Drunk Father Lets 8-year-old Son Drive Pickup: Police

NEW ORLEANS - A drunk father allegedly allowed his 8 year-old son to drive his pick-up truck on a southeast Louisiana highway on Saturday while he slept, until patrol officers pulled over the boy, police said.

Two Killed In Plane Crash Near Grand Canyon

PHOENIX - A rescue crew on Saturday located the bodies of two men in the burned wreckage of a small aircraft that went missing while flying near the Grand Canyon the night before, authorities said.

Chicago Museum Of Veterans' Art Battles For Survival

CHICAGO - Joe Fornelli knows the art of survival.

Rural Doctor Shortage Prompts Opening Of Medical School

KANSAS CITY, Kan - A Kansas college hopes young doctors will be more willing to practice in small towns if they go to a medical school in a rural area.

US Airways Pilots Deny Illegal Work Slowdown

NEW YORK - A union representing US Airways Group Inc pilots on Sunday rejected the carrier's accusations that it was encouraging an illegal work slowdown, resulting in more flight and baggage delays and increased cancellations.

FBI Offers $25,000 Reward In Case Of Missing N.H. Girl

BOSTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the location of a missing 11-year-old New Hampshire girl last seen nearly a week ago, and the arrest of anyone responsible for her disappearance.

Four Dead After Planes Collide In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Four people were confirmed dead in a plane that crashed and burned after colliding in mid-air with another plane near Trapper Creek, Alaska, state troopers said late on Saturday.

Five Deaths From Joplin Tornado Linked To Fungal Infection

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Injuries sustained from wood splinters or other materials triggered a rare fungal infection that may have contributed to the deaths of five people in the May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined.

One Dies, 3 Wounded In Shooting Near George Clinton Concert

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A fistfight that began near a family unity festival headlined by funk musician George Clinton ended in gunfire, killing one and injuring three, Cleveland police said on Sunday.

Hot Weather Persists In Central United States

SAN ANTONIO - Sticky heat was expected to smother much of the country's midsection in the coming days as hotter-than-usual temperatures continued to roast parts of the Midwest and South, forecasters said on Sunday.

One-of-a-kind Transparent "Ghost Car" Sold At Auction

CHICAGO - Some car enthusiasts prefer black - some red. But a buyer at a Michigan auction Saturday got a truly one-of-a-kind color -- transparent.

Seattle Mayor Signs Medical Pot Regulations

SEATTLE - Seattle's mayor signed into law on Wednesday a licensing system for medical marijuana distribution, with the city's attorney vowing to show that pot regulation can be done "safely and humanely."

Two Killed In Crash Of Wright Brothers Replica Plane

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two men were killed in Ohio on Saturday while testing a replica of a Wright brothers biplane.

Little Drought Relief After Tropical Storm Don Fizzles

MCALLEN, Texas - Sunshine and warm temperatures returned to rain-starved South Texas after Tropical Storm Don fizzled across the region before dawn Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

Anxiety In Afghanistan Over Troops Pay If U.S. Defaults

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - It is unclear if the United States will be able to pay troops on time in the event of a debt default, the top U.S. military officer told troops in Afghanistan on Saturday.

Drunk Father Lets 8-year-old Son Drive Pickup: Police

NEW ORLEANS - A drunk father allegedly allowed his 8 year-old son to drive his pick-up truck on a southeast Louisiana highway on Saturday while he slept, until patrol officers pulled over the boy, police said.

Two Killed In Plane Crash Near Grand Canyon

PHOENIX - A rescue crew on Saturday located the bodies of two men in the burned wreckage of a small aircraft that went missing while flying near the Grand Canyon the night before, authorities said.

Driver Swipes L.A. Police Cruisers, Injures 4 Officers

LOS ANGELES - Four Los Angeles police officers were injured on Saturday, one of them critically, when a 64 year-old woman who may have been asleep at the wheel struck their cruisers, police said.

FBI Offers $25,000 Reward In Case Of Missing N.H. Girl

BOSTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the location of a missing 11-year-old New Hampshire girl last seen nearly a week ago, and the arrest of anyone responsible for her disappearance.

Five Deaths From Joplin Tornado Linked To Fungal Infection

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Injuries sustained from wood splinters or other materials triggered a rare fungal infection that may have contributed to the deaths of five people in the May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined.

Jailed Las Vegas Man Stabs Cellmate To Death With Pencil

LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas man jailed on charges of murdering his nephew killed his cellmate on Friday, stabbing him with a pencil during a fight in their cell, police said.

US Airways Files Suit Against Pilot Union

NEW YORK - US Airways Group filed a lawsuit on Friday against the labor union representing its pilots that asks a federal court to prevent the group from participating in activities the airline claims are affecting its operations.

Drought-hit Bears Head For Texas Urban Areas

MARFA, Texas - A historic Texas drought is driving bears into urban areas searching for food and water, the latest in a series of bizarre wildlife stories to come out of the deadly hot and dry weather across the nation.

Montana Defends Curbs On Prison Inmate Mail

SALMON, Idaho - Attorneys for Montana's prison system on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union claiming the state illegally imposed an "English-only" policy on inmates' mail.

Comic Andy Dick Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Abuse Charges

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Comedian Andy Dick pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges he sexually abused a security guard and another man at a West Virginia bar by grabbing their crotches.

Price Tag For Casey Anthony Case Near $700,000

ORLANDO, Fla - The Casey Anthony murder investigation and trial cost taxpayers almost $700,000, based on new tallies on Friday from the major agencies involved in the case.

California Moves Presidential Primary To June

SAN FRANCISCO - California has moved its presidential primary to June, consolidating trips to the poll to save money in an election that most voters in the Democratic leaning state see as a foregone conclusion.

Delta Planes Clip One Another On Ground At Chicago Airport

CHICAGO - Two Delta passenger planes clipped one another on the ground at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Friday, but no injuries were reported, the airline said.

Tropical Storm Don Limps Onto Texas Coast, Little Rain

MCALLEN, Texas - Tropical Storm Don limped ashore on the south Texas Gulf Coast on Friday with mild winds and less precipitation than rain-starved Texans had been hoping for, the National Weather Service said.

Polygamist Leader, In Court Outburst, Says Is Persecuted

SAN ANTONIO - Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs interrupted his Texas child sexual assault trial on Friday, shouting that his religious rights were being violated and warning the court it was stomping on "sacred ground".

Prosecutors To Use DNA Against Polygamist Leader

SAN ANTONIO - Prosecutors trying polygamist leader Warren Jeffs on child sexual assault charges plan to use the DNA of a child conceived in a union with a 14-year-old girl to convict him in a Texas court.

Defense Rests In Trial Of Katrina Police Officers

NEW ORLEANS - The defense rested its case on Thursday in the trial of five New Orleans police officers charged in connection with the shooting deaths of two unarmed civilians during the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Drought-stricken Texas Welcomes Tropical Storm Don

SAN ANTONIO - As much of Texas suffers through one of its worst droughts, many rain-starved Texans are doing something they thought they would never do -- looking forward to the arrival of a tropical storm.

Loughner Attorneys Challenge Medication Order

CHICAGO - Attorneys for Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner are challenging a court order that allows prison officials to medicate him against his will.

Green Bay Packer Meeting Festive After End To NFL Lockout

GREEN BAY, Wis - Green Bay Packer shareholder Jackie Krueger, tailgating in a hotel parking lot before the team's shareholder meeting on Thursday, had one word about the end of this year's player lockout: "YES!"

Idaho Plans For Extensive Wolf Hunts, Trapping

SALMON, Idaho - Idaho will open its wolf population, now estimated at about 1,000 animals, to extensive hunting and trapping to reduce their numbers to no fewer than 150 under a plan approved on Thursday by the state Fish and Game Commission.

Former Yankees Pitcher Irabu Dead In Apparent Suicide

LOS ANGELES - Former Major League Baseball pitcher Hideki Irabu, who started for the New York Yankees for three seasons in the late 1990s, was found dead at his Los Angeles-area home in an apparent suicide, the coroner's office said on Thursday.

Weather Disasters Seen Costly Sign Of Things To Come

WASHINGTON - The United States is on a pace in 2011 to set a record for the cost of weather-related disasters and the trend is expected to worsen as climate change continues, officials and scientists said on Thursday.

Girl Found Suffocated Was Locked In Box As Punishment

PHOENIX - Four adult relatives of an Arizona girl found suffocated in a storage bin have been arrested after investigators determined she was locked in the container as punishment for taking a popsicle without permission.

Police Say Arrest Of Soldier Foiled "terror Plot"

KILLEEN, Texas - An Army soldier arrested with suspected bomb-making materials near Fort Hood, Texas, was hatching a "terror plot" to attack military personnel, police said on Thursday.

Freight Train With Chemical Cars Derails In California

LOS ANGELES - A Union Pacific freight train hauling about 14 chemical cars derailed on Wednesday in a desert town north of Los Angeles, prompting the evacuation of at least 100 homes, but the railroad said the overturned tankers were all empty.

U.S. Soldier Found Guilty Of Killing Afghan Civilian

NASHVILLE - A U.S. National Guardsman who shot an Afghan electrician in the head at close range last year was found guilty of premeditated murder on Wednesday in his court-martial at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Seattle Mayor Signs Medical Pot Regulations

SEATTLE - Seattle's mayor signed into law on Wednesday a licensing system for medical marijuana distribution, with the city's attorney vowing to show that pot regulation can be done "safely and humanely."

Hordes Of Hungry Bats Both Delight And Darken Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - There are 1.5 million bats living under a bridge in downtown Austin, and a historic Texas drought is making them hungrier than ever.

Forced Labor Trial Begins For Two Hawaii Farmers

HONOLULU - Jury selection began on Wednesday in the trial of two Hawaii farmers charged with conspiring to coerce at least 30 impoverished Thai nationals into forced labor under the guise of a guest worker program.

Seattle Man Accused In 1957 Murder Back In Illinois

CHICAGO - A Seattle man accused of killing a young Chicago-area girl five decades ago was back in Illinois on Wednesday as investigators exhumed the child's remains in search of forensic evidence to help convict him.

Fresh DNA Evidence Boosts Defense In 1993 Arkansas Slayings

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Newly tested DNA evidence in the 1993 killings of three 8-year-old Cub Scouts in Arkansas has failed to link the crimes to the men convicted in the murders, including one on Death Row, advocates for the men said on Wednesday.

Florida Murderer Caught 32 Years After Prison Escape

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - Authorities on Wednesday captured a man in Colorado who escaped nearly 32 years ago from the Florida prison where he was serving a life sentence for murder.

Officer Says Was Stricken By Fear Before Post-Katrina Shooting

NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans police officer who killed an unarmed man during a police shooting after Hurricane Katrina told a jury on Wednesday he felt "indescribable fear" in the moments before the shooting.

Obama Healthcare Battle Appealed To Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - A Michigan-based legal group on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to review and overturn a decision that found President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law constitutional.

Texas Jail Guard Guilty Of Serving Up Hacksaw Blade

SAN ANTONIO - In old movies, the inmate usually got a hacksaw blade secreted into his cell baked in a cake.

Florida Policeman Charged With Drunken Beach Crash

MIAMI - A Florida policeman was arrested on Tuesday on charges of drunkenly crashing an all-terrain vehicle into a pair of beach-goers after a bout of on-duty revelry at an oceanfront Miami Beach bar.

NOAA Withdraws Permission For Sea Lion Killings

PORTLAND, Ore - The federal government reversed itself on Tuesday and withdrew permission it had granted to Oregon and Washington state to euthanize sea lions caught gobbling endangered salmon on the Columbia River.

Illinois Congressman Arrested In Front Of White House

WASHINGTON - Democratic Congressman Luis Gutierrez was arrested in front of the White House on Tuesday afternoon while protesting deportation of illegal immigrants, a spokesman said.

Utah Police Identify Mystery Jail Inmate

SALT LAKE CITY - Police in Utah identified a mystery man on Tuesday who was arrested on minor charges and sat in a jail under the name "John Doe" for over three weeks because he would not reveal his true identity.

Rural Americans Face Greater Lack Of Healthcare Access: Report

WASHINGTON - Rural Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and cancer, and face greater difficulty accessing quality healthcare than urban counterparts, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Casey Anthony Judge Blasts Media, Holds Back Juror Names

ORLANDO, Fla - The names of jurors in the Casey Anthony murder trial will remain secret until at least October 25 to allow those enraged by her acquittal to "compose and restrain themselves," according to the judge's order on Tuesday.

Memphis School Board Approves Deal To Start Class On Time

MEMPHIS, Tenn - The Memphis Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a financial compromise deal to allow city schools to start on time on August 8, averting a threatened delayed start.

U.S. Olympic Skier Commits Suicide In Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - Olympic silver medalist skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson has committed suicide near Salt Lake City, days after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, police said on Tuesday.

Guns From U.S. Sting Found At Mexican Crime Scenes

WASHINGTON - At least 122 firearms from a botched U.S. undercover operation have been found at crime scenes in Mexico or intercepted en route to drug cartels there, a Republican congressional report issued on Tuesday said.

Florida Execution Stayed To Allow Hearing On Drug Concerns

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - The Florida Supreme Court temporarily halted on Monday the execution of a man convicted of killing a police officer and ordered a hearing on his concerns about the state's new death penalty drug.

Olympic Skier Pleads Not Guilty To Drunk Driving

SALMON, Idaho - Olympic skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson has been charged with misdemeanor drunk driving after he was pulled over for motoring well above the speed limit along an Idaho road, authorities said on Monday.

Tape: Accused Katrina Policeman Remembered Civilians Had Guns

NEW ORLEANS - A secretly recorded conversation played in a New Orleans courtroom on Monday seemed to cast doubt on the government's claim no civilians had guns when police shot at them in the days following Hurricane Katrina.

Yard Banner For Deployed U.S. Marine Sparks Legal Tussle

NEW ORLEANS - When Corey Burr left to serve with U.S. forces in Afghanistan in January, his parents erected a banner in their front yard with his photo and a message: "Our son defends our freedom".

Religious Groups Set Prayer Vigil For U.S. Debt Deal

WASHINGTON - Across the street from the U.S. Capitol in the small north lawn of the United Methodist Building, Christians, Muslims and Jews will pray on Tuesday for the country's budget, and hope to teach Republicans and Democrats a lesson in compromise.

California "Dream Act" Approved For Illegal Immigrants

LOS ANGELES - California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on Monday a bill allowing illegal immigrants to receive privately funded scholarships to attend the state's public colleges and universities.

Bond Set At $1 Million In Seattle-area Gun Rampage

SEATTLE - A man accused of opening fire on his estranged wife, her boyfriend and five others in a crowded casino nightclub near Seattle was ordered held on $1 million bond on Monday to face charges of attempted murder.

New York Hopes For Economic Boost From Gay Marriage

NEW YORK - New York City businesses hope the Big Apple will become the destination of choice for same-sex marriages, with hotels, wedding planners and caterers vying for a slice of the potentially lucrative trade.

Oregon Lawmaker Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Will Not Run

PORTLAND, Ore - Oregon Democratic Congressman David Wu, accused of an unwanted sexual encounter with the teenage daughter of a campaign contributor, has decided not to run for reelection next year, a spokesman said on Monday.

Back To Business For NFL As Labor Dispute Settled

NEW YORK - The National Football League (NFL) and its players ended their months-long row over how to carve up their financial empire Monday by agreeing to a multi-billion dollar, 10-year deal.

At Least Eight Wounded In Seattle-area Shooting

SEATTLE - At least eight people were injured in a mass shooting at a car show in suburban Seattle on Saturday, police said.

Gas Jumps More Than 8.5 Cents Per Gallon In U.S.: Survey

NEW YORK - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose for the first time since early May following an increase in the price of crude oil, according to the latest nationwide Lundberg survey released on Sunday.

Texas Trial Of Alleged Polygamist Leader To Start This Week

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Flora Jessop never believed that Warren Steed Jeffs, the man she was taught to revere as son and heir of the "prophet, seer and revelator of God," would ever face justice -- let alone Texas justice.

Grizzly Bear Attacks Seven Teens In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A grizzly bear has attacked seven teenagers in Alaska, injuring four of them, Alaska State Troopers said on Sunday.

Man Accused Of Shooting Wife, 6 Others At Washington Casino

SEATTLE - A gunman walked onto a dance floor at a Seattle area casino on Sunday and opened fire on his estranged wife and her companion, injuring seven people, police said.

Gunman Targeted Wife, Family In Texas Birthday Party Massacre

DALLAS - A man who opened fire on his estranged wife and her relatives at a family birthday party, killing five people and himself and wounding four others, had been having ongoing marital problems, police said on Sunday.

East Coast Sees Slight Relief From Dangerous Heat Wave

WASHINGTON - The powerful heat and humidity that plagued the eastern half of the United States for days started to fade on Sunday, to the relief of many sweltering residents, forecasters said.

U.S. Airlines Fight Prospect Of Higher Security Fees

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines are fighting the prospect of sharply higher passenger security fees that could be part of any deficit-reduction plan.

Bodies Of 2 Missing Boaters Found In Wisconsin River Crash

MILWAUKEE - The bodies of two men missing since a fatal boating accident on a Wisconsin river last week were found on Sunday, authorities said.

New York State Celebrates First Same-sex Marriages

NEW YORK - Wedding fever hit New York on Sunday, as hundreds of gay and lesbian couples married on the first day that same-sex marriage became legal in the state.

Woman Accuses Oregon Congressman Of Unwanted Sexual Encounter

PORTLAND, Oregon - Democratic Oregon Congressman David Wu has been accused by a teenage girl of an unwanted sexual encounter, and has called the accusation "very serious."

Two Grandmothers In First Legal Gay Marriage In NY

NIAGARA FALLS, New York - Two women, both grandmothers, became New York state's first legally wed same-sex couple early on Sunday, with traditional honeymoon capital Niagara Falls as the backdrop for the historic event.

Historic Walter Reed Army Hospital Prepares For Move

WASHINGTON - The storied Walter Reed Army Medical Center will retire its ceremonial flags on Wednesday, as it prepares to close its doors after more than a century of treating wounded American fighters and presidents.

Heavy Rains Soak Chicago As East Coast Steams

CHICAGO - Overnight rains dumped nearly 7 inches of rain on Chicago early Saturday, breaking a record for the city, canceling flights, and causing parts of highways and train lines to shut down.

Appeals Court Denies Bid To Halt Medicating Loughner

TUCSON, Arizona - A federal appeals court has denied a motion to stop prison officials from giving accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner anti-psychotic medication against his will.

Two Dead, Two Missing In Wisconsin Boat Crash

MILWAUKEE - A boat containing six people who were part of a wedding party collided with a speed boat on the Chippewa River near Eau Claire, Wis., leaving two dead and two missing, officials said Saturday.

At Least Eight Wounded In Seattle-area Shooting

SEATTLE - At least eight people were injured in a mass shooting at a car show in suburban Seattle on Saturday, police said.

Three Dead In Shooting At Arizona Motorcycle Rally

PHOENIX - A shooting late Friday at a motorcycle rally in Northern Arizona left three dead and one critically wounded, police said on Saturday.

6 Dead, 4 Injured In Texas Roller Rink Shooting

AUSTIN, Texas - A gunman opened fire at a family birthday party at a North Texas roller rink late on Saturday, killing five people and wounding four others before turning the gun on himself, police said.

Back From War, Young Vets Struggle To Find Good Jobs

SUFFOLK, Va - Given the high unemployment rate among young male veterans, 25-year-old Thomas Jones and 31-year-old Vincent Moore Jr. are thankful to at least have work at a Suffolk, Virginia video game store.

Jersey Shore's Wildwood May End Tradition Of Free Beaches

PHILADELPHIA - Leaders of the popular Jersey shore spot Wildwood are considering changing a tradition that has existed forever -- free beaches.

Spending Dispute Halts Airport Construction

WASHINGTON - Airport projects across the United States will shut down this weekend and thousands of federal workers will be furloughed after Congress failed to agree to fully fund the Federal Aviation Administration.

Two Men Charged With Dodger Stadium Beating

LOS ANGELES - Two men newly arrested in the savage beating of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium were charged on Friday with assault and battery, while an ex-convict jailed two months ago as a suspect was officially exonerated.

Arkansas Natural Sandstone Bridge Sells At Auction

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - It's not every day that a 3-million-year-old natural sandstone bridge hits the auction block.

Tour Bus Crash In Upstate New York Kills One

NEW YORK - A tractor trailer collided with a tour bus in upstate New York on Friday, killing the truck driver, injuring dozens of bus passengers and engulfing both vehicles in flames, state police said.

NY-Boston Amtrak Trains Suspended After Truck Crash

NEW YORK - Amtrak trains between New York and Boston were suspended until Saturday morning after a heavy truck struck overhead power lines near New Haven, Connecticut, an Amtrak spokesman said.

Jury Finds Anthony Sowell Guilty Of 11 Murders

CLEVELAND - A Cleveland jury on Friday found ex-Marine and convicted rapist Anthony Sowell guilty of the serial killing of 11 women whose decomposed remains were found in and around his home.

U.S. Military's Ban On Gays To End On September 20

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Friday announced the U.S. military's ban on gays will end on September 20, in a major victory for rights advocates who overcame concerns about enacting the change during wartime.

From City Hall To Niagara Falls, NY Gays To Marry

NEW YORK - Gay and lesbian couples across New York are gearing up to become bride and bride or groom and groom starting at a minute after midnight on Sunday, when a law making New York the sixth U.S. state to allow such marriages comes into effect.

U.S. East Coast Hit By Searing Heat, Records Broken

BOSTON - East Coast residents sought refuge on Friday from sweltering temperatures, flocking to beaches, pools and air-conditioned malls as the mercury climbed into the triple-digits along the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

Military To Certify Ready For Repeal Of Gay Ban

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon will announce on Friday that the military is ready to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces, the last major hurdle to formally ending the policy, U.S. officials said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Alleged Army Ringleader In Afghan Murders Faces Accuser

TACOMA, Wash - The U.S. Army sergeant charged with murdering unarmed Afghan civilians as ringleader of a rogue combat platoon faced his chief accuser in a military court on Thursday, a soldier who pleaded guilty earlier this year to three killings.

Compromise Deal Proposed To Open Memphis Schools On Time

MEMPHIS, Tenn - Memphis officials came up with a payment plan on Thursday that may allow city schools to start on time after the school board voted to delay classes until it gets $55 million in city funds.

Oregon Woman Killed With Her Children Had Wanted Divorce

PORTLAND, Ore - An Oregon woman killed with her four children in a rampage of arson and stabbings linked to her husband was long aware he was a convicted child molester but never expressed any fear of him, her brother said on Thursday.

Georgia Executes Man For Killing Parents And Sister

ATLANTA - Georgia executed a man on Thursday convicted of killing his parents and sister, and his lethal injection was filmed in compliance with a court order prompted by concerns about one of the drugs used.

Sex, Drugs And Porn Barred From Jeffrey Gundlach Trial

LOS ANGELES - Evidence allegedly showing that star fund manager Jeffrey Gundlach kept a stash of drugs and porn in his office will not see the light of day at trial, a judge ruled in a lawsuit pitting Gundlach against his former employer.

Texas Leaders Debate Teaching Creationism In Schools

SAN ANTONIO - A Texas vote on middle school curriculum due on Friday has become the latest battleground over the teaching of creationism or "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution in public schools.

Alabama Gets Millions In Tornado Aid, Many Still Wait

TUSCALOOSA, Ala - Nearly three months after tornadoes slammed into Alabama, only 18 percent of residents who applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have received it.

Casey Anthony Gets Job Offers, Taxpayers Get Legal Bill

ORLANDO, Fla - The $537 balance Casey Anthony received from her jail canteen fund is hardly enough to live on, but the Florida woman seems to be managing fine since her release from custody on Sunday.

Massive, Deadly Heat Wave Spreads From Midwest To East

NEW YORK - Sweating crowds on the East Coast and in the Midwest flocked to waterfronts and urban cooling centers on Thursday to escape a massive heat wave that has killed at least 22 people this week.

Astronauts Close Shuttle Doors For Last Flight Home

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - The shuttle Atlantis astronauts closed their spaceship's cargo bay doors on Thursday, aiming to conclude the final U.S. space shuttle mission with a predawn landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Nearly Two Dozen Dead As Heat Wave Moves East

CHICAGO - A heat wave baking the central and southern United States was blamed on Wednesday for at least 22 deaths this week as forecasters warned that the abnormally hot weather could last into August as it moves east.

Texas Executes Man Who Says He Killed For 9/11 Revenge

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas on Wednesday executed a man for killing a store clerk near Dallas in 2001 in what he had called a "patriotic" act of retaliation for the 9/11 attacks.

Georgia Delays Execution For Man Who Killed Family

ATLANTA - Georgia on Wednesday delayed the execution of a man convicted of fatally stabbing his parents and his 14-year-old sister in their suburban Atlanta home in 1993.

Autopsy Shows Brooklyn Boy Was Drugged, Then Smothered

NEW YORK - An 8-year-old Brooklyn boy who was butchered last week after getting lost on his way home from a summer camp was fed a cocktail of drugs before he was smothered with a towel, an autopsy revealed on Wednesday.

Case Of Accused Ohio Serial Killer Goes To Jury

CLEVELAND - The fate of accused Ohio serial killer Anthony Sowell, charged with killing 11 women whose remains were dumped around his home, was in the hands of a jury on Wednesday after lawyers wrapped up their final arguments.

Pearl Harbor Skull Could Date To World War II

HONOLULU - Military scientists are trying to determine if a skull found in Pearl Harbor among debris dating to the 1940s belonged to a World War II Japanese fighter pilot, officials said on Wednesday.

Police Bust Prostitution Ring Catering To Wall Street

NEW YORK - A high-end prostitution ring catering to Wall Street clients who often would spend over $10,000 for a night bingeing on sex and cocaine has been busted and 17 people indicted, authorities said on Wednesday.

Only Seven Atlanta Educators Quit Amid Cheating Scandal

ATLANTA - Just seven of 178 Atlanta educators implicated in a standardized test cheating scandal resigned or retired on Wednesday to avoid being fired, a school spokesman said.

Airport Body Scanners To Nix Naked Image

WASHINGTON - New software for screening travelers at U.S. airports will do away with naked images, addressing a major public concern, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday.

Five Amish Farmers Die In New York Road Crash

NEW YORK - At least five Amish farmers were killed on Tuesday in upstate New York when a car trying to overtake a slow-moving tractor collided head-on with their van in what police described as a horrific crash.

Rescue Workers Search For Hiker At Yosemite Waterfall

LOS ANGELES - Rescue workers at Yosemite National Park were looking for at least one hiker who they fear may have fallen into the Merced River on Tuesday and been swept over the 320-foot Vernal waterfall, a park spokeswoman said.

Defense Tries To Shake FBI Account Of Post-Katrina Shooting

NEW ORLEANS - Lawyers for police officers on trial over a deadly 2005 shooting in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina tried on Tuesday to knock down the government's assertion that only police had fired their guns.

Pearl Harbor Tea Service Conjures Spirit Of Peace

HONOLULU - A Japanese war veteran in black robes sought to silently conjure the spirit of peace and reconciliation on Tuesday as he prepared tea over the watery graves of 1,177 Americans killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor nearly 70 years ago.

Woman, 3 Daughters Killed In Wyoming Flash Flood

SALMON, Idaho - A Colorado woman and her three young daughters were killed on Tuesday when their car was swept into a stream by flash floods in a national forest in south-central Wyoming, authorities said.

Democrat Declares Victory In First Wisconsin Recall

GREEN BAY, Wis - A Democratic state lawmaker forced to defend his seat in a recall election on Tuesday as a result of Wisconsin's bitter battle over Republican curbs on collective bargaining declared victory in the vote.

Health Body Backs Free Birth Control For Women

WASHINGTON - A U.S. medical advisory group recommended providing women free birth control and other preventive health services under the nation's healthcare overhaul.

Many Fear Alzheimer's, Want To Be Tested: Survey

PARIS - Alzheimer's is the second-most feared disease after cancer and many people say they would seek testing for themselves or a loved one even if they did not have symptoms, U.S. and European researchers said on Wednesday.

Minnesota Budget Bills Moving Through Legislature

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's legislature opened a special session on Tuesday and quickly began approving bills for a budget deal brokered by Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican leaders to end a state shutdown.

Holder Open To Meeting Sept 11 Families On Hacking

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder is willing to meet the families of people killed in the September 11 attacks who are concerned about reports that News Corp journalists may have tried to get victims' phone records, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Dodgers Owner: Proposed MLB Loan "deal With The Devil"

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt argued in court papers filed on Monday that taking a loan from Major League Baseball would be akin to a "deal with the devil."

N.D. State Senate Majority Leader Dies In Alaska Car Crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The majority leader of North Dakota's Republican-controlled state Senate was killed on Monday when the vehicle he was driving back from a fishing trip veered off a road and crashed in Alaska.

Behind Foreclosure Corner-cutting, Troves Of Missing Documents

NEW YORK - Why have sketchy mortgage procedures been so difficult to root out? Some lawyers blame misguided efforts to cut costs. Most foreclosures are uncontested, they note. And so servicers save money by avoiding costly searches for missing original documents or hiring additional staff to deal with the surge in foreclosures.

Johns Hopkins Ranks Top Among 5,000 Hospitals For 22nd Year

WASHINGTON - The title of "Best Hospital" in the United States goes to ... The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Again.

Accused N.Y.-L.A. Airline Stowaway Pleads Not Guilty

LOS ANGELES - A Nigerian-American man pleaded not guilty on Monday to sneaking onto a commercial airline flight in a case that revealed an apparent lapse in security screening at one of the nation's busiest airports.

Seattle Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations

SEATTLE - The City Council voted on Monday to establish a municipal licensing and regulation system for medical marijuana distribution in Seattle under a new Washington state law that takes effect later this week.

Casey Anthony's Attorneys Mum On Her Whereabouts

ORLANDO, Fla - An attorney for Casey Anthony would not confirm on Monday whether his client boarded a plane after her swift weekend exit from jail but said "elaborate plans" were required to keep her safe.

Minnesota Grinds Budget Details To End Shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota political leaders on Monday were grinding toward reaching agreements on budget details needed to end a now 18-day-old state government shutdown that has left thousands of state workers furloughed.

Heat Wave Scorches Central United States

CHICAGO - A stifling heat wave in the nation's midsection intensified on Monday, closing government buildings that lacked air-conditioning and prompting warnings to residents to keep as cool as possible.

Special Report: Banks Continue Robo-signing

NEW YORK/IMMOKALEE, Florida - America's leading mortgage lenders vowed in March to end the dubious foreclosure practices that caused a bruising scandal last year.

Bankruptcy On The Table For Alabama County: Governor

SALT LAKE CITY - Bankruptcy is still a "very strong possibility" for Alabama's Jefferson County, Governor Robert Bentley said on Saturday -- a move that could make for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

No Tsunami Watch From Magnitude 6.1 Alaska Quake

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude rocked a portion of Alaska's eastern Aleutian Islands on Saturday, but no tsunami warning was anticipated and there were no reports of damage, officials said.

Military Members March For San Diego Gay Pride

SAN DIEGO - A group of U.S. service members marched in a San Diego gay pride parade on Saturday, in a demonstration organizers touted as an unprecedented step for gay and lesbian military personnel under the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Iowa Congressman Helps Fight Off Home Invasion

DES MOINES, Iowa - An eight-term congressman from Iowa helped fight off an armed man who invaded his farm house in Decatur County and attacked his daughter on Saturday night, according to a statement from his office.

Tropical Storm Could Form Near Northern Bahamas

MIAMI - A tropical depression formed in the Atlantic Ocean near the northwest Bahamas on Sunday and forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it could strengthen into Tropical Storm Bret by Monday.

Can Billy The Kid Ever RIP? N.M. Uses Him To Promote Tourism

Santa Fe, New Mexico - Wild West gunslinger Billy the Kid was shot and killed in southern New Mexico 130 years ago, but state officials still can't seem to let him rest in peace.

Amid Security, Anthony Released From Florida Jail

ORLANDO, Fla - Amid tight security, Casey Anthony, a Florida woman found not guilty of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, walked out of a Florida jail early on Sunday.

Worst Heatwave In Years Grips Midwest, Moving East

CHICAGO - An oppressive and potentially deadly summertime mix of sizzling temperatures and high humidity baked a large swath of the country again on Sunday, pushing afternoon heat indexes in dozens of cities to dangerous levels.

Minnesota Leaders Report Progress Toward Ending Shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's political leaders on Sunday touted "considerable progress" in negotiating details of a state budget accord but did not say when a special legislative session might be held to end a 17-day government shutdown.

L.A. "Carmageddon" That Never Was Ends Early

LOS ANGELES - A key Los Angeles freeway closed for construction work reopened some 18 hours ahead of schedule on Sunday, bringing an early end to a much-hyped "Carmageddon" traffic crisis that never materialized, officials said.

Legionnaires' Outbreak Reported At Las Vegas Resort

LAS VEGAS - A luxury resort on the Las Vegas strip has been linked to cases of the sometimes deadly Legionnaires' disease that has sickened a handful of guests since 2009, health officials and the hotel said on Friday.

Court Temporarily Reinstates "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

LOS ANGELES - A federal appeals court has reversed itself and temporarily reinstated the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military, but it has blocked the Pentagon from significant enforcement of the policy.

South Carolina Beach City Remembers Black Civil War Soldiers

FOLLY BEACH, South Carolina -- The tiny island city of Folly Beach, South Carolina, paid tribute this week to Union soldiers whose bones were found there more than a century after the Civil War ended.

Police Warn Border Senator Known As "Z" Off Beloved Initial

AUSTIN, Texas, July 16 - A Texas state senator's beloved signature symbol will be reluctantly stripped from her campaign vehicle and rally signs this weekend after police in her border town warned it could draw unwelcome attention from Mexican drug cartels.

Bankruptcy On The Table For Alabama County: Governor

SALT LAKE CITY - Bankruptcy is still a "very strong possibility" for Alabama's Jefferson County, Governor Robert Bentley said on Saturday -- a move that could make for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

No Tsunami Watch From Magnitude 6.1 Alaska Quake

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude rocked a portion of Alaska's eastern Aleutian Islands on Saturday, but no tsunami warning was anticipated and there were no reports of damage, officials said.

Military Members March For San Diego Gay Pride

SAN DIEGO - A group of U.S. service members marched in a San Diego gay pride parade on Saturday, in a demonstration organizers touted as an unprecedented step for gay and lesbian military personnel under the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Heat Wave Plunges Much Of U.S. Into A Deep Fryer

WASHINGTON - Fiery reds and oranges nearly covered the United States on meteorologist maps as a massive heat wave hit hard in much of the country on Saturday.

Light Traffic In LA Despite Carmageddon

LOS ANGELES - Traffic moved fast in Los Angeles on Saturday despite a freeway shutdown and a so-called "Carmageddon" with the potential to clog streets, as a race between a plane and bicyclists upstaged fears of congestion.

Casey Anthony Released From Florida Jail

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony was released from a Florida jail on Sunday to resume the life on the outside interrupted three years ago when she was charged with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.

Bear Mauls Boy At Colorado Bowhunting Gathering

DENVER - A marauding black bear tore through a mountain campsite at a bowhunters gathering in west-central Colorado on Friday and mauled a teenage boy, wildlife officials said.

Casey Anthony Plans To Appeal Convictions For Lying

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony will appeal her convictions on four charges of lying to detectives who investigated the disappearance and death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, a notice filed on Friday by her attorneys said.

Los Angeles Has Traffic Jitters As "Carmageddon" Begins

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles on Friday began closing a crucial freeway, the 405, touching off what officials warn could be a grueling weekend of epic traffic jams that locals have dubbed "Carmageddon."

Church To Pay $1.75 Million To Father Over Son's Abuse: Lawyer

CHICAGO - An Illinois-based Catholic group agreed on Friday to pay $1.75 million to the father of a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually abused by one of its priests in Florida after the two met in an Internet chatroom.

San Diego Gay Pride March To Feature Active Duty Military

SAN DIEGO - A weekend gay pride parade in San Diego will feature a large contingent of active-duty and retired military personnel, opening service members to possible discipline in the waning days of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," organizers said on Friday.

Accused Ohio Serial Killer, In Video, Admits Sex With Victims

CLEVELAND - Jurors in the capital murder trial of accused Ohio serial killer Anthony Sowell watched on Friday as he admitted in a videotaped interrogation to having sex with six women whose remains were found on his property.

Legionnaires' Outbreak Reported At Las Vegas Resort

LAS VEGAS - A luxury resort on the Las Vegas strip has been linked to cases of the sometimes deadly Legionnaires' disease that has sickened a handful of guests since 2009, health officials and the hotel said on Friday.

Minnesota Budget Deal Pushes Reckoning Down The Road

MINNEAPOLIS - A tentative budget deal in Minnesota pushes long-term fiscal problems two years down the road even as it aims to end the longest state shutdown in recent U.S. memory, experts said on Friday.

Upper Midwest Braces For Dangerous And Long Heat Wave

CHICAGO - A heat wave hovering in the central and southern states is expanding north to states not accustomed to intense and prolonged heat.

Grand Jury Hears Evidence In Slaying Of Brooklyn Boy

NEW YORK - A grand jury began hearing evidence on Friday against a man who confessed to butchering an 8-year-old Brooklyn boy, as the child's family thanked those who searched in vain for their son.

Katrina Shooting Victim Hit By Bullets From Three Guns: Expert

NEW ORLEANS - A teenager shot dead by police shortly after Hurricane Katrina was hit by bullets from at least three different guns, and received most of his wounds while lying on the ground, a pathologist said on Thursday.

Another Blast Of Heat To Hit U.S.

CHICAGO - A massive heat wave is expected to develop over much of the central and eastern United States beginning on Friday with heat index values that could reach 115 degrees.

Tentative October Trial Date Set For John Edwards

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - Former U.S. senator and presidential candidate John Edwards learned on Thursday that he could stand trial as early as October on charges he violated campaign finance laws to cover up an affair.

Girlfriend Of Drug Company Exec Found Dead At His Home

SAN DIEGO - The girlfriend of a prominent pharmaceutical executive was found bound, nude and hanged from a balcony at his mansion near San Diego, and homicide detectives said on Thursday they have not ruled out suicide.

Jurors See Accused Ohio Serial Killer Say He Hears Voices

CLEVELAND - Jurors got their first look on Thursday at an eight-hour videotaped interrogation of accused Ohio serial killer Anthony Sowell, in which he tells police he hears voices and suffers from blackouts.

Soldier Nabbed Boarding Ariz. Flight With Explosive

PHOENIX - Police in Arizona have arrested a soldier after he attempted to board a flight to Los Angeles with a small amount of high-velocity plastic explosive in his baggage, authorities said on Thursday.

Two Delta Planes Collide On Boston Airport Runway

BOSTON - Two Delta Airlines passenger planes collided on the runway at Boston's Logan International Airport on Thursday, causing minor damage, an airport spokesman said.

NY Man Accused Of Killing, Dismembering Boy Is "hearing Voices"

NEW YORK - A Brooklyn man who confessed to smothering and dismembering an 8-year-old boy lost on his first walk home alone was ordered on Thursday to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after complaining of "hearing voices."

FBI To Probe News Corp 9/11 Hacking Allegation

NEW YORK/LONDON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining allegations that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp may have tried to hack into the phone records of victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the agency said on Thursday.

Minnesota Reaches Budget Deal, Shutdown To End Soon

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders said on Thursday they had reached the framework of a budget agreement to end a two-week-old state government shutdown within days.

New York Court Stalls Second Phase Of Brooklyn Arena Project

NEW YORK - New York's Supreme Court on Wednesday stalled the second and much bigger phase of a huge arena-residential complex in Brooklyn, ordering an updated environmental review that includes public hearings.

No Sowell Fingerprints Found On Materials That Wrapped Victims

CLEVELAND - Forensic experts testified on Wednesday that no fingerprints were recovered from materials that wrapped the bodies of women found at accused serial killer Anthony Sowell's house though his DNA was found on many items.

Search Group Sues Casey Anthony For Costly Efforts

ORLANDO, Fla - A non-profit group served Casey Anthony with a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to recoup more than $100,000 it spent on the massive 2008 search for her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, who was later found dead.

Defense Seeks To Bar Victim From Connecticut Home Invasion Trial

CONWAY, Mass - Lawyers for a man on trial for murder in a 2007 Connecticut home invasion that killed a mother and her two daughters have asked a judge to bar the sole survivor of the attack from the courtroom when other witnesses testify.

Calif. Woman Charged With Torture In Severed Penis Case

LOS ANGELES - A California woman was charged with torture on Wednesday after authorities said she cut off her husband's penis with a kitchen knife and ground it up in a garbage disposal.

New Hampshire Police Arrest Man Over Triple Murder

GREENFIELD - New Hampshire authorities arrested a man on Wednesday suspected of committing a triple murder in New York and then abducting his girlfriend and their infant son and fleeing by car to New England.

Jaycee Dugard Book Sells 175,000 Copies On First Day

LOS ANGELES - Rescued kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard's book, "A Stolen Life," sold 175,000 copies in its first day of release, publisher Simon & Schuster said on Wednesday.

Trial: Bullets At Katrina Shooting Match Police Weapons

NEW ORLEANS - Bullets taken from victims of a fatal police shooting during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and from the scene match guns used by three of the police officers involved, a ballistics expert said on Wednesday.

Heat Wave Starts To Ebb In Eastern Half Of Country

WASHINGTON - The heat wave that has embroiled half of the continental United States in triple digit temperatures this week still had southern areas sizzling on Wednesday but spared much of the Northeast.

Mourners Welcome Betty Ford Home To Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich - Somber citizens, some holding American flags, lined the streets and watched on Wednesday as a motorcade returned the body of former first lady Betty Ford to her western Michigan hometown.

Deal May Speed Protections For Imperiled Species

SALMON, Idaho - The government would have until 2018 to decide whether to extend Endangered Species Act protections to hundreds of imperiled animals and plants under a deal with environmentalists submitted on Tuesday for approval by a federal judge.

Wyoming Joins Northern Rocky States Seeking Disaster Aid

CODY, Wyoming - Governor Matt Mead asked on Tuesday for a presidential disaster declaration in Wyoming to free up federal funds to repair roads and bridge damaged by harsh winter weather and flooding.

Arizona Governor Orders Recall Vote For Immigration Law Author

PHOENIX - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Tuesday ordered a special election for November 8 to decide the fate of a high-profile state lawmaker behind Arizona's controversial immigration crackdown.

Arizona Girl Dies In Hide-and-seek Accident, Police Say

PHOENIX - A 10-year-old girl was found dead on Tuesday after she likely suffocated in a storage container she may have climbed into during a game of hide-and-seek at her Phoenix home, authorities said.

Coast Guard Ends Search For Missing California Fishermen

SAN DIEGO - The Coast Guard ended a search on Tuesday for seven California sports fishermen, now presumed dead, who have been missing since the boat they were on capsized off western Mexico earlier this month.

Democrat Takes Lead In California Congressional Race

LOS ANGELES - A Democratic Los Angeles city councilwoman took an early lead on Tuesday in a special election to fill the liberal-leaning California congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman.

Court Extends Stay Against Forcibly Medicating Loughner

PHOENIX - A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner should not have been forced to take anti-psychotic drugs against his will without a judge first ruling on his appeal of the issue.

More Grisly Details In Trial Of Alleged Ohio Serial Killer

CLEVELAND - Testimony in the capital murder trial of alleged serial killer Anthony Sowell continued here on Tuesday with more grisly details of the evidence authorities collected at his home.

Betty Ford Remembered At California Memorial Service

PALM DESERT, Calif - Former first lady Betty Ford was remembered on Tuesday for her activism and pioneering work for addicts at a memorial service in California that drew leading political lights of the past four decades.

Stifling Heat Grips Half U.S., Some Records Set

CHICAGO - Stifling heat gripped half of the continental United States on Tuesday with record high temperatures set in some parts of the Northeast.

Michelle Obama To Attend Ford Service In California

LOS ANGELES - First lady Michelle Obama will attend a memorial service for former first lady Betty Ford in California on Tuesday, the White House said.

Court Tells U.S. To Clarify Stance On Gays In Military

LOS ANGELES - Five days after ordering an end to the ban on openly gay men and women in the military, a U.S. court directed the Obama administration to make clear its legal position on the "Don't, Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Bear-safety Lecture In Yellowstone Interrupted By Bear

CODY, Wyo - Just two days after a rare fatal mauling by a mother grizzly in Yellowstone National Park, a black bear interrupted the taping of a television news segment on bear safety.

Storms Trigger Near-record Chicago Power Outages

CHICAGO - A powerful front of thunderstorms packing winds as strong as 75 miles per hour raked Chicago during the morning commute on Monday, knocking out power to a near-record 817,000 customers.

Firefighter Loses Bid To Sue Over New York Mosque

NEW YORK - A judge dismissed a firefighter's lawsuit over New York City's decision to allow an Islamic cultural center and mosque to be built near the site of the September 11 attacks, a ruling his lawyer said on Monday would be appealed.

23 Indicted In $36 Million Mexican Drug Cartel Smuggling

DENVER - A Colorado grand jury has indicted 23 people allegedly linked to the Los Zetas drug cartel in connection with a ring that prosecutors said on Monday smuggled $36 million worth of marijuana from Mexico in bogus tour buses.

Prosecutors Tie California Man's DNA To Michigan Murder Victim

PONTIAC, Mich - Prosecutors tied a California man by DNA to the victim of a grisly murder on Monday in a trial where defense attorneys were expected to suggest the wounds were similar to those caused for sexual gratification at a suburban Detroit torture chamber.

New Orleans Cops Planted Weapons, Made Up Witnesses: Trial

NEW ORLEANS - Police planted a weapon and fabricated witnesses to cover up the shooting deaths of two civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a New Orleans detective told jurors on Monday.

"Whitey" Bulger's Girlfriend Appears In Court

BOSTON - Former crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger's longtime girlfriend appeared on Monday in federal court in Boston, where an FBI agent described her living under aliases and contacting her family while he was a fugitive.

Minnesota Shutdown Longest In Recent History, No New Talks

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota state government shutdown, now the longest in recent memory in the United States, reached its eleventh day on Monday with no new talks planned between the political leaders.

Island Off Alabama Coast Bursting With Birds After Oil Spill

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Thousands of baby pelicans grunt and hiss at their parents in tightly packed nests on Gaillard Island, a feathered paradise situated off the coast of Alabama.

Connecticut Becomes First State To Mandate Paid Sick Time

BOSTON - Connecticut became the first state in the nation this month to mandate paid sick days for workers, a move advocates say could be a catalyst for similar campaigns in 20 other cities and states considering such a benefit.

Fighter Jets Intercept Third Plane Near Camp David

WASHINGTON - Fighter jets intercepted a private plane near Camp David on Sunday, the third civilian plane this weekend to fly the restricted air space while President Barack Obama was at the Maryland retreat.

Workers Reach Plane That Crashed En Route To Air Convention

SEATTLE - Search and rescue workers battled treacherous mountain terrain on Sunday to recover the bodies of a father and son whose small plane crashed while on the way to an aviation conference, authorities said.

Ellen The Artistic Elephant Mourned In Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Ellen the elephant, who painted and played the harmonica, was an Arkansas celebrity for nearly 57 years, so much so that mourners braved 100-degree heat on Sunday to attend a memorial service for her.

Could You Spell That? In Spanish

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - "Bizantinismo. B-I-Z ..." Evelyn Juarez repeated to the panel of six judges and then flawlessly spelled it to win the first national Spanish-language spelling bee in the United States.

Double Amputee's Theme Park Death Reignites Regulatory Fight

BUFFALO, New York - As investigators work to determine how a double-amputee veteran fell to his death from a New York rollercoaster on Friday, one lawmaker stepped up a campaign for federal oversight of fixed-site theme parks.

Government Asks Exxon To Retool Yellowstone Spill Plan

BILLINGS, Mont - Federal regulators said on Sunday they want Exxon Mobil to retool its preliminary plan to clean up oil spilled into the Yellowstone River in Montana from a ruptured pipe at the start of July.

Four Dead In Hudson River Pleasure Boat Accident

NEW YORK - Four people were killed on Sunday when their pleasure boat rammed into a concrete footing and partially sank in shallow waters in the Hudson River in New York, while two others scrambled to safety and survived, police said.

Atlantis Docks At Space Station On Last Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - U.S. space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday to deliver a last batch of supplies to the orbiting outpost on the final flight of the U.S. shuttle program.

Artists From 50 Countries Show Wares At Santa Fe Market

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Naina Valasai had never boarded an airplane before arriving in Santa Fe this week. In fact the 33-year-old from a remote desert region in Pakistan had never left her village before she was invited to present her ornately patterned ralli quilts at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, taking place this weekend.

Arizona Bus Day Tour Goes To Mexico Border For Answers

NOGALES, Ariz - After listening to a fiery national debate about the impact of illegal immigration and drug smuggling over the porous U.S.-Mexico border, retiree Edgar King figured he would make up his own mind about the issue.

Montana Governor Threatens Lawsuit Over Oil Spill

BILLINGS, Montana - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer continued on Friday to press Exxon Mobil over an oil spill into the Yellowstone River and threatened to take the company to court as clean-up continued a week after the leak.

Disabled Iraq War Veteran Falls To Death From Rollercoaster

BUFFALO, New York - A disabled war veteran fell to his death from a 208-foot-tall rollercoaster late on Friday afternoon, tragically ending his miraculous return to normal post-war life.

Atlantis Inspects Heat Shield En Route To Station

HOUSTON - Space shuttle Atlantis' crew spent Saturday inspecting the craft's heat shield for damage as they prepared to pay the last visit to the International Space Station in U.S. space shuttle history.

No Toxic Chemicals Found In Yellowstone Leak: EPA

BILLINGS, Montana - Water downstream from a ruptured Exxon Mobil pipeline that leaked oil into the Yellowstone River showed no detectable levels of toxic petroleum chemicals, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documents released on Saturday.

Some Glimmers Of Hope Along The Flooded Missouri River

OMAHA, Neb - Finally, a bright spot in a soggy summer for communities along the unruly and swollen Missouri River.

Two Civilian Planes Intercepted Near Camp David

WASHINGTON - Fighter jets intercepted two civilian planes in the vicinity of Camp David on Saturday, in separate incidents that both took place while President Barack Obama was there.

Obama Won't "back Off" On Debt-reduction Effort

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will not back off in his efforts to solve U.S. debt problems and will make the case to congressional leaders in talks on Sunday for taking on "this critical challenge," the White House said on Saturday.

U.S. Debt Talks Scaled Back Over Tax Rift

WASHINGTON - A broad $4 trillion deal on U.S. deficit reduction appeared out of reach on Saturday as Republican leader John Boehner cited a rift with the White House on taxes and proposed pursuing a more modest package.

Suspect In 7 Murders Killed Ex-girlfriends, His Own Daughter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich - A man who killed seven people in a bloody rampage was targeted ex-girlfriends and their families, including his own daughter, police said on Friday.

Accused Somali Pirates Charged In U.S. With Murder

WASHINGTON - Three accused Somali pirates were charged in a U.S. court on Friday with the murder, kidnapping and hostage-taking of two American couples in February and could face the death penalty if convicted.

New Death Brings Toll From Joplin Tornado To 159

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The death toll from a devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri, in May has risen to 159, the city said on Friday.

Water Flowing Over Levee Threatens Missouri Highway

OMAHA, Neb - Federal and Missouri state officials were closely watching efforts to reinforce a Missouri River levee near Waverly where water was flowing across the top and could threaten a highway, authorities said on Friday.

William And Kate Talk Tech On Arrival To California

BEVERLY HILLS, California - Britain's royal newlyweds Prince William and Kate kicked off their maiden U.S. visit on Friday in a truly California way -- by networking with the technology and entertainment industries.

Army Sergeant Guilty In Beating Of Fellow Soldier

SEATTLE - A five-member military jury found a U.S. Army sergeant guilty on Friday of beating up a fellow soldier but acquitted him of charges of shooting at unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan.

Casey Anthony Refuses Jail Visit From Her Mother

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony, the Florida woman acquitted this week of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008, has rejected a visit from her mother scheduled for Friday evening, a jail official told Reuters.

Montana Governor Threatens Lawsuit Over Oil Spill

BILLINGS, Montana - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer continued on Friday to press Exxon Mobil over an oil spill into the Yellowstone River and threatened to take the company to court as clean-up continued a week after the leak.

Space Shuttle Leaves Earth On Final Flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Space shuttle Atlantis rocketed off its seaside launch pad on Friday, rising atop a tower of smoke and flames as it left Earth on the final flight of the U.S. space shuttle program.

Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies, Age 93

LOS ANGELES - Betty Ford, the wife of the late President Gerald Ford, who overcame alcohol and prescription drug addictions and helped found a rehabilitation clinic that bears her name, died on Friday at the age of 93.

Grizzly Roams Free After Fatal Yellowstone Mauling

CODY, Wyoming - The female grizzly bear that attacked and killed a hiker when apparently startled with two cubs will be allowed to continue roaming free in Yellowstone National Park after officials determined the animal had acted to protect its young.

Third Person Dies From Weekend Pennsylvania Shooting

PHILADELPHIA - A third person has died as a result of a weekend shooting rampage in Pennsylvania that has been described as a possible revenge killing.

Montana Pulls Out Of Oil Spill Joint Command

BOZEMAN, Mont - Montana's governor withdrew his state on Thursday from participation in a joint command team directing the cleanup of oil spilled from a burst Exxon Mobil pipeline, saying citizens "can't get straight answers" from the company.

Planned Parenthood Goes To Court Over North Carolina Cuts

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Planned Parenthood asked a federal court on Thursday to block enforcement of part of North Carolina's budget that bars extending state funds to the women's health provider because it performs abortions.

Texas Executes Mexican Citizen Despite U.S. Pleas

HOUSTON - Texas executed a Mexican national on Thursday over objections from President Barack

Palin Complains Of Losing Confidants In 2006 Email

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said in a newly disclosed email she sent just days after taking office in 2006 that she felt her circle of trusted advisors was "shrinking daily."

Loughner Attorneys Seek Halt To Forced Medication

PASADENA, Calif - Lawyers for the accused gunman charged with wounding Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in a deadly shooting rampage told a federal appeals court on Thursday that forcing him to take anti-psychotic drugs could cause him irreparable harm.

Casey Anthony Will Be Released From Jail July 17

ORLANDO, Fla - A Florida judge on Thursday sentenced Casey Anthony to four years in jail for lying to police after her daughter disappeared, but she will be released from custody on July 17 after getting credit for time served and good behavior.

Army Sergeant Pleads Not Guilty To Assault In Afghanistan

SEATTLE - A U.S. Army sergeant charged with beating up a fellow soldier and shooting at an unarmed civilian while deployed in Afghanistan pleaded not guilty on Thursday as his court-martial opened near Tacoma, Washington.

Suspect In 7 Murders Kills Himself, Hostages Safe

GRAND RAPIDS - A man suspected of killing seven people in a bloody rampage ended a hostage standoff with police late on Thursday by shooting himself in the head, Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said.

Exxon Says 40 Landowners Report Property Fouled By Spill

HELENA, Montana - About 40 Montana landowners have reported contamination of their property by crude oil spilled from a ruptured Exxon Mobil pipeline into the flood-swollen Yellowstone River over the weekend, the company said on Wednesday.

San Francisco Police Impound Cab Over Picasso Theft

SAN FRANCISCO - Police investigating the theft of a Pablo Picasso sketch from a San Francisco art gallery impounded a taxicab on Wednesday used as the getaway vehicle, hoping for clues from its surveillance camera.

Sports Doctor Pleads Guilty In Drug Case

BUFFALO, New York - Toronto sports doctor Anthony Galea, who has treated such athletes as golfer Tiger Woods, admitted on Wednesday to illegally bringing human growth hormones and performance-enhancing drugs into the United States.

Firefighters Battle Blaze Near Sacred Indian Mountain

SANTA FE, N.M - The rampaging Las Conchas wildfire closed in on sacred Indian lands in New Mexico on Wednesday, burning less than a mile away from the Chicoma Mountain, considered a spiritual center for Pueblo Indians.

One Dead In California Crash Of Marine Helicopter

SAN DIEGO - One Marine was killed and five others were injured in the crash of a military helicopter at Camp Pendleton in southern California on Wednesday, the military said.

Grizzly Bear Kills Yellowstone Hiker

CODY, Wyoming - A female grizzly bear attacked and killed a man who encountered the bruin and her cubs while he was hiking with his wife on Wednesday in Yellowstone National Park, park officials said.

Summer Floods Threaten Record Levels As Rain Predicted

WASHINGTON - With rivers still running above flood stage and soils saturated, forecasters predicted on Wednesday this summer flooding season could rival the worst in United States history.

New York City Offices Open Sunday July 24 For Gay Marriages

NEW YORK - New York City will open its clerk's offices on Sunday, July 24, to allow same-sex couples to wed on the first day the state's gay marriage bill goes into effect, officials said on Wednesday.

Man Who Said He Planned To Kill Obama Held Over Murder

MILWAUKEE - A 41-year-old man who told investigators he planned to eventually assassinate President Barack Obama awaited possible extradition to South Dakota on Wednesday on charges including murder linked to the plot, prosecutors said.

Jurors Cried, Felt Sick After Acquitting Anthony

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - A juror in the Casey Anthony case said on Wednesday that jurors cried and felt sick after deciding to acquit the young Florida mother of murder, a verdict that dropped jaws across the country.

Firefighters Defend Sacred Mountain In New Mexico

SANTA FE, N.M - Firefighters battling New Mexico's monster Las Conchas wildfire fought on Tuesday to beat the blaze back from around the sacred Chicoma Mountain, a peak considered the spiritual center for a nearby Indian tribe.

Anthony Verdict A Victory For "reasonable Doubt," Experts Say

LOS ANGELES - The not guilty verdict for Casey Anthony on Tuesday also can be seen as a victory for the U.S. justice system, despite strong public opinion that she killed her 2 year-old daughter, legal experts said.

Teenager Says Was Beaten After Family Shot In Post-Katrina Chaos

NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans teenager whose family members were wounded by police in the chaos after Hurricane Katrina testified on Tuesday that officers punched and kicked him before arresting him at the scene.

Father Of Alleged Serial Killer Victim Waited For Call

CLEVELAND - The father of one of alleged serial killer Anthony Sowell's victims testified at Sowell's trial on Tuesday that he knew something was wrong when he did not get a call for days, and then months, from his troubled daughter.

Strauss-Kahn Faces Hurdle At Home As U.S. Woes Ease

PARIS/NEW YORK - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was hit with a complaint of attempted rape in France on Tuesday in a new hurdle to any political comeback even as the U.S. sex assault case against him appeared to be falling apart.

Exxon Oil Spill On Yellowstone River Disrupts Farms

HELENA, Montana - Governor Brian Schweitzer vowed on Tuesday to cling to Exxon Mobil like "the smell on a skunk" for as long as it takes to get the company to clean up a weekend oil spill that fouled an otherwise pristine stretch of the Yellowstone River in Montana.

Minnesota Leaders Fail To Break Impasse, To Meet Again

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders met on Tuesday but failed to break a budget impasse five days into a state government shutdown.

California Lawmakers Pass Bill To Teach Gay History

SACRAMENTO, Calif - A bill to require California public schools to teach the historical accomplishments of gay men and lesbians passed the state Legislature on Tuesday in what supporters call a first for the nation.

Gunman Who Planned To Kill Man Shoots Child, Another Adult

PHILADELPHIA - The gunman in a quintuple shooting that left a toddler and one man dead in a possible revenge crime at a Pennsylvania weekend home was "an evil unrepentant monster," a prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty Of Daughter's Murder

ORLANDO, Fla - A Florida jury found Casey Anthony not guilty on Tuesday of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008, stunning many legal experts and media pundits who had predicted she would be convicted in a bizarre case that riveted millions of Americans.

Perennial Champion Again Wins Hot Dog Eating Contest

NEW YORK - Holding aloft a trophy in one hand and a bottle of Pepto-Bismol in the other, Joey Chestnut on Monday was top dog once again.

Montana Leak May Alter Exxon Safety Reviews: Exec

NEW YORK - The president of Exxon Mobil Corp's pipeline unit said the company still does not know the cause of a pipeline leak that has sent about 1,000 barrels of oil into Montana's Yellowstone River, but that it may change the way it conducts pipeline safety reviews.

National Teachers' Group Recommends Obama For Second Term

CHICAGO - The nation's largest teachers union voted on Monday to recommend that President Barack Obama be elected for another term.

Seattle Man Held On $3 Million Bail In 1950s Murder Case

SEATTLE - A Seattle judge on Monday ordered that the suspected abductor and killer of a 7-year-old girl from a town in Illinois 54 years ago be held on $3 million bail.

Final Space Shuttle Flight Crew Arrives For Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Four veteran astronauts landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday to prepare for the launch of NASA's last space shuttle on a cargo run to the International Space Station.

Skier Survives 800-foot Fall In Wyoming

SALMON, Idaho - A skier was in critical condition at an Idaho hospital on Monday after taking an 800-foot plunge from a mountain in the Teton Range in northwestern Wyoming over the weekend, officials said.

Montana Governor Reviewing Oil, Gas Pipeline Safety

KALISPELL, Montana - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Monday said authorities will review safety of all oil and gas pipelines that cross waterways in the state and close those that did not meet standards.

Crews Gain Fighting New Mexico Wildfire, Now Fear Floods

SANTA FE, New Mexico - As firefighters made progress saving Indian pueblo lands on the north end of New Mexico's largest wildfire, officials worried on Monday about a possible second punch from Mother Nature -- flash floods.

In Independence, Iowa, July 4 Is Extra Special Celebration

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa - The motto of this small town in north-central Iowa is a patriotic boast. "America's fame is in our name."

Casey Anthony Jury Begins Deliberations

ORLANDO, Florida - The jury in the first-degree murder trial of Casey Anthony began deliberations on Monday afternoon as the trial entered its seventh week with no break for the Independence Day holiday.

Searchers Find Bodies Likely Of Missing Colorado Hikers

DENVER - Rescue crews recovered two bodies from a mountainside in the San Isabel National Forest on Saturday believed to be of a missing Colorado physician and his 20-year-old daughter.

Judge Orders Man Held Over Girl's 1957 Disappearance

SEATTLE - A judge ordered a Seattle man now in a local hospital held without bond on Saturday after his arrest in connection with the disappearance and death of a 7-year-old girl from a town in Illinois 54 years ago.

In Arkansas, July 4 Without Local Ice Cream Won't Be The Same

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The bad news couldn't have come at a worse time.

Florida Divers Find New Treasure From Famed Wreck

KEY WEST, Florida - Divers in the Florida Keys have recovered a large emerald ring and two silver spoons believed to come from Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a shipwrecked Spanish galleon that has already yielded one of the greatest treasures ever recovered from the sea.

Motorcyclist Crashes In Helmet Law Protest, Dies

NEW YORK - A bare-headed motorcyclist riding in protest of New York state's helmet law crashed, struck his head on the roadway and died from his injuries, state police said on Sunday.

Minnesota Zoo Reopens Using Own Revenue During State Shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS - As day three of the Minnesota state government shutdown began on Sunday, residents shut out of state parks and historical sites had one option restored over the holiday weekend -- the Minnesota Zoo.

Los Alamos Residents Return As Evacuation Lifted

Santa Fe, New Mexico - Evacuation orders were lifted on Sunday over 10,000 residents of Los Alamos displaced by the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, as the blaze burns to the north away from the town.

Montana Governor Questions Exxon On Oil's Spread

KALISPELL, Montana - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Sunday questioned Exxon Mobil Corp's contention that its oil pipeline spill into the Yellowstone River was concentrated within a 10-mile area.

Exxon Mobil Says Oil Leaked Into Yellowstone River

NEW YORK - A pipeline operated by Exxon Mobil Corp leaked as many as 1,000 barrels of crude oil into the Yellowstone River in Montana and has been shut down, the company said.

Casey Anthony Murder Case May Go To Jury Monday

ORLANDO, Fla - Tired jurors in the trial of Casey Anthony accused of killing her daughter Caylee decided to rest overnight on Sunday before hearing prosecutors' final arguments and beginning deliberations on Independence Day.

Amid Misery Of Midwest Flooding, July 4 Fireworks Go On

YANKTON, South Dakota - The Missouri River is causing misery for many Midwest homeowners and motorists this summer.

New July 4 Attraction: Gawking At Midwest Flood Spillway

YANKTON, South Dakota - It may not be Niagara Falls but the spillway at the Gavins Point Dam near here has become a major tourist attraction over the July 4 weekend.

Fugitive Baboon Captured At New Jersey Farm

PHILADELPHIA - The fugitive baboon of central New Jersey was captured on Saturday after she was spotted sitting on a fence post on a farm in Howell Township.

Rhode Island Governor Signs Gay Civil Union Law Despite Doubts

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Rhode Island's governor on Saturday signed into law a controversial bill legalizing same sex civil unions, but said it does not go far enough toward legalizing gay marriage.

Judge Orders Man Held Over Girl's 1957 Disappearance

SEATTLE - A judge ordered a Seattle man now in a local hospital held without bond on Saturday after his arrest in connection with the disappearance and death of a 7-year-old girl from a town in Illinois 54 years ago.

Searchers Find Bodies Likely Of Missing Colorado Hikers

DENVER - Rescue crews recovered two bodies from a mountainside in the San Isabel National Forest on Saturday believed to be of a missing Colorado physician and his 20-year-old daughter.

Minnesotans Frustrated, Angry Over State Government Shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS - Tara and Jose Garcia wanted to spend the holiday weekend camping with their four children.

Oil Spill On Montana's Yellowstone River Forces Evacuation

LAS VEGAS - An undetermined amount of crude oil spilled from an ExxonMobil pipeline into the Yellowstone River in Montana, prompting evacuations of nearby residents on Saturday, authorities said.

Small Plane Strays Into Camp David Airspace While Obama There

WASHINGTON - A small plane wandered into the airspace around Camp David, Maryland, on Saturday while President Barack Obama was there, prompting an F-15 fighter jet to scramble to intercept it, authorities said.

Los Alamos Lab Prepares To Reopen As Fire Threat Eases

SANTA FE, N.M - The Los Alamos nuclear weapons laboratory has ended a state of emergency and was taking small steps on Saturday toward reopening as the threat from a record New Mexico wildfire subsided.

Texas To Receive Federal Disaster Help For Wildfires

LUBBOCK, Texas - President Barack Obama's administration approved increased assistance for scorched Texas communities on Friday after an appeal from Governor Rick Perry.

Indiana Teachers Sue To Halt School Voucher Program

CHICAGO - The Indiana State Teachers Association filed suit against the state on Friday, asking a court to block implementation of the country's largest private school voucher program.

New Mexico Fire Creeps Away From Weapons Lab

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico - The wildfire raging for six days near the Los Alamos nuclear weapons laboratory reached record proportions on Friday but has ceased to threaten the sprawling government complex or adjacent town in northern New Mexico, officials said.

Suspected Colorado Mall Bomber Charged With Arson

DENVER - A man suspected of planting four homemade bombs at a suburban Denver mall and hotel last weekend has been charged with arson, federal authorities said on Friday.

Court Strikes Michigan Affirmative Action Ban

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court on Friday struck down a Michigan law that banned affirmative action in college admissions, creating the possibility of a U.S. Supreme Court battle.

Loughner Appeals Ruling Over Forced Medication

TUCSON, Arizona - Lawyers for Tucson shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner on Friday appealed a ruling allowing him to be forcibly medicated with psychotropic drugs.

White House To Pay $37 Million In Salaries For 2011

WASHINGTON - The White House said on Friday it will pay $37,121,463 in salaries for 454 employees in 2011.

Shriver Files For Divorce From Schwarzenegger

LOS ANGELES - Former California first lady Maria Shriver filed for divorce on Friday from her estranged husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the ex-governor and film star who has admitted fathering a child out of wedlock more than a decade ago.

Closing Arguments Sunday In Casey Anthony Trial

ORLANDO, Fla - The Casey Anthony murder trial is in the home stretch, with attorneys set to give their closing arguments on Sunday after six weeks of testimony.

Minnesota Government Shutdown Begins After Talks Fail

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's state government began a broad shutdown on Friday going into the July 4 holiday weekend after the Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders failed to agree on a budget.