Pennsylvania Governor Signs On-time Budget

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett enacted a $27.15 billion state budget late on Thursday, which reduces spending more than $1 billion from the current fiscal year and includes severe cuts to higher and basic education.

Rhode Island Governor Relents In Clash Over Death Penalty

NEW YORK - Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, who had refused to turn over to federal authorities a prisoner facing the death penalty, said on Thursday he would comply with a court order compelling him to do so.

Family Of U.S. Soldier Held By Taliban Marks Two Years

SALMON, Idaho - The parents of a U.S. soldier being held by the Taliban marked their son's two years in captivity on Thursday by saying they intended to bring him home "with honor."

Daunting Task: New Bulger Lawyers Know Tough Cases

BOSTON - Criminal defense attorney J. W. Carney Jr, named on Thursday to defend former mob kingpin and alleged murderer James "Whitey" Bulger, is no stranger to difficult or controversial cases.

Montana Judge Blocks New Curbs On Medical Marijuana

HELENA, Montana - A judge has blocked parts of a Montana law that would have imposed tough new restrictions on state-sanctioned medical marijuana suppliers starting on Friday.

Minnesota Government Shutdown Begins After Talks Fail

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's state government began a broad shut down on Friday going into the July 4 holiday after Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach a budget deal.

Officer Saw No Guns With Victims At Katrina Shooting

NEW ORLEANS - Officer Ignatius Hills said he jumped out of the rental truck after the shooting stopped and scanned the blood-covered bodies on the ground - civilians who had allegedly shot at the police moments earlier - and wondered aloud where their guns were.

Alleged Serial Killer Grabbed Woman's Throat, Dragged Her

CLEVELAND - A woman who said she survived an attack by alleged serial killer Anthony Sowell testified on Thursday that he wished her a "Merry Christmas" and then grabbed her by the throat and dragged her up the driveway to his house.

Casey Anthony Will Not Testify In Murder Trial

ORLANDO, Fla - Accused child killer Casey Anthony told a judge on Thursday that she would not testify at her murder trial, and the defense team rested its case after two weeks of trying to refute the prosecution.

Fire Menacing Los Alamos Lab Nears Record Size

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Firefighters inside a nuclear weapons complex in New Mexico scrambled on Thursday to clear brush near barrels of plutonium-contaminated waste stored just a few miles from a monster blaze roaring through surrounding forests.

Casey Anthony's Father Bought Gun, Considered Suicide

ORLANDO, Fla - The father of accused child killer Casey Anthony sobbed on the witness stand on Wednesday as he testified that he bought a gun in 2008 and planned to force his daughter's friends to tell him what happened to his missing granddaughter.

Rhode Island Senate Approves Same-sex Civil Unions

PROVIDENCE - Rhode Island's Senate approved same-sex civil unions on Wednesday, passing a controversial bill not amended from the House version and sent on to the governor who is expected to sign the law.

Judge Rules Prison Can Forcibly Medicate Loughner

SAN DIEGO - A federal judge on Wednesday refused to order prison officials to stop forcibly medicating Tucson shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner with psychotropic drugs, saying he would defer to the judgment of doctors.

California Man Pleads Guilty To Creating Fake Army Unit

LOS ANGELES - A California man who conned Chinese immigrants into joining his fake U.S. Army unit was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to counterfeiting and other charges.

Business Lobby Helps Scuttle Immigration Curbs In Texas

AUSTIN, Texas - Powerful business interests helped to scuttle proposed immigration restrictions in Texas on Wednesday, further evidence that Republicans in some states are facing resistance among their own supporters to an immigration clampdown.

Katrina Shooting Survivor Says He Was Lying Down When Shot

NEW ORLEANS - A survivor of a bloody shooting just days after Hurricane Katrina testified on Wednesday in the trial of five police officers accused of killing two unarmed civilians that he was lying on the ground when he was shot.

Attorney, Prosecutors Wrangle In Bulger Case

BOSTON - Former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger's provisional attorney asked the court on Wednesday to consolidate charges against his client, which include 19 murder accusations, from two indictments into one.

Minnesota Lawmakers Talk As Government Shutdown Looms

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach a budget agreement on Wednesday but said they would continue to negotiate, one day before a possible state government shutdown.

Washington State Inmate Killed In Escape Attempt

SEATTLE - A convicted murderer was shot and killed at a Washington state prison on Wednesday as he tried to escape in a forklift, authorities said.

Firefighters Make Small Headway On Los Alamos Blaze

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico - A New Mexico wildfire raged largely unchecked for a fourth day near one of the nation's top nuclear arms production plants on Wednesday, but firefighters finally gained some ground in corralling the flames.

Transit Agency Settles Oakland Shooting Case For $1.3 Million

SAN FRANCISCO - The mother of a black man shot to death by a transit police officer on an Oakland train platform in 2009 agreed on Tuesday to settle her federal lawsuit against the transit agency, officials said.

Texas Lawmakers Approve Bill That Cuts School Funding

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House and Senate on Tuesday evening sent Governor Rick Perry a bill that cuts $4 billion from public schools over two years.

Florida Voters Replace Recalled Miami-Dade Mayor

MIAMI - Voters in Miami-Dade, one of the most populous U.S. counties, picked former county commissioner Carlos Gimenez on Tuesday to succeed a mayor ousted in a recall vote triggered by outrage over a property tax hike.

Some In Harrisburg Chafe Under Pa. Senate Threat

HARRISBURG - Residents of Pennsylvania's capital packed a public hearing on Tuesday, saying bankruptcy should remain an option for the debt-laden city and any plan should require greater sacrifice from the surrounding county and from bond holders.

Judge Blocks Testimony From Casey Anthony Fiancé

ORLANDO, Fla - The former fiancé of accused child killer Casey Anthony testified on Tuesday that she claimed she once woke up to find her older brother standing over her, staring at her while she slept.

Los Alamos Scurries To Protect Nuclear Lab From Fire

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico - New Mexico fire managers scrambled on Tuesday to reinforce ground crews battling for a third day against a fierce blaze roaring out of control at the edge of one of the nation's top nuclear weapons production centers.

Death Sentence For Killer Of 3 Pittsburgh Police Officers

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to death on Tuesday for killing three Pittsburgh police officers who responded to a domestic dispute at his mother's house in 2009.

U.S. Attorney To Focus On "most Serious" Bulger Charges

BOSTON - Former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger appeared in federal court in Boston on Tuesday after the Justice Department sought to drop racketeering charges from a 1994 indictment to focus on the most serious accusations, including murder.

Judge Orders Hearing On Forced Medication For Loughner

PHOENIX - A federal judge has ordered a hearing on Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner's petition to stop prison officials from forcibly medicating him with anti-pyschotic drugs.

More Flooding Woes Along The Missouri, Souris Rivers

OMAHA, Neb - Missouri River floodwaters lapped at a nuclear power plant north of Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday and have cracked more defenses downstream after weeks of sustained pressure on levees running hundreds of miles.

Truck Driver In Amtrak Crash Had 5 Traffic Citations

LAS VEGAS - The truck driver who plowed into an Amtrak train in Nevada, killing himself and at least five others last Friday, had received five traffic citations while driving commercial vehicles during the past three years.

California Congresswoman Woolsey Says To Retire In 2012

PETALUMA, California - U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey said on Monday she will retire after two decades in office, the first of California's congressional delegation calling it quits since a plan was drafted to radically redraw the state's electoral districts.

Battle Between Gay Groups And Arkansas Newspaper Heats Up

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - A battle between gay rights groups and an Arkansas newspaper over an obituary is picking up steam after a near-truce fell apart.

Texas Lawmakers Pass Airport "anti-groping" Bill

AUSTIN, Texas - Legislation to make enhanced airport security pat-downs a crime if they involve touching a passenger's "private" areas was approved by the Texas House and Senate on Monday.

Gay Marriage Foes Appeal Ruling On Gay U.S. Judge

SAN FRANCISCO - Supporters of California's gay marriage ban are appealing a ruling that a U.S. judge's own gay relationship was no basis for tossing out his decision in support of same-sex marriage.

Prosecutors, Defense Face Off In Katrina Police Brutality Case

NEW ORLEANS - Tears streamed down Susan Bartholomew's cheeks as she recalled feeling the bullets blowing off her right arm, and listening to her suffering daughter and husband beside her.

Judge Rules Casey Anthony Competent To Stand Trial

ORLANDO, Fla - Week six of the Casey Anthony murder trial opened with talk of a psychic, a Velveeta cheese wrapper and the revelation an emergency mental evaluation of the young Florida mother was behind the abrupt cancellation of Saturday's court session.

Trial Opens For Accused Cleveland Serial Killer

CLEVELAND - Prosecutors named each of the 11 women Anthony Sowell is alleged to have murdered and where their decomposing bodies were found buried in or around his house in opening statements for his trial on Monday.

Loughner's Lawyers Seek To Halt Forced Medication

PHOENIX - Attorneys for Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner have petitioned a federal court to order prison officials to stop forcibly medicating him with anti-psychotic drugs.

Blagojevich Jurors: Tapes Made Case Against Ex-governor

CHICAGO - The jurors who found Rod Blagojevich guilty of federal corruption charges on Monday said they deliberated methodically and began with the presumption that he was innocent.

Casey Anthony Trial Delayed By Unexplained "legal Issue"

ORLANDO, Florida - The Saturday session of Casey Anthony's first-degree murder trial was scuttled by an unspecified "legal issue" announced by Judge Belvin Perry.

Two Bombs Found At Denver Area Shopping Mall, FBI Says

DENVER - Two bombs were found inside a Borders Bookstore in a suburban Denver shopping mall overnight, the FBI said on Saturday.

Kansas Town Rises Green From Tornado Rubble

GREENSBURG, Kansas - When community leaders in tornado-ravaged places such as Joplin, Mo., consider the future, they look to Greensburg, Kansas.

Truck Firm In Amtrak Crash Cited For Prior Violations

WASHINGTON - The trucking company whose driver barreled into an Amtrak train in Nevada killing at least six people last Friday has multiple prior safety citations, authorities said late on Sunday.

U.S. Gas Prices Dip Slightly To Near $3.63/gallon

NEW YORK - U.S. average retail gasoline prices fell over the past two weeks and could ease a bit more in coming weeks due in part to the release of crude oil from the U.S. strategic energy reserve, according to the latest nationwide Lundberg survey.

Police Recapture Murder Suspect Who Stole Deputy's Car

CHICAGO - An accused murderer who overpowered guards and escaped from an Oklahoma jail in a stolen police car was back behind bars late on Sunday, authorities said.

Rare Billy The Kid Photograph Sold For $2.3 Million

DENVER - The only authenticated photograph of infamous Wild West gunslinger Billy the Kid was auctioned off to Florida billionaire William Koch for an $2.3 million on Saturday night.

Wildfire Triggers Evacuation For Los Alamos Laboratory

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Voluntary evacuations have been issued for Los Alamos, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is threatened by a fast-moving wildfire that broke out in northern New Mexico on Sunday, authorities said.

Regulator Signs Off On Threatened Nuclear Plant

BROWNVILLE, Neb - A top regulator said on Sunday that a nuclear power plant threatened by flooding from the swollen Missouri River was operating safely and according to standards.

"Boil Order" Issued After Minot Water Supply Breach

MINOT, North Dakota - As record floodwaters began to ebb on Sunday, the swollen Souris River infiltrated the city of Minot's drinking water supply forcing officials to turn their attention disease prevention.

Brady Bunch Mom Got Crabs In Affair With NY Mayor

LOS ANGELES - This would have made an interesting episode of "The Brady Bunch."

Wal-Mart Plaintiffs Seek More Time To Pursue Cases

CHICAGO - Attorneys representing women who unsuccessfully sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc for gender discrimination filed a motion on Friday asking a U.S. District Court to freeze the statute of limitations for their complaints against the retailer.

New York's Same-sex Marriage Law Sets Off Waves Of Engagements

NEW YORK - Waves of gay couples rushed on Saturday to make wedding plans that had been dreams for decades, as euphoria over New York's legalization of same-sex marriage promised to turn a traditional pride parade into an enormous roving engagement party.

Casey Anthony Trial Delayed By Unexplained "legal Issue"

ORLANDO, Florida - The Saturday session of Casey Anthony's first-degree murder trial was scuttled by an unspecified "legal issue" announced by Judge Belvin Perry.

Levee Breach In Iowa Along Missouri River Prompts Evacuations

OMAHA, Nebraska - A levee breach on Saturday near Missouri Valley, Iowa flooded farmland and threatened to impact U.S. Highway 30, which connects Iowa and Nebraska over the Missouri River, officials said.

Two Bombs Found At Denver Area Shopping Mall, FBI Says

DENVER - Two bombs were found inside a Borders Bookstore in a suburban Denver shopping mall overnight, the FBI said on Saturday.

Death Toll Expected To Rise In Amtrak Collision

LOS ANGELES - Federal transportation safety investigators on Saturday were investigating the Nevada crash between a tractor-trailer rig and an Amtrak train, where authorities believe more bodies may be found in the wreckage.

Kansas Town Rises Green From Tornado Rubble

GREENSBURG, Kansas - When community leaders in tornado-ravaged places such as Joplin, Mo., consider the future, they look to Greensburg, Kansas.

Minot Residents Riding Out Flood's Hardships

MINOT, North Dakota - The world seemed to disappear before the eyes of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Theron Griffin, who stood guard on Saturday as the swelling brown waters of the Souris River consumed this North Dakota city.

Flooding Submerges Parts Of North Dakota City

MINOT, North Dakota - The swollen Souris River whose waters deluged North Dakota's fourth-largest city of Minot, was expected to crest early on Sunday, with storms threatening to complicate efforts to contain the biggest flood in area history.

Joe Miller Told To Reimburse Alaska For Election Challenge

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Failed Senate candidate Joe Miller must reimburse Alaska more than $17,000 in legal fees and costs incurred during his fight to overturn Lisa Murkowski's write-in victory, a state judge ruled on Friday.

Two Killed, Dozens Hurt In Amtrak Collision

LOS ANGELES - At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday when a tractor-trailer rig crashed through closed rail crossing gates and collided with an Amtrak train on a rural Nevada highway, authorities said.

Casey Anthony Murder Trial Nearing An End

ORLANDO, Fla - The end is in sight for the weeks-long first-degree murder trial of Casey Anthony, the young hard-partying Florida mother who garnered national attention in 2008 when she falsely claimed her 2-year-old daughter Caylee had been kidnapped by a nanny.

Flood Swamps Low-lying Areas Of Minot, North Dakota

MINOT, North Dakota - Floodwaters swamped lower-lying areas of Minot, North Dakota, on Friday and eclipsed a 130-year-old flooding record as federal officials sharply increased water releases to the swollen Souris River.

Judge Stops Indiana From Ending Planned Parenthood Funding

INDIANAPOLIS - A judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction preventing the state of Indiana from enforcing a law that eliminated funding to Planned Parenthood because it performs abortions.

Nuclear Agency Head To Visit Flooded Nebraska Reactors

FORT CALHOUN, Neb - The chair of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission will arrive in Nebraska Sunday to monitor preparations against Missouri River flooding at two Nebraska nuclear power plants, officials said Friday.

Judge Blocks Parts Of Indiana Immigration Law

INDIANAPOLIS - A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked parts of an Indiana immigration law cracking down on illegal immigrants, in a ruling handed down a week before the bill was to go into effect.

New York Marriage Bill Paves Way For Same-sex Divorce

NEW YORK - As New York's same-sex couples head to the altar to celebrate their newly won right to marry, they can take comfort in the fact that, if it doesn't work out, their right to get divorced in the state just got a lot easier as well.

National Impact From New York Marriage Law: Experts

NEW YORK - When New York became the sixth and by far the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage, following a grueling overtime session in the state Legislature on Friday, it immediately transformed the national debate over the issue, legal experts said.

New York Governor Signs Law Approving Gay Marriage

ALBANY, New York - Governor Andrew Cuomo made same-sex marriages legal in New York on Friday, a key victory for gay rights ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.

Casey Anthony's Mother: I Searched For Chloroform

ORLANDO, Fla - The mother of accused child killer Casey Anthony offered the startling revelation in court on Thursday that she was the one who searched for information about chloroform on the family's computer.

Walmart Gives $25 Million To Students; Draws Criticism

CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc and its foundation said on Thursday that it had committed $25 million to help provide food, education and jobs for children during school summer break, but opponents of the retailer's urban expansion plans questioned its motives.

New York State Senate Again Delays Gay Marriage Vote

ALBANY, New York - The New York state Senate again put off a vote on legalizing same-sex marriage on Thursday, and the Republican Senate leader said lawmakers would meet again on Friday to decide what to do.

Chicago Fugitive Arrested In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM - A Chicago man sought on drug trafficking charges was arrested in Brent, Alabama, on Thursday after a nationwide manhunt, officials said.

JPMorgan Stops Pursuit Of Many Debt-collection Lawsuits: Report

- JPMorgan Chase & Co has dropped more than a thousand lawsuits across the United States that were aimed at collecting soured credit card debt since April, the Wall Street Journal reported. State judges said the bank has dropped lawsuits targeting borrowers in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, the Journal said.

Ex-media Mogul Black Hopes Not To Go Back To Prison

CHICAGO - Former media baron Conrad Black goes back to court on Friday when a judge will decide whether the 29 months he has spent in prison for defrauding shareholders and obstructing justice were enough.

Accused Boston Crime Boss "Whitey" Bulger Arrested

BOSTON/LOS ANGELES - Former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, captured near his coastal California hideout after 16 years on the run, was ordered held without bond on Thursday for transfer back to Boston to face charges of murder, extortion and conspiracy.

Two Arrested In Seattle In Plot Against Military

WASHINGTON - Two men have been arrested and charged with plotting to attack a military center for enlistees in Seattle with grenades and machine guns, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

Former New Mexico Professor Arrested In Prostitution Probe

SANTA FE, New Mexico - A former University of New Mexico president was arrested on Thursday for an alleged role in a massive online prostitution scheme run by a New Jersey professor, police said on Thursday.

Minot, North Dakota Flood To Crest Higher

MINOT, North Dakota - Federal officials sharply increased plans to release more water on the swollen Souris River Thursday, adding up to three feet to the expected peak of flooding at Minot, North Dakota, where thousands of homes already have been evacuated.

Apparent Tornado Causes Damage At Churchill Downs

CHICAGO - An apparent tornado struck Wednesday night at Churchill Downs, the thoroughbred racetrack famed as home of the Kentucky Derby, damaging some barns, but no injuries were reported, an emergency dispatcher said.

Cross-dressing Homeless Man Gets Celebrity Party In Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - Clad in a zebra-print miniskirt and flashing a toothless grin, Leslie Cochran raised his cup to the crowds before him and cheered.

Midwest Storms Leave Thousands Without Power

CHICAGO - Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power in the Midwest on Wednesday, a day after severe weather tore through the region and parts of the South.

Arkansas Newspaper Obituary Draws Complaint From Gay Group

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - A small newspaper in north central Arkansas is considering changing its policy on obituaries after a local man complained that the Batesville Daily Guard discriminated against him for being gay.

Hispanic-white Achievement Gap Still Wide In Education: Report

WASHINGTON - The Hispanic-white educational achievement gap has remained wide over the past two decades, according to a new report by the Department of Education's statistical center that a Department statement calls "sobering."

New Orleans Police Go On Trial In Katrina Shooting Deaths

NEW ORLEANS - Jury selection began on Wednesday in the trial of five police officers accused of shooting and killing of two people and wounding of four others days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

Sarah Palin Says Jury Duty Comes Before Bus Tour

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said on Wednesday she was pausing her "One Nation" bus tour to answer the call of jury duty and denied media reports her much-hyped multi-state jaunt had been cut short.

Rain Gives Crews Battling Texas Wildfires A Reprieve

AUSTIN, Texas - Rains over east Texas on Wednesday gave firefighters some relief in battling a devastating wildfire that has displaced 1,800 people and destroyed dozens of homes, authorities said.

North Dakota City Evacuates As Record Flood Imminent

MINNEAPOLIS - The rapidly rising Souris River poured over flood defenses in Minot, North Dakota on Wednesday, overwhelming efforts to delay the deluge and forcing the immediate evacuation of thousands of homes.

Accused Boston Crime Boss "Whitey" Bulger Arrested

WASHINGTON - On the run for 17 years, the accused Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger and his longtime girlfriend were finally caught in California by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday.

Tornado Warnings Rattle Upper Midwest As Storms Hit

MINNEAPOLIS - Tornado warnings were issued for parts of the Midwest on Tuesday night and the National Weather Service reported a possible tornado touchdown in a Minneapolis suburb that resulted in no injuries.

Focus Shifts To Texas In Bad Year For Wildfires

AUSTIN, Texas - The unexpected flare-up of a wildfire in east Texas on Tuesday triggered more evacuations in an area northwest of Houston where some 1,800 people already have been displaced.

California Mom Accused Of Killing Baby In Microwave

SACRAMENTO, Calif - A California mother was arrested and charged with murder on Tuesday after police said she cooked her baby in a microwave.

High Gasoline Prices To Cut July 4 Travel: AAA

NEW YORK - U.S. Independence Day holiday travel will fall 2.5 percent from a year ago as expensive gasoline eats at driving demand, travel group AAA forecast on Wednesday.

Biden And Axelrod Make Fight Against Epilepsy Personal

CHICAGO - Vice President Joseph Biden on Tuesday tapped into his own medical history to lead a big fundraiser for researching a cure for epilepsy, which he called "a terrible lightning storm in the brain."

Inmate In Jail With Anthony Lost Child To Drowning

ORLANDO, Fla - Prosecutors said on Tuesday that a woman housed in a jail cell next to Casey Anthony had a child who drowned in a pool, a story similar to that given by defense lawyers for the death of Caylee Anthony.

Arizona Wildfire Burns Horses As Well As Pasture And Homes

PALOMINAS, Arizona - When fire ripped through the mountain pasture in southern Arizona, old roping horse Charlie panicked and charged straight into a sheet of flame.

Florida Battles 400 Wildfires, Two Firefighters Die

TALLAHASSEE, Fla - Florida's tough wildfire season has claimed the lives of two firefighters as the tinder-dry state on Tuesday battled more than 400 active blazes.

U.S. Law Firm Spent $7 Million To Sue Wal-Mart

NEW YORK - Joseph Sellers is in the hole by about $7 million and does not expect to dig his way out any time soon.

Government Layoffs Slow U.S. Cities' Recoveries: Report

WASHINGTON - The layoffs of thousands of government workers may threaten the already slow-motion economic recovery in many U.S. metropolitan areas, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Brookings Institution.

Arizona Wildfire Evacuees Recall Trauma, Fret Over Homes

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz - Retiree Vernon Marquez watched in horror as the wind-whipped wild fire sprinted over the last quarter of a mile of grasslands toward his home in southern Arizona.

Another Death In Joplin From Tornado Brings Toll To 155

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Nearly a month after a massive tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, another person has died from injuries, bringing the death toll to 155, the city announced on Monday.

Three Miners Rescued From Flooded Kentucky Coal Mine

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - A state official said that three miners trapped all day on Monday by high water in an underground coal mine in southeastern Kentucky escaped unharmed in the evening as water levels fell.

Texas Governor Asks Lawmakers To Pass Airport "groping" Bill

SAN ANTONIO - Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday added to state lawmakers' special session agenda a measure that would criminalize "enhanced pat-downs" by Transportation Security Administration agents at airports in the Lone Star State.

Dodger Stadium Beating Suspect Sent Back To Prison

LOS ANGELES - An ex-convict arrested in the severe beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium was found in violation of his parole on Monday and ordered returned to prison for 10 months.

Anthony Case Recesses After Judge Criticizes Lawyers

ORLANDO, Fla - Accusing the two lead lawyers in the Casey Anthony murder case of unrelenting gamesmanship, Chief Judge Belvin Perry threatened a stepped-up work schedule with "fierce days" as the trial began its fifth week.

Lighter Winds Help Crews Battle Arizona Wildfires

SIERRA VISTA, Arizona - Diminished winds on Monday gave firefighters an edge in battling two wildfires in eastern Arizona that have charred well over half a million acres and forced roughly 11,000 people from their homes over the weekend.

U.S. Official Says Yucca Nuclear Dump Not An Option

VIENNA - A controversial Nevada site is not an option for storing toxic waste from nuclear power plants, a senior U.S. official said, dismissing Republican efforts to revive the Bush-era plan.

U.S. To Unveil Graphic Tobacco Warning Labels

WASHINGTON - Health officials on Tuesday will unveil nine graphic warning labels showing harmful effects of smoking that must be on cigarette packages and in advertisements starting in October 2012.

Wal-Mart Wins In Sex-bias Case At Top U.S. Court

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court threw out on Monday a massive class-action sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the biggest ever such case, in a major victory for the world's largest retailer and for big business in general.

Miss California, A History Buff, Named Miss USA

LAS VEGAS - A 21-year-old "history geek" representing California was named Miss USA at the annual beauty pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Marilyn Monroe "subway" Dress Sells For $4.6 Million

BEVERLY HILLS, California - The pleated ivory dress that blew around Marilyn Monroe in an iconic scene from "The Seven Year Itch" sold for $4.6 million at a weekend auction of Hollywood costumes -- far exceeding its estimate.

Large Wildfire In East Texas Forces Evacuations

AUSTIN, Texas - One of the largest wildfires in East Texas history was burning on about 14,000 acres on Sunday, threatening dozens of homes and forcing the evacuation of several rural communities about an hour's drive north of Houston, officials said.

One Dead, One Critical After Dallas Rave Party

DALLAS - A 19-year-old man died after attending a sold-out rave party at Dallas' Fair Park, and another concert-goer was in critical condition on Sunday, Dallas officials said.

GE Reaches Tentative 4-year Deal With Unions

NEW YORK - General Electric Co on Sunday reached a tentative, four-year national labor contract with two key unions that cover more than 15,000 GE workers, or about 11 percent of its U.S. employees.

Americans Gave $291 Billion To Charity In 2010

NEW YORK - U.S. donations to charity rose to $291 billion last year, a study found on Monday, but it was still more than 6 percent below a 2007 record as the nation struggles to recover from its worst recession in decades.

Bomb Threat Made In Ohio, Plane Lands Safely

WASHINGTON - A U.S. Airways flight landed safely at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Sunday after a bomb threat was made at a ticket counter in Ohio where the flight originated, authorities said.

Same-sex Marriage Goes Down To Legislative Wire In New York

NEW YORK - Supporters and opponents of gay marriage made 11th-hour appeals on Sunday as state lawmakers weighed a vote on making New York the sixth state -- and the most populous -- to legalize same-sex marriage.

Residents Wait, Watch Rising Waters Of The Missouri

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa - The talk around town here these days isn't so much about bushels of corn per acre. It's about cubic feet of water.

Winds Pose Problems In Fight Against Southwest Fires

PHOENIX - High winds posed a tough challenge to firefighters battling wildfires on Sunday in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, where powerful gusts helped the blazes spread quickly.

Phil Campbells Bring Support To Tornado-stricken Namesake Town

PHIL CAMPBELL, Ala - Nineteen Phil Campbells -- and one Phyllis -- had planned to travel to their tiny namesake Alabama town this weekend for its joyous 100th anniversary celebration.

North Carolina To Require Some Employers To Check Citizenship

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina lawmakers on Saturday passed a bill requiring businesses with 25 or more employees to check the citizenship status of job applicants on a federal database called E-Verify.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Hitting Dues For Teachers' Group

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue on Saturday vetoed legislation that would have made it harder for an education employees association to collect dues, its primary source of funding.

Thousands In Portland Take To Bikes For Naked Ride

PORTLAND, Ore - It was a typical early summer evening in Portland: cloudy skies threatening rain, temperatures in the mid-60s, and thousands of naked bicyclists gathered near the city's waterfront for a clothing-free night ride.

Firefighters Battle Two Blazes In Arizona

DUDLEYVILLE, Ariz - As firefighters in eastern Arizona gain ground against the largest wildfire in state history, a smaller blaze near the Mexican border is bearing down on a city of 70,000 people and winds are expected to increase on Sunday.

Dallas Chooses Ex-Pizza Hut Executive As Next Mayor

DALLAS - Dallas voters chose a former pizza chain executive over an ex-police chief on Saturday as the city's new mayor.

Jackson Blasts Voter ID Legislation At Conference

CHICAGO - Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. on Saturday called on the Justice Department to reverse recent Republican-led legislative efforts that require voters to present photo identification at polls.

Expert's Skull Prop Brings Casey Anthony To Tears

ORLANDO, Fla - An internationally known forensic pathologist placed a stark, white human skull on the witness stand during Casey Anthony's murder trial on Saturday, bringing the defendant to tears.

Springsteen Saxophonist Clarence Clemons Dies

LOS ANGELES - Clarence Clemons, the burly saxophone player who played a crucial role in shaping Bruce Springsteen's early sound, died on Saturday, six days after suffering a stroke at his Florida home. He was 69.

Missouri River Releases Step Up Ahead Of Rains

HAMBURG, Iowa - Federal officials increased water releases from two South Dakota dams on Saturday to make room for expected potentially heavy rains through early next week, adding to flooding woes along the Missouri River.

Best Buy Settles Class-action Bias Lawsuit

NEW YORK - Best Buy Co agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the largest U.S. electronics retailer of job discrimination, paying a total of $200,000 to the nine named plaintiffs plus as much as $10 million for legal fees and costs.

Former Airline Pilot Found Guilty Of Flying Drunk

DENVER - A former airline pilot was found guilty on Friday of flying under the influence of alcohol when he was second-in-command of a United Express flight.

NYC Faces Layoffs Despite Having Reserve Cash: Mayor

NEW YORK - New York City is in the odd position of having both $500 million of cash reserve and a multibillion-dollar deficit, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to close partly by laying off workers.

Woman Plummets To Death Hiking Near Denver's Red Rocks

DENVER - A young woman plunged 100 feet to her death on Friday while hiking at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre west of Denver, authorities said.

Anthony Defense Expert Didn't Detect Decomposition

ORLANDO, Fla - An expert on insects said on Friday at the Casey Anthony murder trial that he saw no evidence of a decomposing body in photos taken of her car trunk, an opinion at odds with testimony by a state witness.

Police Say Colorado Mom On Facebook When Toddler Died

DENVER - A Colorado mother who told police she was surfing Facebook when her 22-month-old daughter was struck and killed by a van was arrested on suspicion of child abuse, police said on Friday.

Marines Reservist Held In Incident Near Pentagon

WASHINGTON - A 22-year-old U.S. Marine Corps reservist with a suspicious backpack prompted authorities to temporarily close major roads around the Pentagon on Friday, but bomb experts determined it did not contain explosives.

Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises To 154

KANSAS CITY - The death toll from the May 22 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, has reached 154, according to a city statement on Friday.

Congresswoman Giffords To Visit Tucson This Weekend

PHOENIX - Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is returning home to Tucson for the weekend for the first time since she left the state for treatment after she was shot in the head in January, her office said on Friday.

Arizona Governor Brewer Declares Fire Emergency For County

PHOENIX - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Friday declared a state of emergency for a county in the southeastern part of her state where firefighters were battling two wind-whipped blazes simultaneously,

Congressman Weiner Quits In Lewd Photo Scandal

NEW YORK - Representative Anthony Weiner, ensnared in a humiliating flap for sending lewd photos of himself to women online, resigned on Thursday, ending a weeks-long scandal that made his fellow Democrats cringe.

Missouri River Reaches Hamburg, Iowa Backup Levee

HAMBURG, Iowa - Missouri River floodwaters have reached a levee built up this week to protect Hamburg, Iowa, after the main protection along the river failed, a county emergency official said on Thursday.

Oregon Panel Approves Tough New Clean Water Rules

PORTLAND, Ore - Oregon's environmental regulators on Thursday approved new health-based water quality standards, touted as the toughest in the nation, for curtailing toxic pollutants in rivers and streams.

North Carolina Lawmakers Approve Voter Photo I.D. Law

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina's Republican-led legislature on Thursday sent a bill to Democratic Governor Beverly Perdue that will require voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot.

New York Lawmakers Debate Allowing Gay Marriage

ALBANY - New York could become the sixth state to allow gay marriage if one more Republican senator supports the move in a possible vote Friday.

Connecticut Wants Facebook Meeting Over Privacy

SAN FRANCISCO - Connecticut's Attorney General is concerned over Facebook's use of facial recognition technology to identify users and has requested a meeting with Facebook officials to discuss ways to alleviate those concerns.

Texas Executes Man For Prison Stabbing

AUSTIN, Texas - A man convicted of fatally stabbing a fellow inmate in a state prison in 1999 was executed in Texas on Thursday evening by lethal injection.

Stiff Winds Test Gains Of Wildfire Crews In Arizona

PHOENIX - Fire crews battling stubborn flames in eastern Arizona's mountainous pine forests faced a return of stiff winds on Thursday that threatened to reverse gains against the largest wildfire in state history.

Wisconsin Senate Passes Budget, Sends To Governor

MADISON, Wis - The Republican-controlled Wisconsin state Senate on Thursday night approved a two-year $66 billion state budget that cuts spending and hands Governor Scott Walker a significant political victory, lawmakers said.

Anthony Lawyer's Paternity Question Halts Court

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony's lead defense attorney sprang a surprise at her murder trial on Thursday by questioning whether Casey's brother Lee could be the father of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, who was found dead in 2008.

Prosecution Rests Case In Casey Anthony Trial

ORLANDO, Florida - Jurors in the first-degree murder trial of Casey Anthony had barely settled into their seats on Wednesday when the prosecution wrapped up its case, and the judge dismissed the jury until Thursday when the defense team will begin its presentation.

Missouri River Floodwaters Near Iowa Town's New Levee

HAMBURG, Iowa - A handful of downtown businesses stood open on Wednesday as contractors pushed to finish a temporary top to a floodwall that protects Hamburg's southern section from approaching Missouri River floodwaters.

North Carolina Governor's Budget Veto Overturned

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina's Republican-led Senate overrode Democratic Governor Beverly Perdue's veto of the state budget on Wednesday, making the two-year spending plan law.

New York Assembly Backs Gay Marriage, Senate Showdown Next

ALBANY - The New York state Assembly approved same-sex marriage on Wednesday and the bill is likely to face a vote in the Senate on Friday, where it only needs support from one more senator to pass.

Boston Beats Vancouver To Win Stanley Cup

VANCOUVER - The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years Wednesday when they beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in the seventh and deciding game of the National Hockey League championship.

Arizona Wildfire Investigators Question Two People

PHOENIX - Investigators probing the origins of Arizona's biggest wildfire on record are questioning two people in connection with an unattended campfire believed to have started the blaze, the U.S. Forest Service said on Wednesday.

U.S. Inspects Firms In 17 Sectors For Illegal Workers

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON - Federal immigration agents on Wednesday began issuing inspection notices to some 1,000 employers deemed critical to keeping the nation's food, energy and infrastructure safe.

Talks To Continue Past Midnight To Avert Strike At Macy's

NEW YORK - Talks between the union representing 4,000 workers at four New York City area Macy's Inc stores, including its Herald Square flagship, and the company could continue past the midnight deadline on Wednesday to avert a strike at Macy's for the first time since 1972.

Wisconsin Unions Sue Over New Collective Bargaining Law

MADISON - Unions representing public workers in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday to block the state's new curbs on collective bargaining, which were upheld by the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Congresswoman Giffords Discharged From Hospital

HOUSTON - Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was discharged on Wednesday from the Houston hospital where she has been recovering since she was shot in the head at a meeting with constituents in January, the hospital said.

Promoter Links Shaquille O'Neal Sex Tape To Kidnapping

LOS ANGELES - A music promoter who was kidnapped and robbed in 2008 has told a court that his assailants demanded return of a sex tape featuring NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Idaho Voters To Decide Fate Of Education Overhaul

SALMON, Idaho - A group seeking to repeal Idaho's new education laws, including one stripping teachers of most collective bargaining rights, has enough signatures to place the measures before voters, state election officials said on Tuesday.

Levee Breaches Threaten Residents Along Missouri River

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Residents in Hamburg, Iowa, were dry on Tuesday morning and waiting for the Missouri River to reach a secondary flood wall following a widely expected and widening levee breach miles south of the city.

Court Rules For Students In Pennsylvania Speech Cases

PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court here has ruled in favor of two school students who were disciplined in different districts for creating what lawyers called parodies of their principals on the MySpace social network site.

Montana Scales Back Hunt For Ex-militia Leader

SALMON, Idaho - Authorities on Tuesday scaled back a manhunt in the mountains of western Montana for an ex-militia leader accused of mounting a gunfight with sheriff's deputies over the weekend.

Wisconsin Senate Approves Concealed Carry Bill

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation that would legalize the carrying of concealed weapons in the state.

Tattoo Artist Says Casey Anthony Seemed Normal, Happy

ORLANDO, Fla - An Orlando tattoo artist who said he has known accused child killer Casey Anthony for seven years testified on Tuesday that she made an appointment for a tattoo on July 15, 2008 -- the same day her 2-year-old daughter Caylee was reported missing.

Gay Judge's California Same-sex Marriage Ruling Upheld

SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. judge's gay relationship is no basis for tossing out his decision overturning California's same-sex marriage ban, another federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

Arizona Wildfire Sets New Record At 469,000 Acres

EAGAR, Ariz - The wildfire that has roared out of control for more than two weeks through the pine forests of eastern Arizona set a record on Tuesday as the largest in state history, having consumed over 469,000 acres.

Divided Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Anti-union Law

MADISON, Wisconsin - A sharply divided Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a controversial measure that curbs the collective bargaining rights of public workers in the state can go into effect.

Joplin, Mo., Tornado Toll Reaches 153

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The death toll from the May 22 tornado in Joplin, Missouri has reached 153, according to a city statement on Monday.

Manhunt Under Way In Montana For Ex-militia Leader

SALMON, Idaho - A massive manhunt was under way in the remote high country of western Montana on Monday for a former militia leader after a shootout with sheriff's deputies, authorities said.

Arkansas Legislators Lag Nation In College Experience

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The Arkansas legislature has the nation's highest percentage of state lawmakers who have not attended college at all, according to a new study by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Second Death At Tennessee's Bonnaroo Festival

NASHVILLE, Tenn - A second person has died at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, Coffee County Sheriff's Deputy Toby Alonso confirmed on Monday evening.

Oregon House Votes To Outlaw Sale Of Suicide Kits

PORTLAND, Ore - Sales of suicide kits, like the do-it-yourself asphyxiation hood used by an Oregon man to kill himself late last year, would be outlawed under a bill passed on Monday by the Oregon House of Representatives.

Missouri River Levee Near Hamburg, Iowa Fails

HAMBURG, Iowa - A levee on the flood-swollen Missouri River near Hamburg, Iowa failed on Monday, sending water into low-lying farmland and prompting a flash flood watch for the town of 1,200, authorities said.

NFL's Plaxico Burress To Warn Children Away From Guns

NEW YORK - Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, a week after his release from prison on gun charges, pledged on Monday to preach against gun violence to the nation's children.

Man Shoots Estranged Wife, Two Children Dead In Maine

CONWAY, Mass - A man shot to death his estranged wife and their two children inside their central Maine home on Monday and then shot and killed himself in what police called a "despicable case of domestic violence."

FBI Expert Found Heart Shape On Caylee Anthony Duct Tape

ORLANDO, Fla - An FBI examiner testified on Monday that she saw the outline of a small heart on the duct tape prosecutors say Casey Anthony used to smother her 2-year-old daughter Caylee three years ago this week.

Firefighters Turn Corner On Massive Arizona Blaze

EAGAR, Ariz - Forest fire officials in eastern Arizona said on Monday they have turned the corner in a 16-day battle against a monster blaze that has destroyed dozens of homes and scorched an area more than double the size of Dallas, Texas.

Turtles Pose Problem For Arkansas Rice Farmers

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - After facing a spring of harsh weather, rice farmers in Arkansas, the nation's top rice-producing state, have a new worry -- turtles.

Missing Alaska Sled Dog Musher Turns Up Alive, Safe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska sled dog musher who had been missing since the Memorial Day weekend has been located alive and safe, the Alaska State Troopers said Saturday.

Mysterious Mountain Lion Killed In Connecticut

BOSTON - A mountain lion was killed just 70 miles from New York City early on Saturday morning, and officials were trying to determine if it was the same big cat spotted a week ago roaming the posh suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Dinosaur Auction Features Fighting Pair Of Skeletons

DALLAS - Natural history buffs with Tyrannosaurus-sized bank accounts got a chance to ante up on Sunday when an unusually large collection of fully assembled, museum-quality dinosaur skeletons was put up for auction.

Liberal U.S. Catholics Say Church Not Listening

DETROIT - Members of a liberal group of U.S. Roman Catholics on Sunday called on Church leaders to open talks with their members on controversies ranging from the ordination of women to allowing priests to marry.

Midwesterners Brace For New Missouri River Flooding

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa - For flood-weary residents and sandbag crews in the Midwest, Sunday was largely a day of rest.

Rep. Giffords Releases First Post-shooting Portrait

HOUSTON - The first photographs of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords since she was shot in the head in January were posted on Sunday on her Facebook page as preparations were being made to end her hospitalization.

Texas Governor Addresses L.A. Anti-abortion Rally

LOS ANGELES - Texas Governor Rick Perry, viewed as a potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate, ventured far from his home state on Sunday to address a largely Hispanic group at an anti-abortion rally in Los Angeles.

Mavericks Beat Heat To Win First Championship

MIAMI - The Dallas Mavericks ended three decades of frustration by capturing their first championship with a 105-95 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday to win the best-of-seven NBA Finals 4-2.

Wildfire Evacuation Lifted For Two Arizona Towns

LUNA, New Mexico - Forest fire crews held the line on Sunday against a monster blaze in eastern Arizona despite another day of high winds and low humidity, allowing thousands of evacuees to return home and securing a New Mexico border town.

Mysterious Mountain Lion Killed In Connecticut

BOSTON - A mountain lion was killed just 70 miles from New York City early on Saturday morning and officials were trying to determine if it was the same big cat spotted a week ago roaming the posh suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Congressman Mike Pence To Run For Indiana Governor

INDIANAPOLIS - Mike Pence, a six-term Indiana congressman and staunch conservative Republican, officially kicked off his run for governor on Saturday before a group of supporters in his hometown of Columbus.

Texas Governor Renews Statewide Fire Disaster Declaration

AUSTIN, Texas - The governor of Texas, where drought-triggered deadly wildfires have scorched millions of acres, renewed his proclamation of a statewide disaster on Saturday and called again on the federal government to help.

Hundreds Fill Sandbags To Stay Ahead Of U.S. Floods

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Hundreds of people traded their morning coffee and weekend routines for gloves, shovels and sandbags on Saturday in a race to stay ahead of the flooding Missouri River.

Climber Dies After Reaching Summit Of Mt. McKinley

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A climber died in his tent shortly after reaching the summit of Mount McKinley, North America's highest peak, the National Park Service said on Saturday.

Anti-abortion Efforts In States Hit Obstacle Of Own Making

NEW ORLEANS - Henry Hyde, a champion of the anti-abortion movement, might turn over in his grave if he knew that a provision of law he authored was an obstacle to individual states banning abortion.

Small Plane In Camp David Air Space While Obama There

WASHINGTON - A small aircraft wandered into the airspace of Camp David, Maryland, while President Barack Obama was there on Saturday and was intercepted by two F-15 fighter jets patrolling in the area, authorities said.

Missing Alaska Sled Dog Musher Turns Up Alive, Safe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska sled dog musher who had been missing since the Memorial Day weekend has been located alive and safe, the Alaska State Troopers said Saturday.

Bug Expert Testifies Caylee Anthony's Body Was Moved

ORLANDO, Fla - The decomposing body of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony was moved twice according to a time line provided by a bug expert on Saturday at the first degree murder trial of the girl's mother Casey Anthony.

Warnings Of "perfect Storm" As Fire Nears New Mexico

RESERVE, New Mexico - More than 1,000 firefighters converged on this village in the Gila National Forest on Saturday as a massive wildfire that scorched eastern Arizona moved to a quarter mile from the New Mexico border.

Woman Mauled By Chimpanzee Gets Face Transplant

BOSTON - A Connecticut woman mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009 has received a full face transplant, the third surgery of its kind performed in the country, Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital said on Friday.

Storm Kills Amish Teen, Power Outages In Northeast

BOSTON - The Mid-Atlantic is expected to be battered by another round of severe weather over the weekend just as a previous series of storms and heat subside.

Image Of Hindu Deity Sparks Protest In Northern Idaho

SALMON, Idaho - A group of self-described constitutionalists protested on Friday a northern Idaho city's dedication of a sculpture depicting a Hindu deity.

Heat May Have Caused Woman's Death At Bonnaroo Festival

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Heat, drugs or a combination may have contributed to the death of a woman whose body was found outside her tent on the grounds of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, police said on Friday.

Tennessee, Virginia Report 13 E.coli Cases, 1 Death

LOS ANGELES - An outbreak of E.coli cases in northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia has sickened 13 people and resulted in the death of a young child, public health officials said on Friday.

Hawaii Airport Screeners Face Firing After Breach

WASHINGTON - Three dozen baggage screeners at Honolulu International Airport face being fired and another dozen face discipline for security lapses, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration said on Friday.

Arizona Lawmaker Charged With Assault, Endangerment

PHOENIX - An Arizona lawmaker has been charged with reckless assault and endangerment in a February altercation with his then-girlfriend, prosecutors said on Friday.

Casey Anthony Prosecutor Says Duct Tape "murder Weapon"

ORLANDO, Fla - Using computer animation, prosecutors on Friday displayed a smiling portrait of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony with duct tape superimposed over her mouth and nostrils to demonstrate how she could have been suffocated by her mother.

U.S. Soldier Charged With Afghan Murder Freed From Brig

SEATTLE - One of five U.S. soldiers accused of killing Afghan civilians in cold blood was freed on Friday from a year of pretrial detention and an Army major has recommended that the current charge of premeditated murder be reduced to manslaughter, the soldier's lawyer said.

Forest Fire Teams Press Attack On Arizona Blaze

PHOENIX - Forest fire teams in eastern Arizona took advantage of a second straight day of light winds on Friday to press their assault on a monster blaze that has displaced some 10,000 people and scorched well over 600 square miles.

Pa. Archdiocese Hires Prosecutor's Child Protection Leader

Philadelphia - The beleaguered Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Thursday named a new head of child protection, hiring her away from the prosecutor's office pursuing charges in a spiraling priest sex abuse case.

American Charged Over Aid To Somali Militants

WASHINGTON - A 26-year-old American was arrested in Ohio on Thursday on charges that he tried to help Somali al-Shabaab rebels, the latest American accused of trying to aid the militant group, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Family Says Surfer Andy Irons Died Of Heart Attack

LOS ANGELES - Three-time world surfing champion Andy Irons died at age 32 from a heart attack he suffered 30 hours after apparently taking cocaine, his family members said in releasing results of an autopsy and toxicology report.

Kansas City Girl, 5, May Face Murder Charges In Drowning

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A 5-year-old girl could face murder charges in the recent drowning of a toddler in a bathtub, police said on Thursday.

Alabama Sets Nation's Toughest Immigration Law

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Republican Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday signed into law a crackdown on illegal immigration in Alabama that both supporters and critics consider the toughest in the nation.

Rare Infection Strikes Some In Joplin; Death Toll Rises To 151

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Health officials say flying debris from the tornado that tore through Joplin, Missouri, last month is to blame for an outbreak of a rare but serious -- and in some cases deadly -- fungal infection among some of the more than 900 people injured in the disaster.

Trial Session Ends Early As Casey Anthony Takes Ill

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony's first-degree murder trial adjourned 90 minutes early on Thursday after she became ill during testimony about her 2-year-old daughter Caylee's skull being found in a wooded area.

Chicago Man Guilty Of Aiding Pakistan Militant Group

CHICAGO - A U.S. jury Thursday found a Pakistani-born Chicago businessman guilty of providing support to an Islamic militant group responsible for the 2008 assault on Mumbai but not guilty of taking part in the attack.

One Dead, Four Others Wounded In Brooklyn Boardwalk Shooting

NEW YORK - A woman was killed and four men were shot on Thursday afternoon when bullets starting flying on a popular Brooklyn beach boardwalk, police said.

Wildfire Battle Intensifies In Eastern Arizona

SPRINGERVILLE, Arizona - Forest rangers in eastern Arizona stepped up the attack on a massive wildfire that has displaced some 10,000 people, exploiting better weather conditions on Thursday to finally begin curtailing the blaze.

Mexican Official Challenges Texas Travel Warnings

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas state government warnings to Americans about travel to Mexico are "ludicrous," "misinformed," and may damage the country's safest tourist destinations, Mexico's tourism chief told Reuters on Wednesday.

Residents Flee As Major Alaska Wildfire Grows

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - All residents near an expanding wildfire near Fairbanks have fled, making way for firefighters to combat the blaze, officials said on Wednesday.

Former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco Diagnosed With Eye Cancer

NEW ORLEANS - Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, who drew criticism for her handling of the crisis in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck the city in 2005, has been diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer.

Missouri River Sections Closed, Waters Keep Rising

MINNEAPOLIS - With the heaviest flooding yet to come, officials closed 260 miles of the Missouri River to boaters and residents from Iowa through Nebraska and Missouri were sandbagging on Wednesday to hold back the waters.

Lightning Strike In Mississippi Lands 77 Cadets In Hospital

JACKSON, Mississippi - A lightning strike at a southern Mississippi military base sent 77 cadets to a hospital on Wednesday.

Police Hunt For Texas Tipster With Story About Bodies

HOUSTON - Law enforcement officials in Liberty County, Texas, were hunting on Wednesday for a tipster who claimed to have psychic knowledge of a mass grave containing up to 30 bodies in a rural area.

Blagojevich "flagrantly" Violated Law, Prosecutor Says

CHICAGO - A prosecutor on Wednesday compared Rod Blagojevich to a dirty cop shaking down a motorist for money over a speeding ticket, and told the jury in closing trial arguments that the former Illinois governor repeatedly used his power for personal gain.

Casey Anthony's Computer Used For Chloroform Search

ORLANDO, Florida - Someone using Casey Anthony's family computer before the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee surfed the Web for information on chloroform, neck-breaking and making weapons out of household products, a computer expert testified on Wednesday.

Citi Says Hackers Access Bank Card Data

BANGALORE - Citigroup Inc said computer hackers breached the bank's network and accessed data on hundreds of thousands of bank card holders in the latest of a string of cyber attacks on high-profile companies.

Arizona Wildfire Threatens Several Towns

PHOENIX - A wildfire believed sparked by inattentive campers blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, engulfing a deserted town, forcing thousands of people in nearby towns to flee and leaving 600 square miles (1,550 square km) of pine forest blackened.

Blagojevich Quizzed On Alleged Jackson Deal

CHICAGO - Prosecutors ended their cross examination of Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday by pressing the former Illinois governor to explain whether he was considering a deal worth $1.5 million in campaign contributions in exchange for appointing Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to the Senate.

Illinois Probing Catholic Groups For Adoption Discrimination

CHICAGO - The state of Illinois is looking into allegations that several Catholic groups providing adoption services for the state illegally discriminate against unmarried and gay couples, a lawsuit filed on Tuesday showed.

Three Climbers Rescued From Top Of Mount McKinley

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Three climbers in distress have been plucked from near the peak of Mount McKinley in separate helicopter rescues, the National Park Service said on Tuesday.

New Mexico Billboard Accuses Woman Of Having An Abortion

Santa Fe, New Mexico - A New Mexico man who said he was upset that his girlfriend had an abortion bought a highway billboard and accused her of killing their child.

Former New York Police Officer Gets 20 Years For Robbery

NEW YORK - A former New York City police officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a string of more than 100 violent robberies of narcotics traffickers. The robberies netted more than $4 million in drug proceeds.

Blast At Intel Arizona Microchip Complex Injures 7

PHOENIX - Seven workers at an Intel Corp microchip manufacturing complex outside Phoenix were injured by a small explosion there on Tuesday, fire officials reported, but the company said production was unaffected.

Prisoners And The Dead Got 2009 Car Tax Break: Report

WASHINGTON - A tax break that spurred car buying in 2009 was erroneously allowed in some cases, including claims made in the names of people who were in prison, dead or underage, said a U.S. report on Wednesday.

Dog Found Odor Of Human Body In Casey Anthony Car

ORLANDO, Fla - A German Shepherd named Gerus trained to sniff out the odor of human remains found the scent in accused child killer Casey Anthony's car trunk and in the Anthony backyard, Jason Forgey, a police officer who worked with the dog testified on Tuesday.

Arizona Wildfire Displaces More Than 3,000 People

PHOENIX - A forest fire that has scorched over 480 square miles in eastern Arizona flared out of control for a 10th day on Tuesday and advanced on two mountain towns near New Mexico, forcing hundreds more people from their homes.

Texas Authorities Find No Bodies After Psychic Tip

HARDIN, Texas - A false tip from a psychic prompted Texas authorities to swarm a rural home searching for a nonexistent mass grave and up to 30 bodies, including those of dismembered children.

U.S. Says Indiana Child Pornographer Part Of Global Ring

CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors in Indianapolis said on Monday they had broken up a worldwide child pornography distribution ring fed out of Bloomington, Indiana.

Ex-Mets Star Dykstra Charged With Grand Theft Auto

LOS ANGELES - Ex-baseball star Lenny Dykstra, already facing federal bankruptcy fraud charges, was charged in a California state case on Monday with trying to lease cars using phony business and credit information.

Seven-year-old Girl Beaten By Man Trying To Steal Bike

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A 7-year-old girl was beaten unconscious by a man with a lengthy criminal record who tried to steal her bicycle in broad daylight, the Anchorage Police Department said on Monday.

S.C. Court Blocks Governor's Back-to-work Order

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Monday night that a move by Republican Governor Nikki Haley to force legislators back to work was an "unconstitutional violation of separation of powers."

Alabama's Jefferson County Mulls Public Worker Layoffs

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Alabama's troubled Jefferson County says it may have to lay off up to 1,000 workers due to a $70 million shortfall in its operating revenue that is adding to its chronic debt problems.

Wisconsin High Court Quizzes Both Sides On Union Law

MADISON, Wis - The Wisconsin Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Monday in the legal challenge to the controversial state law that eliminates most collective bargaining rights for public workers.

Casey Anthony Defense Attacks Link Of Car Air To Body

ORLANDO, Fla - A lawyer for accused child killer Casey Anthony on Monday attacked the new science of identifying human decomposition by a body's chemical vapors.

Missouri River Flood Levee Breaches Expected

DES MOINES - Iowa National Guard troops have dumped thousand-pound sandbags from a helicopter to delay a full breach of a Missouri River levee long enough to build a secondary wall to protect a town, officials said on Monday.

Eastern Arizona Fire Burns Nearly 350 Square Miles

PHOENIX - A wildfire that has charred more than 350 square miles in eastern Arizona raged out of control for a ninth day on Monday as it forced the evacuation of a third town and crept near populated areas along the New Mexico border.

Congressman Weiner Admits Online Affairs

NEW YORK - Representative Anthony Weiner on Monday tearfully admitted having a number of inappropriate relationships with women over the Internet, saying he was deeply ashamed but would not resign.

Heat Regain Home-court Advantage By Beating Dallas

DALLAS - The Miami Heat recovered from their Game Two meltdown in the NBA Finals to beat Dallas 88-86 on Sunday and take a 2-1 lead over the Mavericks in the best-of-seven series.

D-Day Veterans Recall World War Two Turning Point

LOS ANGELES - Sixty-seven years ago, Walter Ehlers landed on a Normandy, France, beach leading a squad of 12 men on D-Day who had no battle experience and had spent their Army tours entertaining the troops.

Troopers, Friends Search For Missing Alaska Dog Musher

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - One day after police found the pickup truck belonging to a missing Iditarod musher, authorities and friends said on Sunday they still had few clues to her mysterious disappearance.

Levee Breach In Southwest Iowa Forces Mandatory Evacuation

CHICAGO - Officials in a rural corner of southwest Iowa ordered residents to evacuate on Sunday after a levee on the flood-swollen Missouri River broke.

Texas' Perry Urges Other Governors To Join Him At Prayer Event

SAN ANTONIO -- Saying "there is hope for America, and we will find it on our knees," Texas Governor Rick Perry has invited other governors to join him in a "solemn gathering of prayer and fasting" in August in Houston, according to the event's website.

Chicago Bus Crash Sends 20 To Area Hospitals

CHICAGO - A collision involving a tour bus and another vehicle on a busy expressway near downtown Chicago sent 20 people to the hospital and temporarily halted all northbound traffic on the highway on Sunday, an emergency official said.

Death Toll From Joplin Tornado Rises To 141 - Officials

CHICAGO - The death toll from the May 22 Joplin, Missouri tornado has risen to 141, city officials said on Sunday.

Missouri River Levees Tested As Floodwaters Rise

CHICAGO/DES MOINES - Levees hastily erected along the Missouri River in central South Dakota were holding on Sunday as flooding caused by heavy spring rains and a melting winter snowpack continued to raise the waters toward record levels, officials said.

Four Suspected U.S. Cases Of E.coli Linked To Germany

ATLANTA - The number of suspected U.S. cases involving a deadly E.coli bacteria that has sickened thousands in Europe remained at four on Sunday, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokeswoman said.

Major Wildfire Chars 144,000 Acres In Eastern Arizona

PHOENIX - Firefighters battling a raging wildfire in eastern Arizona have made some slight progress in preventing the spread of a blaze that has charred 144,000 acres of prime forest, officials said on Sunday.

China Says Will Not Threaten Anyone With Modern Military

SINGAPORE - China's defense minister sought to reassure Asia Pacific neighbors on Sunday that his country's growing economic and military power was not a threat, as long-running maritime disputes in the region flare up again.

Hundreds March In Chicago, LA To Dispel Sex Assault Myths

CHICAGO - Hundreds of marchers rallied in Chicago and Los Angeles on Saturday for the "SlutWalk" movement aimed at dispelling the notion that a sexual assault victim's provocative dress could be responsible for an attack.

Federal Appeals Court Opens Doors For Prayer At Texas Graduation

SAN ANTONIO - A federal appeals court ruled on Friday afternoon that students may pray and mention God at Saturday night's graduation at a high school in a San Antonio suburb, overturning a district judge's ruling.

Gunman Targeted Divorce Adversaries In Arizona Rampage

PHOENIX - All five people shot dead by an elderly Arizona man on Thursday appear to have been targeted by him for the adversarial role they played in his bitter 2008 divorce, including his ex-wife, authorities said on Friday.

Wildfire Consumes Homes In Eastern Arizona

PHOENIX - A stubborn 5-day-old wildfire that has forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in eastern Arizona grew dramatically to 106,000 acres on Friday, claiming as many as seven dwellings, officials said.

"Dr. Death," Jack Kevorkian, Dies At 83

DETROIT - Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, known as "Dr. Death" for helping more than 100 people end their lives, died early Friday at age 83, his lawyer said.

Treasures Of Alleged Ponzi Schemer Stanford Auctioned

HOUSTON - While Texas financier Allen Stanford awaits trial on charges of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, hordes of buyers waited on Saturday at a sweltering warehouse for an auction of his possessions.

Rising Missouri River Forces More Evacuations

MINNEAPOLIS - Evacuations grew from North Dakota through Nebraska along the Missouri River on Saturday as officials accelerated water releases from near capacity reservoirs swelled by heavy rains and a melting snowpack.

"Miracle On The Hudson" Plane Departs For Museum

NEW YORK - The U.S. Airways airplane that made a splash-landing dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson" more than two years ago began a road trip on Saturday to Charlotte, North Carolina, its original, and final, destination.

Hair In Casey Anthony's Trunk May Be Caylee's: Expert

ORLANDO, Fla - A single 9-inch-long brown hair found in the car trunk of accused child killer Casey Anthony could have been ripped from the dead body of her 2-year old daughter, an FBI expert testified on Saturday.

Investigator Smelled Foul Odor In Casey Anthony's Car

ORLANDO, Fla - The crime scene investigator who searched Casey Anthony's car on July 17, 2008, for clues about the fate of her missing 2-year-old daughter testified on Friday that the odor of human decomposition wafted from the interior as soon as he opened the door.

Residents Evacuate Along Swollen Missouri River

MINNEAPOLIS - Residents evacuated some affluent areas of North Dakota and South Dakota on Friday along the swollen Missouri River as federal officials kicked up water releases to relieve pressure on six Upper Plains reservoirs.

Suspect In Dodger Stadium Assault Held In Jail

LOS ANGELES - An ex-convict held for nearly two weeks as a suspect in the severe beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium was ordered on Friday to remain jailed without bond on an alleged parole violation.

Anthony Weiner Cancels Wisconsin Speech To Democrats

MINNEAPOLIS - Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY), who has denied sending a lewd photo of himself to a 21-year-old female college student over his Twitter account, canceled a scheduled speech on Friday at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's state convention.

Federal Appeals Court Opens Doors For Prayer At Texas Graduation

SAN ANTONIO - A federal appeals court ruled on Friday afternoon that students may pray and mention God at Saturday night's graduation at a high school in a San Antonio suburb, overturning a district judge's ruling.

Gunman Targeted Divorce Adversaries In Arizona Rampage

PHOENIX - All five people shot dead by an elderly Arizona man on Thursday appear to have been targeted by him for the adversarial role they played in his bitter 2008 divorce, including his ex-wife, authorities said on Friday.

Wildfire Consumes Homes In Eastern Arizona

PHOENIX - A stubborn 5-day-old wildfire that has forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in eastern Arizona grew dramatically to 106,000 acres on Friday, claiming as many as seven dwellings, officials said.

Girl Falls To Death From New Jersey Ferris Wheel

PHILADELPHIA - An 11-year-old girl on a school trip to the popular shore resort at Wildwood, New Jersey plunged to her death on Friday as she was riding on an amusement park Ferris wheel.

Killer Of Yale Student Sentenced To 44 Years In Prison

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - A lab technician convicted of killing a Yale University student, whose body was found stuffed behind a wall on the day she was to be married, was sentenced to 44 years in prison on Friday at an emotionally wrenching court hearing.

"Dr. Death," Jack Kevorkian, Dies At 83

DETROIT - Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, known as "Dr. Death" for helping more than 100 people end their lives, died early Friday at age 83, his lawyer said.

Two Dozen Charged In Midwest Gambling And Drug Ring

MILWAUKEE - Twenty-four people were charged Thursday with federal drug trafficking and gambling offenses in a ring that stretched from the Pacific Northwest to Minnesota, Milwaukee and northern Illinois.

Blagojevich Combative And Argumentative At Trial

CHICAGO - Rod Blagojevich was combative and argumentative when prosecutors in his corruption trial began their long-awaited cross-examination of the former Illinois governor on Thursday.

Death Toll From Joplin Tornado Rises To 138: Officials

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The death toll from the May 22 Joplin, Missouri tornado rose to 138 Thursday, after hospitals confirmed four additional deaths from injuries, state officials said.

Massachusetts Surveys Damage After Tornadoes

SPRINGFIELD, Mass - Massachusetts residents on Thursday dug out from damage left by tornadoes that ripped through the state, killing at least four people.

Youth Wins Spelling Bee With "cymotrichous"

WASHINGTON - Most people could not spell "cymotrichous" with a dictionary, but a 14 year-old girl from Pennsylvania, Sukanya Roy, spelled the word on Thursday to win a marathon-length 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Mazda To End U.S. Production By 2013, Cancel Ford JV: Report

TOKYO - Mazda Motor will cease production in the United States by around 2013 and cancel its joint venture with Ford as the automaker is reviewing its global production system, the Nikkei business daily reported on its website on Friday.

Murder Victim's Remains Found In Trash Can And Flower Pots

LOS ANGELES - A Southern California woman has been charged with murder after police found her wheeling around a trash barrel filled with dirt and the partial remains of her slain boyfriend, authorities said on Thursday.

Shooting In Yuma, Arizona, Leaves 6 Dead

PHOENIX - A man apparently angry over a divorce case went on a shooting spree in and around Yuma, Arizona, on Thursday, killing five people and wounding another before taking his own life, authorities said.

U.S. Teenager Mistakenly Killed By Costa Rica Hotel Guard

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - A U.S. high school student was shot dead by a hotel security guard in Costa Rica on Thursday after being mistaken for a thief, police said.

In Jail Visits, Casey Anthony's Mother Sought Answers

ORLANDO, Fla - The mother of accused child killer Casey Anthony asked pointed questions about 2-year-old granddaughter Caylee's fate in a video of a jailhouse visit played on Thursday for jurors.

Texas Inmate Executed For Killing Security Guard

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas on Wednesday executed a man who shot and killed a security guard during a 1988 robbery at a Dallas grocery store.

Four Killed In Small Plane Crash In Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - Four people were killed on Wednesday when a single-engine plane crashed near a small airport on the Utah-Nevada border, officials said.

Soldier Convicted Of Killing Wife, Baby Daughter

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A U.S. Army soldier was convicted on Wednesday of murdering his wife and infant daughter a year ago, shortly after he returned from Afghanistan.

Former Anchorage Cop Admits Being Illegal Immigrant

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An illegal immigrant who served as an Anchorage police officer for six years under a fake name pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges.

Casey Anthony Told Police Toddler Was Kidnapped

ORLANDO - In a calm, confident voice, accused child killer Casey Anthony told investigators on July 16, 2008 that her 2-year-old daughter Caylee had been kidnapped by her nanny, according to a taped statement played Wednesday for jurors.

Anthony Weiner Uncertain Whether Lewd Photo Was Of Him

WASHINGTON - New York Congressman Anthony Weiner said on Wednesday that he did not send a lewd photo over his Twitter account but cannot be sure that the photo was not of him.

Medical Marijuana Superstore Opens On Arizona

PHOENIX - Some local wags are calling it the "Wal-Mart of Weed" or "Home DePot."

Man Kills Himself In San Francisco Bay As Police Watch

SAN FRANCISCO - Officials in the town of Alameda, California, are revising rescue procedures after the suicide of a man who waded into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay and succumbed to hypothermia as firefighters and police watched from shore.

At Least Four Dead In Massachusetts Storms

CONWAY, Mass - At least four people were killed when storms and tornadoes tore through heavily populated western and central Massachusetts on Wednesday, causing widespread damage across some 19 communities, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said.

Death Toll From Joplin Tornado Is 134, Officials Say

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Missouri officials on Wednesday announced that 134 people died in the May 22 tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri.