session on Tuesday after they failed to come to an agreement on legislation linked to the state budget, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst said on Monday.

Group Hacks TV Website In WikiLeaks Protest

LOS ANGELES - A group of hackers angered by a PBS documentary about WikiLeaks has posted a fake news story on the website of the public broadcaster PBS claiming that dead rapper Tupac Shakur was alive and well.

U.S. Should Ban Rentals Of Recalled Cars: Sen. Schumer

NEW YORK - Sen. Charles Schumer on Monday called for legislation that would prohibit the rental of cars that had been recalled for safety reasons.

Memorial Day Marked By Somber Rites For Fallen

CHICAGO - Americans paused in somber reflection on Monday to honor the men and women of the armed services who died fighting the nations' wars -- and to show solidarity for the thousands more now in campaigns overseas.

Wild Fires Destroy Twelve Homes In Texas Panhandle

LUBBBOCK - Wild fires fed by high winds and severe drought swept through seven high-end homes on the outskirts of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle on Monday, bringing to 12 the number of residences destroyed by fires in the area over Memorial Day weekend.

Illinois House Approves Bill Allowing Casino In Chicago

CHICAGO - The Illinois House of Representatives on Monday passed a gambling expansion bill that would bring a casino to Chicago.

Oklahoma Seeks Federal Disaster Aid After Tornadoes

OKLAHOMA CITY - Governor Mary Fallin has asked the White House to approve a major disaster declaration for seven Oklahoma counties hit hard by tornadoes last week.

Snowmelt, Rain Worsen Flooding In Northern Plains

SALMON, Idaho - Historic flooding in the Missouri River basin spurred voluntary evacuations in North Dakota on Monday, while in Montana emergency workers ferried food and water to a town cut off by flood waters.

Joplin Tornado Leaves Thousands With No Place To Call Home

JOPLIN, Missouri - It's been four shelters in eight days for Rosalee Wilson, one of thousands of Joplin residents left homeless by the massive May 22 tornado.

Missouri Officials Continue Identifying Tornado Dead

JOPLIN, Missouri - Missouri officials continued on Monday the process of identifying the remains of bodies recovered from the devastating Joplin tornado and reduced the number of missing people to 29.

Casey Anthony Texts: "guess Who Spends Eternity In Jail"

ORLANDO, Florida - Accused child-killer Casey Anthony called herself "the worst f***ing person" and predicted she would spend eternity in jail in text messages she sent a month after the murder of her daughter Caylee, according to evidence introduced at trial on Saturday.

Veterans Gather In Washington For "Rolling Thunder"

WASHINGTON - The streets of Washington and the surrounding area echoed with the rumble of thousands of motorcycles on Sunday as veterans and their supporters gathered for the main events of the annual Rolling Thunder rally.

In Most Of U.S., Memorial Day Weekend Weather Points To Summer

CHICAGO - Much of the United States was expected to bask in warm, humid, summer-like weather on Sunday as the country, raked by deadly storms over the past month, marks the second day of the long Memorial Day weekend with some welcome quiet on the meteorological front.

Perfect Strangers Friends For Life After Joplin Tornado

JOPLIN, Mo - Melody Dickey doesn't remember the tornado hurling her car the length of three football fields or calling out for her nine-year-old daughter Autumn, who was ejected as it rolled.

Memorial Day Had Its Beginnings In Civil War

Birmingham, Ala --- Bands will play, soldiers will march and wreaths will be laid on Monday as America commemorates the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

South Dakota Calls For Bulldozers For Flood Fight

MINNEAPOLIS - South Dakota appealed for bulldozers and operators and called up 200 more National Guard troops on Sunday in a race to finish levees before heavy Missouri River flows reach the capital, officials said.

Former Texas Governor Bill Clements Dies At 94

AUSTIN, Texas - Former Texas Governor Bill Clements, who was the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction when he took office in 1979, has died at the age of 94.

Obama Vows National Response To Missouri Tornado

JOPLIN, Missouri - President Barack Obama promised victims of the deadliest U.S. tornado in 65 years that the federal government would help them rebuild, saying on Sunday it was a national tragedy.

South Dakota Races To Finish Levees Before Flooding

MINNEAPOLIS - South Dakota appealed for bulldozers and operators and called up 200 more National Guard troops on Sunday in a race to finish levees before heavy Missouri River flows reached the capital, officials said.

Obama Promises Long-term Help For Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo - President Barack Obama said on Sunday afternoon that the tornado that hit this city of 50,000 people a week ago was a tragedy that will require a national and long-term response.

Doctors Say Gary Carter's Brain Tumor Looks Malignant

NEW YORK - Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has a brain tumor that "appears to be malignant", doctors at Duke University Medical Center said on Friday.

Palin Welcome In Arizona Neighborhood, Media Less So

SCOTTSDALE - Residents in this sprawling neighborhood of horse properties in far north Scottsdale welcome Sarah Palin as a potential neighbor, although they are mixed about the news media on her trail.

Sun Is Setting On Rural Post Offices

FREEPORT, Kan - Six days a week, the small American flag flutters in the shade of a cottonwood tree outside the post office in Freeport, Kansas, population 5.

North Korea Releases American As U.S. Envoy Visits

BEIJING - An American citizen detained in North Korea on unspecified charges for six months has been released, U.S. rights envoy Robert King said on Saturday following a visit to the secretive state's capital to assess its pleas for food aid.

Joplin Prepares For Grim Task Of Funerals

JOPLIN, Mo - For some families, goodbye to victims of a powerful tornado that crushed buildings like twigs may only be a glimpse of a hand.

South Dakota Warns Of Evacuations From Floods

SALMON, Idaho - South Dakota's governor on Saturday called for an estimated 17,000 residents downstream of the capital Pierre to immediately plan to evacuate in advance of expected flooding from the Missouri River.

Casey Anthony Texts: "guess Who Spends Eternity In Jail"

ORLANDO, Florida - Accused child-killer Casey Anthony called herself "the worst f***ing person" and predicted she would spend eternity in jail in text messages she sent a month after the murder of her daughter Caylee, according to evidence introduced at trial on Saturday.

2011 Equals Deadliest U.S. Tornado Year On Record

CHICAGO - The United States on Saturday equaled the record for deaths from tornadoes in a single year with 519 killed in 2011, and more than a month still to go in the tornado season, The National Weather Service said.

Children Orphaned By Tornadoes Carry On, And Grieve

PHIL CAMPBELL, Ala - Five-year-old Garrett LeClere survived the devastating twister that struck Phil Campbell, Alabama on April 27 with two broken arms and a fractured skull.

Names Put Human Face On Joplin Death Toll

JOPLIN, Mo - They range from one-year old Hayze Howard to 92-year-old Margaret Tuit, but the official list of Joplin tornado victims does not tell their stories, or that of teenager Will Norton killed on his graduation day.

Blagojevich Denies Shaking Down Race Track Owner

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich took the stand on Friday for the second day in his federal corruption trial, denying he tried to shake down a race track owner in exchange for signing legislation favorable to the industry.

Idaho Governor Declares Emergency From Flooding

SALMON, Idaho - Idaho's governor declared an emergency on Friday because of flooding and high water conditions expected to wreak havoc across the state.

Police Arrest Arizona's Suspected "Rock Burglar"

PHOENIX - Police arrested a suspect as Arizona's notorious "Rock Burglar" on Friday after a 17-year crime spree that netted more than $10 million in cash and other loot from affluent homeowners, authorities said.

Witnesses Smelled Death Odor From Casey Anthony's Car

ORLANDO - The father of accused killer Casey Anthony testified on Friday that he recognized the odor of human decomposition coming from her car trunk on July 15, 2008, and said a quiet prayer that the stench was not the body of his daughter or grandchild Caylee.

Accused Tucson Shooter Returned To Missouri Hospital

PHOENIX - Shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner, who was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges he killed six people and wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was returned to a hospital in Missouri on Friday, authorities said.

Doctors Say Gary Carter's Brain Tumor Looks Malignant

NEW YORK - Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has a brain tumor that "appears to be malignant", doctors at Duke University Medical Center said on Friday.

Palin Welcome In Arizona Neighborhood, Media Less So

SCOTTSDALE - Residents in this sprawling neighborhood of horse properties in far north Scottsdale welcome Sarah Palin as a potential neighbor, although they are mixed about the news media on her trail.

Severe Weather Kills Three More People

ATLANTA - Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds in Atlanta caused three deaths from falling trees and left more than 100,000 without electric power, officials said on Friday.

U.S. Says N.Korea Releases American Citizen, No Aid Agreement

BEIJING - An American citizen detained in North Korea on unspecified charges for the past six months has been released, U.S. rights envoy Robert King said on Saturday following a visit to the secretive state's capital to assess its pleas for food aid.

Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises To 132

JOPLIN - The death toll from the monster tornado that tore through Joplin on Sunday rose to 132 on Friday after six more victims were identified, Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr said.

Former Ill. Gov. Blagojevich Takes Stand In Own Defense

CHICAGO - Taking the stand in his own defense in his federal corruption trial, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday denied allegations that he tried to shake down business executives in exchange for official action during his six years in office.

Man Gets Prison Term For Pennsylvania Cross Burning

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to one year in prison on Thursday for his role in the burning of a cross outside the house of an African-American foster child, authorities said.

Jury Convicts JFK Airport Bomb Plot Suspect

NEW YORK - A former leader of the Shiite Muslim community in Trinidad and Tobago was found guilty on Thursday of taking part in a conspiracy to bomb New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Texas Governor Appeals Fire Disaster Declaration

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Governor Rick Perry on Thursday appealed the federal government's denial of a major disaster declaration for wildfires in the Lone Star State.

Injection Drug Issue Puts Nebraska Execution On Hold

OMAHA, Neb - Controversy over a lethal injection drug imported from India has put on hold the execution of a convicted killer in Nebraska.

Wife Flies Plane After Pilot-husband Blacks Out

DENVER - A woman with no flight experience flew a small plane over Colorado for 40 minutes after her husband blacked out at the controls, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday.

Judge Voids Controversial Wisconsin Union Law

MADISON, Wisconsin - A Wisconsin judge on Thursday voided a controversial Republican-backed law restricting the collective bargaining rights of public sector unions in the state.

Boyfriend Says Casey Anthony Never Told Him Of Abuse

ORLANDO - The former boyfriend of accused murderer Casey Anthony denied on Thursday that she ever told him her father molested her.

Severe Weather Batters 11 States

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Communities across the middle of the country cleaned up on Thursday from more tornadoes and high winds after another stormy night, while states further East began facing severe weather problems of their own.

Joplin Tornado Chaos Leaves Hundreds Still Missing

JOPLIN, Mo - On the wall of the Red Cross shelter in Joplin was taped a poster with a picture of Emma Marie Hamp-Haines, on which someone had scrawled "FOUND."

Groups Threaten To Sue U.S. Government Over Bat Disease

SALMON, Idaho - Conservation and organic farming groups alarmed by the spread of a disease decimating bats on Wednesday threatened to sue the government within 30 days unless it immediately closes caves and abandons mines on public lands.

U.S. Trial On Mumbai Attacks Hears Of Pakistan Contacts

CHICAGO - An American who scouted targets for the 2008 Pakistani militant raid on Mumbai testified on Wednesday about conversations he had with a Chicago businessman accused of helping the attackers and a retired Pakistani military officer.

Nebraska Lawmakers Pass Compromise Bill On Public Unions

OMAHA, Neb - Nebraska lawmakers unanimously approved changes to collective bargaining for public workers on Wednesday but the debate was not as divisive as in some other states, and the outcome was a compromise.

Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper Gets Life In Prison

SALT LAKE CITY - The homeless street preacher convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison after Smart told him he would be held responsible for his actions "in this life or the next."

Casey Anthony "normal," "happy" After Tot's Death

ORLANDO - On the day her 2-year-old daughter died in June 2008, Casey Anthony moved in with her boyfriend and gave no indication that anything was wrong, the now-former boyfriend testified on Wednesday.

U.S. Soldier Testifies Against Co-defendant In Afghan Murder

TACOMA, Washington - A U.S. soldier sentenced to 24 years in prison after he admitted to murdering three Afghan civilians in cold blood testified in court on Wednesday against a co-defendant he said was "like a little brother" to him.

Tornado Death Toll Rises, No More Survivors Found

JOPLIN, Mo - The death toll from a monster tornado that savaged Joplin, Missouri, rose to 125 on Wednesday and tornadoes overnight in nearby states caused at least 15 more deaths.

San Diego Family Left Suicide Notes In Apparent Drownings

SAN DIEGO - Police said on Wednesday they are investigating the apparent drowning deaths of a family of four in San Diego as a murder-suicide case after finding at least two suicide notes in their house.

Arizona Executes Convicted Child Killer

PHOENIX - An Arizona apartment complex custodian was put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 1984 rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, after a flurry of last-minute court appeals failed, prison officials said.

Alleged Tucson Shooter Ruled Incompetent For Trial

TUCSON, Ariz - Shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner was dragged shouting from a courtroom on Wednesday before he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges he killed six people and wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Civil Rights Freedom Riders Return After 50 Years

Jackson, Miss - Bill Harbour didn't tell his parents he planned to protest segregation at bus stations across the South.

Arizona To Sue To Clarify Medical Marijuana Act

PHOENIX - Arizona will file a lawsuit in federal court to learn whether a controversial medical marijuana law passed by voters last November is legal, Arizona's governor said on Tuesday.

Drought And Fire Jeopardize Ranching Lifestyle In Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas - A miserable sea of dry brown West Texas grass and charred scrub could cripple ranching operations in the country's top beef-producing state.

Blagojevich Defense Promises "prominent" Witnesses

CHICAGO - Attorneys for Rod Blagojevich promised to call "prominent" witnesses as early as Wednesday when they begin presenting the defense of the former Illinois governor charged with using his office for personal gain.

Family Of Man Beaten At Dodgers Game Sues Team And Owner

LOS ANGELES - The family of a San Francisco Giants fan who was badly beaten at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day sued the team and owner Frank McCourt on Tuesday, claiming poor security provided a "perfect opportunity" for such an assault.

S. Carolina House Passes Comprehensive Illegal Immigration Bill

CHARLESTON, South Carolina --South Carolina's House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a comprehensive illegal immigration bill that would allow police to ask for citizenship documentation from anyone they stop or detain for another reason.

Hundreds Flee Advancing Floodwaters In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - The number of Montana residents forced to flee from advancing floodwaters rose to more than 200 on Tuesday as overflowing rivers submerged houses, eroded roads and washed out bridges.

Casey Anthony Lied And Killed Daughter: Prosecutor

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony lived a life full of deception and elaborate lies that culminated in the murder of her own daughter, prosecutors alleged on Tuesday, but defense lawyers said the girl drowned in a swimming pool.

Tornadoes Leave Seven Dead In Oklahoma, Kansas

OKLAHOMA CITY - Tornadoes on Tuesday left five people dead in Oklahoma and two in Kansas, officials said.

Tornado Death Toll Climbs, Many Still Missing

JOPLIN, Missouri - The death toll from a monster tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday rose to 123, with 750 people injured and many more missing, authorities said on Tuesday.

Judgment Day Forecaster Points To New Doomsday Date

LOS ANGELES - The evangelical Christian broadcaster whose much-ballyhooed Judgment Day prophecy went conspicuously unfulfilled on Saturday has a simple explanation for what went wrong -- he miscalculated.

Volkswagen Sees U.S. Plant As Key To Unseating Toyota

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee - In south-central Tennessee on Tuesday, Volkswagen AG marks the grand opening of a $1 billion assembly plant that looms large in the German automaker's plan to unseat Toyota Motor Co as the world's largest automaker.

New Hampshire Republicans Lean To Romney, Most Undecided

BOSTON - Mitt Romney is the leading choice among New Hampshire Republicans as their party's 2012 presidential nominee, but most still have no idea who will get their first-in-the-nation primary vote in February, a survey showed on Monday.

Dodger Stadium Beating Suspect Remains In Custody

LOS ANGELES - A 31-year-old ex-convict arrested in the beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day remained in custody on Monday on a parole hold, prosecutors said.

Judge Blocks Naming San Antonio Street For Cesar Chavez

SAN ANTONIO - A judge on Monday blocked the city of San Antonio from renaming a street after the late labor activist Cesar Chavez.

At U.S. Trial, Pakistan Links To Mumbai Attacks Examined

CHICAGO - An American who has admitted scouting targets for the 2008 assault on Mumbai by Pakistani militants testified on Monday that the plot was hatched with at least one Pakistani intelligence official and a navy frogman.

Supreme Court Orders California Prisoner Release

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday ordered California to release tens of thousands of inmates or take other steps to ease overcrowding in its prisons to prevent "needless suffering and death."

One Dead, Two Missing In Montana Floods

SALMON, Idaho - An elderly woman has drowned and two others were missing amid flooding in Montana that prompted the governor on Monday to declare a state of emergency.

Pirates Killed U.S. Couples After Warning: Court Papers

WASHINGTON - Somali pirates killed two American couples taken hostage aboard their yacht in February after the U.S. military warned them it would block their course to land, according to court papers released on Monday.

Tornado Devastates Joplin, Missouri, 116 Dead

JOPLIN, Missouri - A monster tornado killed at least 116 people in Joplin, Missouri, when it tore through the heart of the small city, ripping the roof off a hospital and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.

Noah Apologizes For Anti-gay Insult To Fan

MIAMI - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has apologized for an anti-gay slur made to a Miami Heat fan during his team's 96-85 playoff defeat on Sunday.

L.A. Police Arrest Suspect In Beating Of Giants Fan

LOS ANGELES - Police in Los Angeles arrested one suspect and detained several other people for questioning on Sunday in connection with the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium.

Seeing-eye Sheep, Goats Guide Blind Horse In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - Michelle Feldstein was prepared to provide special accommodations for the blind horse she recently added to the flightless ducks, clawless cats and homeless llamas inhabiting her animal shelter in Montana.

Minnesota Voters To Decide On Gay Marriage Ban

MINNEAPOLIS - The Republican-led Minnesota legislature approved late Saturday putting a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to voters in November 2012.

Disasters Squeeze Animal Shelters, But Reunions Bring Joy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The deluge of pets displaced by tornadoes and flood waters this spring is straining animal shelters in the Southeast.

Oscar-winning Composer Accused Of Rape Found Dead

NEW YORK - Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning composer of the hit "You Light Up My Life" and who was awaiting trial on rape charges, was found dead in his New York apartment on Sunday having apparently killed himself, police said.

Pakistani Deported In Times Square Bomb Probe

WASHINGTON - A man arrested during the investigation into the failed attempt to bomb New York's Times Square has been deported to his native Pakistan, U.S. authorities said on Sunday.

Tornado Kills At Least 30 In Joplin, Missouri

KANSAS CITY - A powerful tornado plowed through the southwestern Missouri town of Joplin on Sunday, flattening dozens of homes, badly damaging a hospital and killing at least 30 people.

U.S. Trial Risks Raising Tensions With Pakistan

CHICAGO - U.S. prosecutors will outline an elaborate plot that allegedly preceded the 2008 attack on Mumbai in a case against a Chicago businessman that could feature prominent roles by members of Pakistan's spy agency.

Powerful Tornadoes Kill At Least 31 In Midwest

KANSAS CITY - Tornadoes tore through parts of the Midwest on Sunday, killing at least 30 people in the Missouri town of Joplin, claiming another life in Minneapolis and causing extensive property damage in the region.

Hoarding Problem Emerges From The Shadows

TOPEKA, Kan - Sally Fronsman-Cecil was always inclined to have a cluttered home, but she went into the "downward spiral" life of a hoarder after her husband died in 1998.

Humane Society Sues To Halt Sea Lion Killings

PORTLAND, Oregon - The Humane Society of the United States filed suit on Friday seeking to stop Oregon and Washington state from euthanizing sea lions caught feasting on endangered salmon in the Columbia River at the Bonneville Dam.

States Seek To Escape Rising Prison Costs

WASHINGTON - States have been shackled for years by the rising cost of keeping inmates in prison. Now they are planning a getaway.

Arizona College Was Worried Loughner Armed

TUCSON, Ariz - Emails released by court order from an Arizona college about Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Lee Loughner show campus police were so worried they asked federal authorities whether he had a gun.

U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Iran Helped Plan September 11 Attacks

NEW YORK - Families of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks filed documents in federal court this week suggesting Iran played a role in the attacks, even though a U.S. government inquiry concluded otherwise in 2004.

Majority Of Americans Support Gay Marriage In Poll

LOS ANGELES - Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, a Gallup poll showed on Friday, a marked reversal from just a year ago when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.

As Hours Tick By, "Judgment Day" Looks A Dud

SAN FRANCISCO - With no sign of Judgment Day arriving on Saturday as forecast by an 89 year-old California evangelical broadcaster, followers were faced with trying to make sense of his failed pronouncement.

Top Jewish Americans Ponder Support For Obama

CHICAGO - Some prominent Jewish Americans are rethinking their support for President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election bid after he effectively called on Israel to give back territory it has occupied since 1967 to Palestinians.

Vicksburg Officials Urge Caution, Plan For Cleanup

VICKSBURG, Miss - With weeks to go before the flood waters of the crested Mississippi River fully recede, officials in Vicksburg, Mississippi, are advising caution and preparing for an aggressive cleanup.

Britain Endorses Lagarde As New IMF Chief

NEW YORK - Britain endorsed French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde as an "outstanding candidate" for IMF chief on Saturday, the first G7 country to officially back her as Dominique Strauss-Kahn's successor.

Two Inmates Badly Stabbed In California Prison Riot

LOS ANGELES - Corrections officers firing pepper spray and plastic rounds quelled a "large-scale riot" by about 150 inmates on Friday at the maximum-security California State Prison-Sacramento, prison officials said.

U.S. Closes Banks In Georgia And Washington State

WASHINGTON - U.S. authorities closed two small banks in west-central Georgia and one in Washington state on Friday, bringing the number of foreclosures in 2011 to 43.

Humane Society Sues To Halt Sea Lion Killings

PORTLAND, Oregon - The Humane Society of the United States filed suit on Friday seeking to stop Oregon and Washington state from euthanizing sea lions caught feasting on endangered salmon in the Columbia River at the Bonneville Dam.

U.S. Needs More Training For Nuclear Inspectors: NRC

WASHINGTON - U.S. citizens may be at risk from radioactive waste stored near nuclear plants as better training for federal safety inspectors and more on-site checks are needed, an internal government report showed on Friday.

Murder Trial Of Casey Anthony Set To Begin Tuesday

ORLANDO, Fla - Opening statements in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, charged with the 2008 killing of her two-year-old daughter Caylee, were set to begin on Tuesday after 12 jurors and five alternates were sworn in on Friday.

States Seek To Escape Rising Prison Costs

WASHINGTON - States have been shackled for years by the rising cost of keeping inmates in prison. Now they are planning a getaway.

Arizona College Was Worried Loughner Armed

TUCSON, Ariz - Emails released by court order from an Arizona college about Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Lee Loughner show campus police were so worried they asked federal authorities whether he had a gun.

U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Iran Helped Plan September 11 Attacks

NEW YORK - Families of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks filed documents in federal court this week suggesting Iran played a role in the attacks, even though a U.S. government inquiry concluded otherwise in 2004.

River Traffic, People And Animals Feel Strain Of Flooding

NEW ORLEANS - A five-mile stretch of the Mississippi River was closed to commercial traffic near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday after a barge struck a dock and three grain barges in tow sank, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Majority Of Americans Support Gay Marriage In Poll

LOS ANGELES - Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, a Gallup poll showed on Friday, a marked reversal from just a year ago when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.

California Republican To Be In Congressional Runoff Vote

LOS ANGELES - A California congressional seat will be contested in a runoff vote between a Democratic Los Angeles city councilwoman and a Republican businessman, after a third challenger conceded defeat on Thursday.

Alabama Executes Man Who Killed Four In 1992

TUSCALOOSA, Ala - Alabama on Thursday executed by lethal injection a man who went on a shooting rampage that killed four people after a night of drinking alcohol and taking drugs in 1992.

Tennessee House Passes Bill To Curb Teachers' Unions

NASHVILLE, Tenn - The Tennessee House of Representatives voted on Thursday to strip teachers unions of most of their collective bargaining powers, setting up a showdown with the state Senate, which already voted to end all union bargaining.

Horse Herpes Outbreak In West Grows To 33 Cases

DENVER - An equine herpes outbreak has widened to include eight Western U.S. states, with 33 horses confirmed to have the highly contagious disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Thursday.

Judge Denies Bail For Accused Taliban Backer

LOS ANGELES - An accused financier of the Pakistani Taliban was denied bond on Thursday at a Los Angeles court hearing, where a judge determined he was a flight risk.

FBI Seeks DNA From "Unabomber" For Tylenol Case

CHICAGO - The Chicago office of the FBI is asking for DNA samples from "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski in connection with an investigation into an unsolved 1982 crime in which seven people died after taking Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide, FBI officials said on Thursday.

Texas Governor Signs Bill On Sonograms Before Abortion

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Governor Rick Perry on Thursday signed into law a measure requiring women seeking an abortion to first get a sonogram.

California Still Leads U.S., Including In Inequality

SAN FRANCISCO - Perennial trend-setter California still represents potential aspects of the future of the United States, ranging from wealth and opportunity in Silicon Valley to abject poverty in the agricultural Central Valley.

Probe Blames Massey For Mine Blast That Killed 29

BECKLEY, West Virginia - The worst U.S. coal mine accident in four decades, in which 29 miners died, was "man-made" and could have been avoided if mine owner Massey Energy Co had followed basic safety measures, an independent investigation concluded on Thursday.

Mississippi River Crests In Vicksburg

VICKSBURG, Mississippi - The Mississippi River crested on Thursday at a record 57.1 feet in Vicksburg, the culmination of weeks of high water that displaced hundreds and destroyed entire neighborhoods.

Mother Pleads Guilty To Burning Child In New York Voodoo Ritual

NEW YORK - A mother pleaded guilty on Wednesday to assault charges for setting her 6-year-old daughter ablaze in a voodoo ritual at their New York home.

Former Utah Governor Picks Florida For Campaign Headquarters

ORLANDO, Fla - Former Republican Utah governor Jon Huntsman has picked Orlando, Florida, for his 2012 presidential campaign headquarters should he decide to run, a campaign official and media reports said on Wednesday.

Racetrack Owner Tells Blagojevich Jury Of Fund-raising Pressure

CHICAGO - The owner of two Chicago area racetracks testified on Wednesday he felt pressure in late 2008 to raise campaign funds for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for the governor signing a bill favorable to the industry.

Arizona Seeks To Build Its Own Mexico Border Fence

TUCSON, Ariz - Using public donations and cheap convict labor, an Arizona lawmaker is working to build a fence to secure the state's porous border with Mexico against illegal immigrants.

Anchorage Woman Charged With Abusing 6 Adopted Kids

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage woman accused of inflicting years of abuse on her six adopted children pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to assault and kidnapping charges.

Unintended Pregnancies Cost Public $11 Billion A Year: Studies

CHICAGO - Studies released by a reproductive rights research group on Thursday show that unintended pregnancies cost U.S. taxpayers about $11 billion a year.

Woman In Custody In Mass. For Boy's Body Found In Maine

CONWAY, Mass - A woman was in custody in Massachusetts on Wednesday in connection with a multi-state investigation into the death of a small boy whose body was found alongside a road in Maine.

Shuttle Docks, Astronauts To Install $2 Billion Device

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station prepared to install a $2 billion particle detector outside the orbiting outpost after shuttle Endeavour arrived on Wednesday on NASA's next-to-last shuttle mission.

Giffords Recovering From Cranioplasty In Houston

HOUSTON - Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Wednesday underwent a cranioplasty in Houston, a critical step in her recovery from a gunshot wound to the head, according to hospital officials.

Strauss-Kahn Case Raises Issue Of Diplomat Abuse In U.S.

ATLANTA - The case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is an extreme example of alleged sexual assault by an elite member of the international community. But the charges against him also shine a light on how diplomats and international officials have been accused of abusing maids or nannies in the United States, and have largely escaped prosecution.

Cuban Oil Rig Set To Cause Waves In Washington

LA JOLLA, Calif. , May 17 - The arrival of a unique oil rig off communist Cuba is set to cause waves in Washington, raising questions about U.S. drilling permits and the response to any disaster, a conference heard on Tuesday.

Equine Herpes Outbreak Hits Western U.S. States

DENVER - A outbreak of equine herpes in at least six Western U.S. states has forced the cancellation of scores of horse events, just as the prime season for riding shows, sales and rodeos is getting under way.

Mississippi Executes Man For 1994 Murder

OXFORD, Miss - Mississippi executed on Tuesday a man who raped and murdered a 79-year-old woman in 1994, the second of three inmates scheduled to be put to death in the state this month.

Jury To Begin Deliberating In New York Police Rape Case

NEW YORK - A jury is set to begin deliberations on Wednesday in the trial of two New York City police officers accused in the rape of an intoxicated woman.

Yale Punishes Fraternity For Sexist Chanting

GREENFIELD, Massachusetts - Yale University has penalized a fraternity that counts former President George W. Bush among its members after complaints of sexual hostility toward women, including chanting about rape.

Arizona Mom Arrested After Toddlers Wander Streets

PHOENIX - An Arizona mother accused of leaving two young daughters alone in a car while she attended a party was charged with child abuse after the toddlers were found, holding hands, wandering near a busy intersection, police said on Tuesday.

Sixth U.S. Soldier Implicated In Murder Of Afghans

SEATTLE - Military prosecutors on Tuesday charged a sixth U.S. soldier with direct involvement in the murder of unarmed Afghan civilians, implicating a sergeant who was referred earlier for court-martial on lesser offenses.

Bishops Cite '60s Turmoil In Sex Abuse Scandal: Report

WASHINGTON - A study commissioned by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops concludes that neither the all-male celibate priesthood nor homosexuality caused the church's sexual abuse crisis, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Schwarzenegger Fathered Child Outside Marriage

LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO - Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, newly estranged from his wife of 25 years and seeking to resume his Hollywood career, has acknowledged fathering a child more than a decade ago with a member of his household staff.

Louisiana Cities Brace For River Peak As Bayou Floods

LIVONIA, Louisiana - Floodwater released from a key Mississippi River spillway surged through the Louisiana bayou on Tuesday, and levees protecting the state's two biggest cities held as river flows neared their peak.

California Economy "on Mend," Governor Wants Tax Hikes

SACRAMENTO, California - California Governor Jerry Brown on Monday said the state's economy was on the mend but that California still had a nearly $10 billion budget hole to close and insisted tax hikes were needed.

Endeavour Soars Off On Second-to-last Shuttle Flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - U.S. space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on Monday on the next-to-last flight in NASA's shuttle program, carrying a potentially revolutionary physics experiment to the International Space Station.

Mitt Romney: "We're Activating Our Campaign Today"

BOSTON - Republican heavyweight Mitt Romney said on Monday he is kicking off his campaign for the White House in earnest with a day-long fundraising event in Las Vegas likely to bring in several million dollars.

Imam, Son In U.S. Court Over Pakistani Taliban Charges

MIAMI - A 76-year-old Florida imam and his son were ordered on Monday to appear next week in a U.S. federal court where they face charges of providing support for the Pakistani Taliban.

Blagojevich Trial Hears Differing Views On Alleged Favors

CHICAGO - Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did not want to mix fundraising and governing, a former aide said on Monday, but other witnesses said political donations and government favors were linked.

Alaska Bear Hunter Severely Mauled By Grizzly

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska bear hunter who was severely mauled by a grizzly over the weekend has been flown to Seattle in critical condition, authorities said on Monday.

Iowa Senate Passes Measure Aimed At Abortion Doctor

DES MOINES - The Iowa Senate on Monday narrowly approved a measure designed to prevent a doctor who specializes in late-term abortions from opening a planned clinic on the western border of the state.

Coast Guard Says Mississippi River Closed Near Natchez

HOUSTON - The key waterway for grain exports was cut off on Monday when the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River near Natchez, Mississippi.

Soldier Wins New Hearing In Afghan Murder Case

SEATTLE - A military judge has granted a defense request to reopen pretrial evidentiary proceedings for one of the five soldiers in Washington state charged with killing Afghan civilians in cold blood.

Historic Vicksburg, Mississippi Faces Flood Siege

VICKSBURG, Mississippi - The historic Civil War city of Vicksburg, which withstood a 47-day Union army siege

Snow Storm Delays Start Of Tour Of California

LOS ANGELES - An unseasonal snow storm forced the cancellation of the opening stage of the Tour of California Sunday.

Body Of Unidentified Boy Found In Maine, Death Suspicious

DURHAM, Maine - Authorities in Maine on Sunday were trying to identify a small boy, likely between the ages of 4 and 6, whose body was found in a remote wooded area.

Florida Imams Arrested For Aiding Pakistani Taliban

MIAMI - The imam of a Florida mosque and his two sons, one also a Muslim spiritual leader, were arrested Saturday on charges of financing and supporting the Pakistani Taliban, U.S. officials said.

Hyundai, Alabama State To Make Investment Announcement

DETROIT/SEOUL - South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and the state of Alabama will announce on Monday an investment at Hyundai's Alabama plant near Montgomery, the company said on Sunday.

Fire In Chicago Suburb Kills Three Adults, Three Children

CHICAGO - An early morning fire roared through a suburban Chicago apartment building on Sunday, killing six people, three of them children, and injuring 12 other people, authorities said.

Tornado Victims Turn To Faith In Recovery

PLEASANT GROVE, Alabama - Women in spring dresses stood beside men in dirty jeans to sing "Count Your Many Blessings" at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church on Sunday as volunteers took a break from helping families recover from the April 27 tornado that devastated the tiny community.

Many Say College Too Pricey But Grads Say Worth It: Survey

BOSTON - A majority of Americans say college is unaffordable and not worth its skyrocketing price tag, but graduates say the investment pays off, according to a report published on Sunday.

Greenville, Miss. Bracing For River's Flood Crest

GREENVILLE, Mississippi - Matt Eaton has lived his entire life on the Mississippi River, and it's in his blood.

Walls At Vicksburg Strain As Mississippi River Tops Record

VICKSBURG, Mississippi - The temporary walls erected at Vicksburg to hold back floodwaters were under fresh strain on Sunday as Mississippi River water levels set new records.

Louisiana Bayou Towns Brace For Flooding Impact

AMELIA, Louisiana - A day after Army engineers opened a key spillway to relieve flooding along the Mississippi River, residents of small Louisiana towns braced on Sunday for a surge of water that could leave thousands of homes and farms under as much as 20 feet of water.

NY Police Confirm IMF Head Strauss-Kahn In Custody

NEW YORK - IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn was taken into custody on Saturday at JFK International Airport in New York and was being questioned in regard to a sexual assault, New York Police spokesman Paul Browne told Reuters.

Hockey World Searches For Answers In Boogaard Death

TORONTO - The hockey world was digesting the sudden death of New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard with many starting to wonder whether it was possibly linked to a fight-filled National Hockey League career.

Alabama's Self Reliance To The Fore In Storm Cleanup

PLEASANT GROVE, Ala - Dust chokes the air as volunteers sawed apart 200-year-old oaks that fell like toothpicks when storms ripped through the working-class neighborhood of Pleasant Grove, Alabama, last month.

California Governor To Moderate Tax Plan: Report

SAN FRANCISCO - California Governor Jerry Brown will slightly moderate his call for tax hikes in light of an unexpected rise in revenues, the Los Angeles Times said on Saturday as Brown prepared a revised budget plan.

Connecticut Avoids Layoffs By Reaching Union Accord

NEW YORK - Connecticut has avoided having to lay off public workers under a new labor accord that saves $1.6 billion that otherwise would have been spent on wages, healthcare and pension benefits, the governor said on Friday.

Mummified Playboy Playmate Died Of Heart Failure

LOS ANGELES - A former Playboy Playmate whose mummified body was found in her dilapidated Beverly Hills home last month, died of heart failure, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday.

Florida Imams Arrested For Aiding Pakistani Taliban

MIAMI - The imam of a Florida mosque and his two sons, one also a Muslim spiritual leader, were arrested Saturday on charges of financing and supporting the Pakistani Taliban, U.S. officials said.

Old Levee Breaches In Mississippi As Main Levee Holds

VICKSBURG, Mississippi - The Mississippi River at Vicksburg crept to within inches of its 1927 record on Saturday, as residents anxiously watched flood waters invade their historic city.

IMF Chief Expected To Be Charged With Sex Attack

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - IMF chief and possible French presidential contender Dominique Strauss-Kahn was taken into police custody and is expected to be charged on Sunday with an alleged sexual assault of a hotel maid in New York City, police said.

Louisiana Braces As Flood Spillway Opens

MORGANZA, Louisiana - Army engineers on Saturday opened a key spillway to allow the swollen Mississippi River to flood thousands of homes and crops but spare New Orleans and Louisiana's capital Baton Rouge.

F-35 Fighter Faces Range Shortfall: Pentagon Report

WASHINGTON - Air Force's F-35 fighter, due to form the bulk of future tactical air power and to be bought by allies, may be able to fly only 85 percent as far as originally projected, a Pentagon document shows.

Texas County Official Says "stupid" Feds Sparked Fire

SAN ANTONIO - The fight between Texas and Washington, D.C., over wildfires in the Lone Star State just got nastier.

Arizona Man Arrested On Chemical Weapon Charges

TUCSON, Arizona - An Arizona man was arrested on Friday on charges he made chemical weapons and used them to release a cloud of poisonous chlorine gas outside the home of a Tucson couple, authorities said.

Agency To Allow Killing Of Sea Lions At Dam

PORTLAND, Oregon - Washington and Oregon won authorization from a federal agency on Friday to kill sea lions eating endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam, angering animal rights advocates.

Five Die In Apparent Murder-suicide In Idaho: Police

SALMON, Idaho - An Iowa man allegedly shot four people to death in Idaho early on Friday, including his two young sons, before turning the gun on himself, authorities said, describing the incident as a murder-suicide.

Memphis Holds Barbecue Contest "Come Hell Or High Water"

MEMPHIS, Tenn - The motto for the 2011 Memphis In May International World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest was "Come Hell or High Water."

Newt Gingrich Questions Pakistan Aid

MACON, Georgia - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Friday called for more oil drilling in the United States and questioned American aid to Pakistan as he took his young campaign to his home state of Georgia.

Georgia Governor Signs Immigration Crackdown

ATLANTA - Georgia's governor on Friday signed a tough new state law cracking down on illegal immigrants that is similar to one enacted in Arizona last year, handing new powers to police in the southern state.

Connecticut Avoids Layoffs By Reaching Union Accord

NEW YORK - Connecticut has avoided having to lay off public workers under a new labor accord that saves $1.6 billion that otherwise would have been spent on wages, healthcare and pension benefits, the governor said on Friday.

Army Engineers To Open Key Louisiana Spillway

NEW ORLEANS - Authorities will start opening a key spillway by early Saturday evening to relieve the swollen Mississippi River and avoid flooding Louisiana's two largest cities although potentially swamping thousands of homes and acres of crops.

No Proof Of Racism At Site Of 2010 Shooting Rampage: Police

CONWAY, Mass - There is no proof of systemic racism at a Connecticut beer distributor where a gunman shot dead eight people last year because he said African-Americans were treated badly, a police probe concluded.

Blagojevich Aide Details Fund-raising Concerns For Jury

CHICAGO - A one-time aide to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich testified on Thursday he agreed to cooperate with a public corruption probe because he was concerned Blagojevich was trying to swap official actions for campaign cash.

"Respect. Empower. Include. Win" Is Motto At Obama Campaign

CHICAGO - The sign at the entrance to President Barack Obama's new 2012 campaign headquarters says: "Respect. Empower. Include. Win."

New Assessment Of Medicare To Fuel U.S. Budget Debate

WASHINGTON - A financial assessment of two popular U.S. government programs for the elderly on Friday will likely reflect the impact of aging baby boomers and a slow economy, fueling debate over how they can be sustained.

Levees Shored Up Against Record Mississippi Floods

NEW ORLEANS - The government scrambled to shore up the levee system in the Deep South on Thursday to prevent the mighty Mississippi River from overflowing and flooding populated areas.

Bartenders Sue Nightclub Guru For Sexual Harassment

NEW YORK - He has been called one of the "new kings of New York nightlife" by Forbes magazine, with celebrities flocking to his restaurants and clubs.

In Tough Economy, More People Begging Off Jury Duty

CLEARWATER, Florida - The toll of the Great Recession can be counted in lost jobs and foreclosed homes, or by the large number of Floridians who say they cannot afford to serve as jurors for the Casey Anthony murder trial.

Couple Sentenced For Forcing Teenager Into Prostitution

NEW YORK - A couple accused of forcing a teenage mother into prostitution and beating her infant son to death were sentenced Thursday in Brooklyn federal court to a total of more than 35 years in prison.

91-year-old Stands By "exit Kits" Despite Suicide Furor

SAN DIEGO - A 91-year-old California woman selling do-it-yourself asphyxiation kits for $60 apiece says business is booming since a depressed but otherwise healthy young man used her product to kill himself in Oregon.

Taming Floods A Familiar, Contentious Job For Army Corps

CHICAGO - As floodwaters have surged across the central United States over the past month, the names of the towns in danger have changed: Grand Forks, North Dakota; Cairo, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee.

Blagojevich Tapes Played At Length In Court For Jury

CHICAGO - With his approval ratings low and aides telling him things he did not want to hear, then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was angry in late 2008, according to testimony at his corruption trial on Wednesday.

Americans Back Tax Increases In Debt Fix: Reuters Poll

WASHINGTON - More than half of Americans say higher taxes should be part of a fix to tame the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt, a Reuters poll released on Wednesday found, signaling a disconnect with Republicans who reject any tax increases.

Nassau County Doubles Down With Casino And Arena

NEW YORK - New York's Nassau County on Wednesday announced plans to boost its economy with a new ice hockey arena and a racetrack casino, but both would be subject to voter and state approval.

Wisconsin Assembly Passes GOP-backed Voter ID Bill

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin state Assembly passed a Republican-backed bill on Wednesday that will stiffen requirements for voter identification at polling places and was decried by Democrats as targeting their constituents.

Mississippi River Flood Passes Record At Natchez

MEMPHIS/NEW ORLEANS - The swollen Mississippi River set a record high water level at Natchez, Mississippi, on Wednesday -- 10 days before its expected crest in the southern city.

In Arkansas, Dalai Lama Draws Crowds As Big As A Sports Event

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas - For this college town, a visit by the Dalai Lama on Wednesday rivaled one of its famed Razorback sporting events.

New York Union Rejects Governor's Offer

NEW YORK - The rank-and-file members of a New York law enforcement union have overwhelmingly rejected a deal that Governor Andrew Cuomo hoped would serve as a model for negotiations with larger unions to achieve cost savings.

Court Receives Letters From Tucson Shooting Suspect

PHOENIX - A judge said that the court has received two letters written by Tucson mass shooting suspect Jared Loughner, although the contents of the letters will only be made available to his attorneys.

Latest "Barefoot Bandit" Charges Chart Brushes With Law

SEATTLE - An accused serial burglar and thief dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" narrowly escaped capture at least twice during his two years on the run, once telling police chasing him, "You can't catch me," according to newly filed court documents.

Foreclosures Fall In April Amid Paperwork Issues

WASHINGTON - The number of Americans who lost their homes to the bank fell in April as faulty paperwork continued to slow foreclosure activity, which fell to a more than three-year low, a closely watched survey said on Thursday.

Presbyterian Church To Ordain Gays As Ministers

CHICAGO - The Presbyterian Church voted on Tuesday to allow the ordination of gays, becoming the fourth Protestant denomination in the United States to make the move that experts say reflects a larger cultural shift.

Federal Judge Blocks Utah Immigration Law

SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a controversial Utah immigration law that required police to check the immigration status of those they detain for serious crimes.

"Jetman" Says He Made Grand Canyon Flight After All

PHOENIX - Few people say they witnessed it for themselves, but a Swiss daredevil dubbed "Jetman" said on Tuesday he made a successful weekend flight over the Grand Canyon in a custom-made, winged jet pack.

Mississippi Executes Man For Murder Of Four People

BILOXI, Miss - Mississippi corrections officials on Tuesday executed a man convicted in the 1998 slayings of four people, the first inmate in the state to be put to death using a new drug as part of the lethal injection.

Appeals Court Questions Obama Healthcare Lawsuit

RICHMOND, Virginia - An appeals court on Tuesday sharply questioned whether the state of Virginia could challenge President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, which requires Americans to buy insurance in a bid to slow healthcare costs.

Blagojevich Talks On Tape About Trading Senate Seat

CHICAGO - Facing an Illinois legislature hostile to his proposals, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich saw great opportunities in his power to make an appointment to the Senate, according to testimony in his corruption trial on Tuesday.

Yemeni Man Yelled "God Is Greatest" On Flight: Prosecutor

SAN FRANCISCO - A Yemeni man yelled "God is greatest" in Arabic as he tried to barge into the cockpit of an American Airlines flight over the weekend, a federal prosecutor told a judge in the case on Tuesday.

Obama Stresses Immigration Benefits At Mexico Border

EL PASO, Texas - President Barack Obama issued an impassioned call for immigration reform in a speech at the U.S.-Mexican border on Tuesday, sending a message to Hispanics whose votes he needs to win re-election next year.

Michigan Town's Woes A Sign Of Tough Choices To Come

BENTON HARBOR, Michigan - Either way you look at it, this Michigan city is on the front line -- either it is a harbinger of battles to come over budget cuts across America or a new chapter in the struggle for civil rights.

Mississippi River Crests Near Record At Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Mississippi River was cresting at Memphis on Tuesday just inches below the all-time record as the swollen wall of water moved south toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Navy Chaplains Cleared To Perform Gay Marriages

WASHINGTON - The Navy has authorized its chaplains to perform same-sex marriages on military bases once the ban on gays in the military is lifted, but some members of Congress argue the authorization violates another federal law.

New Lawsuit Accuses Philadelphia Church Of Sexual Abuse

PHILADELPHIA - Attorneys on Monday filed a civil lawsuit against the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, already rocked by a pedophilia scandal, saying it tried to cover up sex crimes by a priest that caused his victim to attempt suicide.

Safeway Recalls Platters Over Salmonella Scare

NEW YORK - Grocery operator Safeway expanded its recall on foods containing grape tomatoes due to possible salmonella contamination.

Man Charged For Allegedly Trying To Open Plane Door

ST. LOUIS - An Illinois man who allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door of a plane in mid-flight was charged by federal prosecutors on Monday with interfering with a flight crew and crimes involving aircraft, authorities said on Monday.

Blagojevich Defense Attorney Admonished By Judge

CHICAGO - The defense attorney for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was criticized by a federal judge on Monday for "non-factual descriptions" and arguments deemed inadmissible in questioning witnesses.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wife Maria Shriver Separate

LOS ANGELES - Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced on Monday that they were separating.

Medical Firm Closes Amid Probe By Colorado Regulators

DENVER - A medical imaging company has shuttered its doors in Colorado after regulators ordered it to stop performing X-rays and other scans without doctors' referrals and supervising physicians, a state official said.

Obama To Push Immigration Overhaul In Texas

SAN ANTONIO - President Barack Obama is to deliver a speech on comprehensive immigration reform on Tuesday in Texas, where he faces opposition from Republicans and skepticism from Hispanics disappointed with his failure to deliver on the issue thus far.

Mississippi Cresting In Memphis As Key Spillway Opened

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Mississippi River was beginning to crest on Monday at a near-record level in Memphis while downstream the federal government opened a spillway to relieve flooding pressure on low-lying New Orleans.

Obama Administration Fights To Save Healthcare Law

RICHMOND, Virginia - Lawyers for President Barack Obama go to court on Tuesday to try to save the cornerstone of his healthcare overhaul, arguing that the requirement for Americans to buy insurance is constitutional.

New Jersey Train Hits Abutment, Roughly 40 Injured

NEW YORK - A crowded commuter train crashed into an abutment as it was pulling into a New Jersey train station on Sunday, injuring about 40 people.

Majority Agree With Obama Decision On Bin Laden Photos: Poll

CHICAGO - Nearly two-thirds of Americans agree with President Barack Obama's decision not to release graphic photos of the dead al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, according to an NBC poll to be released on Monday.

U.S. Gas Prices Hit $4 A Gallon, But May Retreat

NEW YORK - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose 11.98 cents in the past two weeks, but last week's fall in crude oil prices may signal lower costs to come, an industry analyst said on Sunday.

San Diego-bound Jet Diverted After Report Of Security Threat

CHICAGO - A San Diego-bound flight was diverted to Albuquerque on Sunday after the FBI received a report of "a potential security threat," but no suspicious devices were found on the plane, authorities said.

Passenger Tries To Open Door Mid-air On Continental Flight

CHICAGO - Passengers and crew on board a Chicago-bound flight on Sunday had to subdue a man who tried to open an emergency exit door mid-air, forcing the plane to make an unscheduled landing in St. Louis, authorities said.

Canadian Woman Found In Nevada Wilds Says She Knew End Was Near

VANCOUVER - A Canadian woman who survived seven weeks stranded in the Nevada wilderness had a premonition her ordeal was ending but did not know if she was about to die or be rescued, her family said on Sunday.

Sen. Schumer Proposes "no-ride List" For Amtrak Trains

NEW YORK - A senator on Sunday called for a "no-ride list" for Amtrak trains after intelligence gleaned from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound pointed to potential attacks on the nation's train system.

In Massachusetts, Long Waits For Doctor Visits Common

BOSTON - Almost everyone in Massachusetts has health insurance under a state mandate, but many doctors do not accept the subsidized insurance programs available to low-income residents, a new study shows.

Congress To See More Theatrics Over High Oil

WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers will clash this week over strategies for combating high gasoline prices and repealing tax incentives enjoyed by Big Oil companies, but there is little chance of a breakthrough for drivers.

Memphis-area Residents Await Mississippi Flooding

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Emergency officials on Sunday had issued evacuation notices to more than 1,300 Memphis area homes, warning they were at risk of dangerous flooding as the region braces for the highest Mississippi River crest since 1937.

New Hampshire Standoff Ends With Man Shot Dead

GREENFIELD, Mass - A 36-hour standoff between police and a gun-wielding man barricaded in an apartment ended on Saturday with the man shot dead by police and his 7-year-old daughter removed unharmed.

Mexican Charged In Murder Of U.S. Border Patrol Agent

WASHINGTON - A Mexican man who crossed into the United States illegally has been indicted for second-degree murder in the shooting death of a U.S. border patrol agent last December, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.

Recovering Congresswoman Giffords Dines Out In Houston

HOUSTON - Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her astronaut husband, Capt. Mark Kelly, dined out with friends at a Houston restaurant recently, another step in her gradual recovery from gunshot wounds, a spokesman confirmed on Friday.

Obama Pays Tribute To Unit In Bin Laden Raid

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky - President Barack Obama, basking in U.S. public approval for the killing of Osama bin Laden, flew to a military base in Kentucky on Friday to thank special forces who carried out the deadly raid and led a rally filled with cheering troops.

Canadian Woman Survives 7 Weeks Lost In Remote Area Of Nevada

LOS ANGELES - A 56 year-old Canadian woman stranded in a van for seven weeks on a remote dirt road in northern Nevada survived on snow and some trail mix until hunters discovered her, authorities said on Saturday.

Rocket Blasts Off With Missile-warning Satellite

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - An unmanned Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Saturday to put the first satellite of the Defense Department's new missile-warning system into orbit.

Muslim Scholars Pulled From Delta Plane In Memphis

BOSTON - Two Muslim scholars headed to a conference on American fears of Islam were pulled from a morning flight on Friday, and were later told that the pilot had refused to fly with them aboard.

Napolitano Says U.S. Must Be Vigilant After Bin Laden

ATLANTA - Al Qaeda and its allies will keep targeting the West despite the killing of Osama bin Laden and the United States must remain "ever vigilant," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Saturday.

In Tornado-ravaged Bible Belt, Churches Mobilize To Help

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The call for help came the morning after a killer tornado pulverized a section of Birmingham 10 days ago. Gordon Smelley and his "chainsaw gang" of 11 from the First Baptist Church in Clanton, Alabama started their trailer and headed out.

River Flooding Begins To "wrap Arms" Around Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Memphis area residents were warned on Saturday that the Mississippi River was gradually starting to "wrap its arms" around the city and rise to record levels as flooding moves south.

Detroit Police Hunt Gang Of "Mad Hatter" Thieves

DETROIT - Police in Detroit are looking for a gang of middle-aged to elderly women, dubbed the "Mad Hatters," who are believed to be responsible for a string of robberies, purse snatching and fraud.

American Airlines Flight Diverted To Vegas Over Smoke

LOS ANGELES - An American Airlines flight bound for San Francisco with 166 people on board made an emergency landing in Las Vegas on Friday after the crew smelled smoke in the cockpit, a Federal Aviation spokesman said.

Ex-Mets Star Lenny Dykstra Indicted By Grand Jury

LOS ANGELES - Onetime World Series hero Lenny Dykstra was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday, accused of stealing or destroying some $400,000 in property that was part of his bankruptcy case.

Flooding Mississippi River Poses Dire Threats

MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The swollen Mississippi River swallowed up farmland and threatened river towns on Friday, as record amounts of water tested a network of levees and reservoirs built since deadly floods in the last century.

Suspect Indicted In Colorado Mall Bombing Attempt

DENVER - A convicted bank robber pleaded not guilty on Friday to arson and explosives charges stemming from a botched attempt to bomb a shopping mall near Columbine High School on the 12th anniversary of the school massacre.

Father Of Captured U.S. Soldier Asks For Son's Freedom

SALMON, Idaho - The father of a U.S. soldier who was captured in Afghanistan two years ago on Friday posted an online appeal asking the government of Pakistan and its armed forces to help free his son.

Lawsuit Accuses "Three Cups Of Tea" Author Of Fraud

HELENA, Montana - Greg Mortenson, author of the bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," was sued for fraud on Friday in a class-action case accusing him of fabricating much of his story to promote the book and his Montana-based charity.

Mexican Charged In Murder Of U.S. Border Patrol Agent

WASHINGTON - A Mexican man who crossed into the United States illegally has been indicted for second-degree murder in the shooting death of a U.S. border patrol agent last December, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.

Recovering Congresswoman Giffords Dines Out In Houston

HOUSTON - Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her astronaut husband, Capt. Mark Kelly, dined out with friends at a Houston restaurant recently, another step in her gradual recovery from gunshot wounds, a spokesman confirmed on Friday.

Obama Pays Tribute To Unit In Bin Laden Raid

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky - President Barack Obama, basking in U.S. public approval for the killing of Osama bin Laden, flew to a military base in Kentucky on Friday to thank special forces who carried out the deadly raid and led a rally filled with cheering troops.

Vermont's Lake Champlain To Crest At Highest Since 1869

BOSTON - Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin declared a state of emergency on Thursday, as Lake Champlain was forecast to crest at record levels by the weekend, officials said.

Judge Won't Keep Loughner Records Confidential

PHOENIX - A judge has denied a bid by defense lawyers to keep confidential information about Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner's behavior while in federal custody.

Deal Struck In Deadly Massachusetts Bullying Case

HADLEY, Mass., May 5 - Prosecutors and defense lawyers struck a deal on Thursday that resolves charges against all six Massachusetts teens accused in the case of Phoebe Prince, who hanged herself at age 15 after she was bullied relentlessly for months at her high school.

With Donated Dresses, Prom Will Go On For Tornado Victims

PRATT CITY, Ala - Tytiana Robinson squealed on Thursday as she spotted the perfect size three silver gown for her high school prom.

Alaska Says Cases Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Rise

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska has the nation's highest rate of chlamydia and second-highest rate of gonorrhea as the sexually transmitted diseases spread in rural areas, according to the Alaska Division of Public Health.

U.S. Halts F-22 Flights Over Oxygen System Concerns

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force has stopped flying Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor fighter jets indefinitely due to concerns about faults in the system that supplies oxygen to pilots, the military said on Thursday.

Brisk Sales Of Permits For Planned Idaho Wolf Hunts

SALMON, Idaho - Permits for planned wolf hunts sold briskly in Idaho on Thursday, as most wolves in the Northern Rockies were officially removed from the endangered species list and conservationists sued over the unprecedented removal of protection by Congress.

Names At September 11 Memorial Grouped As Family, Work Buddies

NEW YORK - Names of all 2,982 people who died in the September 11 attacks will be grouped as friends, work buddies and families on bronze panels at a national memorial opening in New York, organizers announced.

Mississippi Floods Force Evacuations Near Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn - The rising Mississippi river lapped over downtown Memphis streets on Thursday as a massive wall of water threatened to unleash near record flooding all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Al Qaeda Plotted 9/11 Anniversary Rail Attack: U.S.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda considered attacking the U.S. rail sector on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, U.S. government officials said on Thursday in describing intelligence from Osama bin Laden's hide-out in Pakistan.

GM Recalls 2011 Cruze Cars To Inspect Steering Shaft

DETROIT - General Motors Co is recalling 154,112 of its top-selling Chevrolet Cruze compact cars to check that the steering shaft was properly installed, the automaker said on Wednesday.

Missouri Republicans Force Through Redistricting Plan

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The Republican-dominated Missouri legislature forced through a redistricting plan on Wednesday that Democrats complained hurts their election chances, overriding a veto by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon.

Texas Senate Passes State Budget That Cuts Spending

AUSTIN, Tex - The Texas Senate on Wednesday passed a budget that makes cuts to education and health care, but not as deep as the cuts in the budget that the Texas House has already approved.

Fewer Missing, Without Power A Week After Tuscaloosa Storms

TUSCALOOSA, Ala - The list of missing people in storm-ravaged Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has been reduced to 75 and the number of dead from the storms remains steady at 40, Mayor Walt Maddox said on Wednesday.

Colombian FARC Narco-terrorists Convicted In Seattle

SEATTLE - A federal jury convicted three Colombian men of drug trafficking and money laundering as affiliates of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, or FARC, a paramilitary group that controls South American cocaine trade.

Florida Mosque Bombing Suspect Shot Dead In Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY - Officers on Wednesday shot dead a man wanted in connection with the bombing last year of a mosque in Florida, the FBI said.

Blagojevich Irked Obama Didn't Offer Plum Post For Seat

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich erupted in profanity when he learned in 2008 that President Barack Obama was not willing to offer a plum job such as a cabinet post in return for an appointment to Obama's Senate seat, according to trial testimony on Wednesday.

Oregon Train Crash Causes Fire, Evacuations

PORTLAND, Ore - A train derailed and smashed into a parked train carrying ethanol outside Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, sparking an intense fire that forced homes and businesses to evacuate.

U.S. To Blow Third Hole In Levee As Floods Worsen

CHICAGO - Government engineers will blow up a third section of a Mississippi River levee on Thursday to manage flooding, as a wall of water roared down the nation's largest river system, threatening towns and cities all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Bin Laden, Geronimo Link Angers Native Americans

NEW YORK - The reported use of "Geronimo" as a codeword in the operation that led to Osama bin Laden's killing has angered some native Americans and threatens to become an embarrassment for the Obama administration.

Honda Adds 833,000 Vehicles To Airbag Recall

DETROIT - Honda Motor Co Ltd expanded an earlier recall of Honda and Acura vehicles over airbags that could deploy with too much pressure, causing injuries or fatalities, the company said.

Wyoming Couple Says Company Spied On Customers

SALMON, Idaho - A Wyoming couple says in a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday that a computer they leased from a national rent-to-own firm allowed the company to secretly spy on them.

Officials Face Big Visa Overstay Record Backlog

WASHINGTON - U.S. authorities are facing a huge backlog of records involving people who have stayed in the United States after their visas expired, according to a report released on Tuesday, revealing that a security gap has not been fixed since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Texas Executes First Inmate Using Drug Used On Animals

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas on Tuesday carried out its first execution using a sedative often used to euthanize animals.

Rod Blagojevich Aide Testifies About Ex-governor's Greed

CHICAGO - Rod Blagojevich's onetime top aide testified on Tuesday that he was asked by the disgraced former Illinois governor how much Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat might be worth.

L.A. Chabad House Suspect Indicted On Federal Charges

LOS ANGELES - A homeless man accused of using an improvised projectile to damage a Los Angeles-area Jewish community center was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, prosecutors said.

Retailer Safeway Recalls Certain Foodstuffs

- U.S. grocery operator Safeway Inc said it expanded its recall on edibles containing grape tomatoes in several states, due to possible salmonella contamination.

Federal Agents Widen Chipotle Immigration Probe

LOS ANGELES - U.S. immigration agents descended on Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants on Tuesday, interviewing employees in about two dozen outlets in Los Angeles, Atlanta and other cities.

After Deadly Twisters, Towns Cope With Multiple Funerals

COTTONDALE, Ala - Mourners gathered at a church on Tuesday to say goodbye to a victim of last week's storms, another sad scene being repeated hundreds of times across the Southern states ravaged by deadly twisters.

Levee Detonation Lowers River, Triggers New Lawsuit

CHARLESTON, Missouri - The effort to protect river towns in Illinois and Kentucky from rising floodwaters by blowing open a levee and inundating more than 100,000 acres of Missouri farmland appeared to be slowly working on Tuesday.

Law Firm Hit From Both Sides Over Gay Marriage Law

NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters Legal) - King & Spalding first took heat from liberals for its work on the gay marriage issue. Now the law firm is losing some of its conservative clients.

Bin Laden's Death Cheered In Heart Of Arab America

DEARBORN, Mich - At the lunch counters in Dearborn, Michigan on Monday the talk was all about the death of Osama bin Laden.

Oklahoma Rebukes Lawmaker Who Suggested Blacks, Women Lazy

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma state House on Monday voted overwhelmingly to reprimand one of its own members for suggesting that African-Americans and women are lazy during a debate on the House floor last Wednesday.

With Bin Laden Dead, Washington State Man Finally Shaves

SEATTLE - A Washington state man who vowed after the September 11 attacks not to shave until Osama bin Laden was captured or killed, finally cut off his beard when he heard the news the al Qaeda leader was dead.

Two Brothers Accuse Fox Of Libel In Al Qaeda Report

NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters Legal) - Two brothers are suing the Fox television network for libel after the network allegedly linked them to a third brother accused by authorities of working for al Qaeda.

Cool, Wet Spring Takes Sizzle Out Of Meat Sales

CHICAGO - The barbecue grill at Keith and Mary Jane Kasper's house in suburban Chicago has been prepped and ready to go for more than a week, but it sits idle as unseasonably cold, damp weather has them cooking indoors.

Pennsylvania Crash Site Visitors Hail Bin Laden Death

SHANKSVILLE, Pa - Visitors to a muddy hillside overlooking where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed nearly ten years ago, solemnly hailed on Monday the military's "relentless pursuit of justice" in killing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

U.S. Blows Up Flood Levee On Mississippi River

BIRDS POINT, Mo - Flames shot up and a loud boom was heard on Monday as the U.S. government blew a hole in a Mississippi River flood levee in a bid to save several towns in Illinois and Kentucky from being inundated.

Most Agree With U.S. Killing Of Bin Laden: Poll

WASHINGTON - The United States made the right decision to kill al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, according to an online poll on www.reuters.com on Monday that also gives President Barack Obama a boost.

Mix Of Joy, Relief And Anger At Bin Laden Death

NEW YORK - - Survivors of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda attacks and relatives of victims welcomed his killing as the death of the devil on Monday but they also expressed anger and renewed grief for loved ones.

NASA Delays Shuttle Launch At Least Until May 8

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - NASA Sunday delayed the launch of space shuttle Endeavour to no earlier than May 8 as work continues to resolve an electronics problem that scuttled Friday's launch attempt, officials said.

Tornado-hit Alabama Town Copes With Destruction, Loss

ATLANTA - In the small Alabama town of Phil Campbell, where a tornado killed 20 people and wiped out 40 percent of the homes, church services went on Sunday amid the destruction and loss.

Ted Nugent Tells NRA Crowd To Turn Up "the Heat" On Guns

PITTSBURGH - The National Rifle Association wrapped up its annual meeting on Sunday with an appearance by rocker Ted Nugent, who urged the pro-gun rights crowd to "talk about guns all the time."

Waters Still Rising Around Evacuated Illinois Town

ST. LOUIS - Missouri's attorney general asked the Supreme Court on Sunday to intervene and block a proposed federal plan to protect the southern Illinois town of Cairo by blowing up a levee on the Mississippi River.

Teen Joblessness May Hit Record In Summer 2011

CHICAGO - A record-low one in four U.S. teenagers will land a summer job in the coming months as a result of a still-poor job market and lost federal funding, according to a report issued on Monday.

Shifting Weather Aids Battle Against Texas Wildfires

LUBBOCK, Texas - Firefighters worked under a thick haze of ash on Sunday to starve a still-burning West Texas blaze that has destroyed more than 40 homes.

May Day Rallies Call For Reform, Voice Frustration

NEW YORK/CHICAGO - Demonstrators rallied at May Day events across the nation on Sunday, calling for reform on a host of issues and voicing frustration with President Barack Obama.

Top Officials Survey Storm-ravaged South

PRATT CITY, Alabama - Federal officials vowed urgent support on Sunday for a region devastated by the deadliest U.S. natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina, even as they acknowledged recovery would not be quick or easy.

U.S. Issues Travel Alert After Osama Bin Laden Killing

WASHINGTON - The State Department on Sunday warned Americans worldwide of "enhanced potential for anti-American violence" following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Mayor Bloomberg Hopes Bin Laden Death Comforts Victims

NEW YORK - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Sunday that he hoped the dramatic killing of Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks that brought down the city's Twin Towers, would comfort those who lost loved ones that day.