Former Galleon Trader Handed 5-1/2-year Sentence

NEW YORK - A former trader at the Galleon Group hedge fund was sentenced on Wednesday to five-and-a-half years in prison, a term the judge said should serve as a warning to Wall Street that insider trading was a serious crime.

Law Professor Liu Confirmed For California High Court

SAN FRANCISCO - Goodwin Liu, a University of California law professor whose confirmation to a federal appeals court was blocked in the U.S. Senate, was confirmed on Wednesday to serve as a justice on California's top court.

Colorado Logger Says Cut Off Toes To Free Himself

DENVER - A western Colorado logger said on Wednesday that he amputated all the toes on his right foot with a pocket knife to free himself after a 7-ton trailer landed on his foot, trapping him in an isolated forest.

California Bill To Fund College For Illegal Immigrants Advances

LOS ANGELES - A California bill dubbed the state's "Dream Act" that would allow illegal immigrants to receive public funds for college education was approved on Wednesday by the state Senate.

U.S. Quake Rattled Nuclear Plant's Waste Casks: Report

WASHINGTON - The earthquake that shook the U.S. East Coast last week rattled huge, heavy casks holding radioactive nuclear waste at a Virginia plant, moving them as much as 4.5 inches from their original position, the plant's operator has said.

Judge Blocks NM Governor On Immigrant Driver Licenses

SANTA FE, New Mexico - A New Mexico judge on Wednesday blocked a move by the state's Republican governor to make it harder for illegal immigrants to keep driver's licenses in the state.

Upstate New York Surveys Damage, Worries About Local Economy

KEENE, New York - Residents of normally picturesque upstate New York towns struggled on Wednesday to dig out from devastation left by Hurricane Irene, which destroyed homes, cut off roads and threatened the local economy.

President Obama Offers Disaster Aid To New Jersey

LITTLE FALLS, New Jersey - New Jersey residents struggled with flooded homes, blocked roads and power outages on Wednesday as rivers and creeks overflowed following Hurricane Irene, and some areas were declared disaster zones.

Wildfires Again Rage Through Texas And Oklahoma

DALLAS - Wildfires raged through Texas and Oklahoma again on Wednesday, threatening homes and buildings and charring thousands of acres of parched, dry land.

Waters Recede But Storm Victims Suffer In East

PATERSON, N.J./BRATTLEBORO, Vermont - Floodwaters finally started to recede from areas of the U.S. northeast devastated by Hurricane Irene but many communities were still under water on Wednesday as relief workers battled cut-off roads and raging rivers to deliver emergency supplies.

Katia Speeds Up In Atlantic, Not Clear If Threat To U.S.

MIAMI - The East Coast is mopping up after Hurricane Irene's weekend battering that killed around 40 people and authorities and residents are looking out anxiously over the Atlantic and asking: Is another one coming?

Judge Blocks Parts Of Texas Abortion Law On Sonograms

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A federal judge temporarily blocked key provisions of a Texas abortion law on Tuesday that would require women seeking the procedure to view a sonogram and listen to the heartbeat of their fetus.

Irene Damage In North Carolina At Least $71 Million

RALEIGH/WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Hurricane Irene destroyed or severely damaged at least 1,100 homes and caused more than $71 million in damage in North Carolina's seven hardest-hit counties, Governor Beverly Perdue said on Tuesday.

Polygamist Leader Sedated, Responsive In Hospital

SAN ANTONIO - Jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, serving a life sentence for raping two child brides, was under sedation but still conscious in a Texas hospital on Tuesday, prison officials said.

Federal Agency Accuses American Samoa Of Age Bias

LOS ANGELES - The government of American Samoa was accused of discriminating against older workers, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by a federal agency.

Record-breaking River Flooding Swamps New Jersey

PATERSON, New Jersey - Swollen rivers submerged stretches of northern New Jersey on Tuesday in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, damaging homes, flooding roads and stranding residents, hundreds of thousands of whom had no power.

Some U.S. Firms Paid More To CEOs Than Taxes: Study

WASHINGTON - Twenty-five of the 100 highest paid U.S. CEOs earned more last year than their companies paid in federal income tax, a pay study said on Wednesday.

Oklahoma City Fire Sends Horses, People Fleeing

OKLAHOMA CITY - A wildfire in a wooded area of Oklahoma City forced hundreds of homes to be evacuated on Tuesday, destroying some and causing panicked horse owners to let their livestock loose, residents and a fire official said.

Airlifts, Water Rescues In Wake Of Hurricane Irene

PATERSON, New Jersey - Emergency workers plucked dozens of residents from doorways and windows as Hurricane Irene's floodwaters rose on Tuesday, swallowing homes, submerging cars and turning the streets of this working class town into lakes.

AT&T Vows To Bring Back 5,000 U.S. Jobs If Merger Approved

LOS ANGELES - Telecommunications giant AT&T Inc, whose proposed buy of T-Mobile USA is under scrutiny by U.S. regulators, promised to bring 5,000 wireless call-center jobs back to the United States if the deal wins approval.

Clinic Warns Wisconsin Patients Blood Exposure Possible

MADISON, Wis - A Wisconsin health clinic said on Monday it was notifying all 2,345 patients seen by a former employee over the past five years that they may have been exposed to blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis or HIV.

Judge Blocks Alabama Immigration Law To Buy Time

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - A federal judge on Monday blocked Alabama's tough new immigration law from taking effect this week, making it the latest U.S. state to have a measure on illegal immigration halted in court.

Firefighters Make Progress Against Blaze Near Yosemite

OAKLAND, Calif - Firefighters battling a forest fire near Yosemite National Park since last week have manage to encircle about a third of the blaze, but a main road into the park remained cut off, officials said on Monday.

U.S. Rolls Back Rule Requiring Street Sign Changes

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Tuesday rolled back a proposal requiring states and local governments to replace street signs that did not comply with new safety standards.

Atlantic Coast Communities Grapple With Irene Aftermath

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Communities along the Atlantic coast and inland grappled on Monday with the lingering effects of Hurricane Irene as flooding, storm debris and road closures dimmed Labor Day holiday weekend tourism prospects for some.

Jailed Polygamist Sect Leader Hospitalized For Dehydration

SAN ANTONIO - Jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was in critical condition on Monday after he was hospitalized for dehydration, Texas prison officials told Reuters.

Ex-NBA Player Crittenton Arrested, Accused Of Murder

LOS ANGELES - A former National Basketball Association athlete who once played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards was arrested following accusations he killed a woman in Georgia, the FBI said.

New York Family Seeks $100 Million From Son's Accused Killer

NEW YORK - The father of an 8-year-old boy, whose murder stunned the New York Orthodox Jewish community where he was abducted last month, is seeking $100 million from the man accused of abducting, killing and dismembering him.

Ex-mayor Of Arizona Border Town Gets 3.5 Years In Prison

TUCSON, Ariz - A judge sentenced the former mayor of the small Arizona border town of Nogales on Monday to 3.5 years in prison for bribery and seven years of probation for fraud.

Vermont, New Jersey Flooded As Irene Spares NYC

FAIRFIELD, N.J./BRATTLEBORO, Vermont - New Jersey and Vermont struggled with their worst flooding in decades on Monday, a day after Hurricane Irene slammed an already soaked U.S. Northeast with torrential rain, dragging away homes and submerging neighborhoods underwater.

Irene Downgraded To Post-tropical Storm: NHC

WASHINGTON - Tropical Storm Irene was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it neared the border with Canada, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said late on Sunday.

New England Weathers A Downgraded Storm Irene

BOSTON - As Tropical Storm Irene churned up the eastern seaboard it left many of New England's coastal states relatively unscathed while inflicting some of the worst damage on landlocked Vermont, where severe flooding was a grave concern.

Guard Rescues 21 At Flooded New York State Motel

NEW YORK - The U.S. National Guard rescued 21 people trapped at a Catskill Mountains motel and campground on Sunday following flooding triggered by Hurricane Irene, authorities said.

Hospital Deluged With Births As Irene Battered North Carolina

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - As Hurricane Irene lashed the U.S. East Coast, it brought a deluge of another sort to a North Carolina hospital -- an unusually high number of newborn babies.

Soldier Kills Four, Found Dead In Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania authorities hunting for a U.S. soldier accused of killing four people and opening fire on police officers have found the man's body after he apparently took his own life, police said on Sunday.

NY Metro-North Railroad Closure Continues Monday

NEW YORK - New York and Connecticut commuters will not be able to travel to their jobs in New York City on Metro-North Railroad, which must stay closed because of "significant damage" caused by the hurricane, the railway company said in a statement.

Airlines, Rail, Struggle In Storm-struck East

WASHINGTON - Airline, rail and other transportation and shipping networks along the storm-battered East Coast struggled to resume operations on Sunday but most would not return to normal until Tuesday at the earliest.

Federal Government To Help Reimburse States For Irene Damage

NEW YORK - Hurricane Irene could cost U.S. state and local governments billions of dollars in damages, but funds from the federal government might ultimately cover much of this expense.

Heat-strapped Texas Expects Another Power Record

HOUSTON - The Texas power grid operator said electric usage this week could break the all-time peak seen earlier this month and urged consumers to reduce power use to avoid rolling outages.

Commuting Nightmare After Irene Floods U.S. Northeast

NEW YORK - New Yorkers faced a hellish commute on Monday and millions of Americans throughout the northeastern United States were left in the dark and flooded after Hurricane Irene battered the region before moving into Canada.

Medical Helicopter Crash Kills Patient, 3 Crew Members

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Federal authorities opened an investigation on Saturday into the cause of a medical air ambulance helicopter crash that killed a patient and three crew members Friday night.

Irene Drives Delaware Residents Inland, Tornado Fears

MILFORD, Del - Delaware residents headed inland on Saturday, under orders to evacuate homes within three-quarters of a mile of the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River and other waterways ahead of Hurricane Irene.

Bulgarian Students Join Evacuees At New Jersey Hurricane Shelter

TOMS RIVER, New Jersey - A sudden evacuation, sleeping on cots in a school auditorium, and the threat to life and property that a hurricane brings.

One Million Flee Jersey Shore As Surfers Hit Waves

TOMS RIVER, New Jersey - More than a million people fled resort towns along the New Jersey shore ahead of powerful Hurricane Irene, whose arrival on Saturday was just hours away.

Gov. Cuomo Orders Dam Check After Small New York Quake

NEW YORK - Days after a rare 5.8 magnitude earthquake jarred buildings and nerves across the East Coast, a much smaller tremor in upstate New York prompted Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday to order inspections of a dam and other structures.

Maryland Warns Of Dam Spillover As Irene Hits

NEW YORK - Authorities have warned of possible spillover from a Maryland dam as Hurricane Irene brought severe flooding to much of the region, though they played down earlier concerns that the dam itself could fail.

Hoboken Orders Evacuation Of Shelter After Flooding

NEW YORK - Flood waters forced city officials in Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, to evacuate a storm shelter late on Saturday night, the mayor of Hoboken Dawn Zimmer said on Twitter.

Hurricane Irene Poised To Hit New York Hard

NEW YORK - The force of Hurricane Irene began to build in New York City early on Sunday morning, with major roads already flooding and the tourist mecca of Times Square abandoned to a hearty few.

Airlines Abandon Northeast, NY Closes Subways

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines canceled more than 10,000 flights due to Hurricane Irene by late Saturday, while New York and other eastern cities initiated sweeping storm-related shutdowns of rail and mass transit systems.

Ferocious Hurricane Irene Batters New York, Moving North

NEW YORK - Hurricane Irene battered New York with ferocious winds and driving rain early on Sunday, shutting down the U.S. financial capital and most populous city, halting mass transit and causing massive power blackouts as it churned slowly northward along the East Coast.

Amtrak Train Hits Crane, Derails In Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb - An Amtrak train carrying 175 passengers and 17 crew members struck a crane in southwest Nebraska on Friday, partially derailing and sending nearly a dozen people to local hospitals, authorities said.

Firefighters Gain Ground At Idaho Nuclear Lab

SALMON, Idaho - Normal operations resumed on Friday but with fewer workers at a U.S. Energy Department nuclear lab in Idaho as firefighters gained ground against a brush fire that scorched 36,000 acres within the sprawling compound, officials there said.

Judge Refuses To Halt Loughner's Forced Medication

SAN DIEGO - A federal judge presiding over the mass murder case against Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner refused again on Friday to order prison officials to stop forcibly medicating him with anti-psychotic drugs.

Two British Military Men Injured Skydiving In California

LOS ANGELES - Two members of the British military conducting skydiving training in southern California collided in mid-air on Friday and were hospitalized with serious injuries, authorities said.

Oakland Man Sentenced To Life For Journalist's Murder

OAKLAND - The former leader of an Oakland-based black community organization was sentenced on Friday to life in prison for the murders of three men, including a journalist working on an expose about the group.

U.S. Oil-spill Ruling Pleases Plaintiff Lawyers

NEW YORK - Plaintiff lawyers claimed a victory on Friday when a federal judge overseeing hundreds of lawsuits against BP and others over last year's big oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico allowed much of the case to move ahead, including punitive damages claims.

Sporting Bodies Take Scheduling Hit From Irene

MIAMI - Safety fears over the possible impact of Hurricane Irene have forced the National Football League (NFL) and other North American sporting bodies to reschedule or cancel events for this weekend.

Main New York-area Airports To Close To Arrivals Saturday

WASHINGTON - The three major New York-area airports will close to domestic and international arrivals beginning at noon EDT on Saturday due to Hurricane Irene, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Hurricane Irene Turns North-northeast: NHC

BANGALORE - Hurricane Irene is turning north-northeast, as tropical storm conditions spread inland over southeastern North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said late Friday.

U.S. On High Alert As Hurricane Irene Closes In

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Hurricane Irene closed in on the east coast on Friday, lashing North Carolina with ferocious winds and triggering emergency steps including unprecedented evacuations and transit shutdowns in New York.

Oregon Man Arrested Over Mosque Arson Attack

PORTLAND, Ore - A man with a history of anti-Islamic tirades pleaded not guilty on Thursday to federal arson and hate crime charges stemming from a fire he is accused of setting last year at an Oregon mosque.

Chinese Crime Ring Accused In New Mexico Driver License Fraud

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Three leaders of a Chinese crime ring were indicted on Thursday as part of efforts by New Mexico to stop illegal immigrants from fraudulently claiming residency to get driver's licenses in the state.

U.S. Airlines Cut Flights Due To Approaching Hurricane

WASHINGTON - U.S. airlines on Thursday began to cut flights at East Coast airports and made plans to move aircraft from the region due to approaching Hurricane Irene.

Court Denies Stay Of Wolf Hunts In Idaho, Montana

SALMON, Idaho - A U.S. appeals court refused on Thursday to block wolf hunts planned in Idaho and Montana while conservation groups press a legal case against an unprecedented act of Congress that lifted federal protection of the animals.

Idaho Fire Prompts Evacuation Of Nuclear Facility

SALMON, Idaho - Firefighters struggled on Thursday to control a fast-growing 28,000-acre wildfire raging within several miles of spent nuclear fuel stored at a U.S. Energy Department lab in the high desert of eastern Idaho.

Joint U.S.-China Operation Busts Child Porn Ring

BEIJING - A joint U.S.-China police operation has cracked a Chinese-language child pornography ring in New York, Chinese police said, an unusual public example of cooperation between the countries' law enforcement agencies.

Police Officer Who Faked U.S. Citizenship Gets 3 Months In Jail

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An illegal immigrant from Mexico who admitted faking U.S. citizenship while serving as an Anchorage police officer for six years was sentenced on Thursday to three months in prison.

Arizona Sues Federal Government Over Voter Rights Law

PHOENIX - Arizona filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging a U.S. federal voting rights law governing how the state conducts its elections.

NY Mayor: Coastal Residents Should Move Out Friday

NEW YORK - New Yorkers living in low-lying areas should think about moving out on Friday before Hurricane Irene hits the city of 8.4 million people, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Thursday.

Irene To Hit Cities, Resorts On East Coast

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - North Carolina braced on Friday for a direct hit from Hurricane Irene, cities along the east coast were on alert and millions of beach goers cut short vacations to escape the powerful storm.

Newsmaker: Steve Jobs Has A Different Operating System

SAN FRANCISCO - Hard to understand, difficult to work with and deemed irreplaceable by many Apple fans and investors, Steve Jobs has made a life defying conventions and expectations.

Dominion Sends Seismic Data For Analysis

HOUSTON - Dominion Resources workers were inspecting the North Anna nuclear power plant in Mineral, Virginia on Wednesday, a day after the largest earthquake to hit the U.S. East Coast in six decades knocked both reactors offline, the company said.

Opponents Seek To Halt Alabama Immigration Law

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Lawyers for the Obama administration and other groups asked a federal judge on Wednesday to temporarily block Alabama's immigration law, widely seen as the toughest state measure on illegal immigration in the country.

Suit Seeks To Protect Licenses For Illegal Immigrants In N.M.

Santa Fe, New Mexico - A national Latino rights group filed suit on Wednesday to challenge an order by the state's Republican governor that may make it harder for illegal immigrants to keep driver's licenses in the state.

Phoenix Bus Drivers To Negotiate To Avert Strike

PHOENIX - Negotiators for Phoenix's bus company and union drivers will return to the bargaining table to try to avoid a strike that could affect nearly 125,000 riders on the city's transit system, officials said on Wednesday.

Captain Allowed To Stay In Navy Despite Bawdy Videos

CHESAPEAKE, Virginia - A Navy panel ruled on Wednesday that the captain of an aircraft carrier who was penalized for producing bawdy videos with slurs against gays can remain in the service, officials said.

Nancy Reagan Fine After Stumble At California Event

LOS ANGELES - Former first lady Nancy Reagan is "fine" despite stumbling at an event in southern California where she was caught by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Apple Fans Pay Tribute To "industry Icon" Jobs

SAN FRANCISCO/SINGAPORE - From San Francisco to Shanghai to Sydney, fans of Apple Inc paid extraordinary tribute to Steve Jobs after he resigned as CEO, calling him an icon for the entire technology industry, not just the company he co-founded.

Dick Cheney Had Secret Resignation Letter

WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Dick Cheney signed a secret resignation letter shortly after taking office in 2001 and kept it in a safe, according to an excerpt of an NBC interview released on Wednesday.

Dangerous Hurricane Irene Threatens U.S. Northeast

NASSAU - Powerful Hurricane Irene battered the Bahamas on Wednesday on a track to the North Carolina coast that forecasters say could threaten the densely populated U.S. Northeast, including New York, starting on Sunday.

Second-largest U.S. Indian Tribe Expels Slave Descendants

OKLAHOMA CITY - The nation's second-largest Indian tribe formally booted from membership thousands of descendants of black slaves who were brought to Oklahoma more than 170 years ago by Native American owners.

Alabama Funeral Home Accused Of Losing Woman's Body

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The daughters of an Alabama woman who died in 2010 sued the funeral home on Tuesday that handled her burial, saying it lost the body and couldn't find it even after digging up several graves.

Agents Dismantle Alleged Pill Mills That Netted $40 Million

MIAMI - State and federal agents cracked down on Tuesday on South Florida pill mills, dismantling what was described as the nation's largest criminal organization involved in illegally distributing painkillers.

Jobless Arizona Bank Robber Says He "stole To Survive"

PHOENIX - A jobless man accused of robbing a dozen banks across the Phoenix valley told investigators he did it to survive and that "desperation was a great motivator," authorities said on Tuesday.

"Angry Mom" From Dr. Phil Show Convicted In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska mom who touched off a furor when she was seen on the "Dr. Phil" show pouring hot sauce into her adopted Russian-born son's mouth was found guilty of child abuse on Tuesday.

Unplanned Pregnancies Rising Among Poor U.S. Women: Study

CHICAGO - Unintended pregnancies, which make up nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States, are increasingly concentrated among low-income women, a study showed on Wednesday.

Forest Blaze Forces Idaho Firefighters To Retreat

SALMON, Idaho - Sixteen firefighters in Idaho held their own on Tuesday against a fierce wildfire that forced dozens of their colleagues to retreat as it raged along the Montana border, devouring 18,000 acres of rugged forest.

Quake Bolsters Calls For Public Safety Wireless Network

WASHINGTON - Disruption of cell phone service by a rare East Coast earthquake on Tuesday prompted renewed calls for Congress and regulators to provide a dedicated wireless network for emergency workers.

Irene Strengthens Into Category 2 Hurricane

MIAMI - Hurricane Irene strengthened back into a Category 2 storm as it moved closer to the Bahamas on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Once-a-century Earthquake Rattles East Coast

WASHINGTON - A strong earthquake rattled the East Coast on Tuesday, sending tremors as far as Canada, damaging well-known buildings in the nation's capital and sending scared office workers into the streets.

Analysis: Hurricane Could Boost Insurance Pricing

NEW YORK - Hurricane Irene, threatening to become the first hurricane to hit the United States in three years, could be the catalyst the insurance industry has been seeking in its quest for across-the-board premium increases after years of weakness.

No Threat Seen From Fire Near Idaho Nuclear Complex

SALMON, Idaho - Firefighters on Monday raced to contain a wildfire that had burned 128 acres west of a federal nuclear reactor complex in Idaho, but officials said the blaze posed no radiation risk to the public.

California Fugitive Arrested After 36 Years: FBI

LOS ANGELES - A convicted murderer who escaped from a California prison camp over three decades ago has been recaptured thanks to a clue gleaned from his dying mother, authorities said on Monday.

Joplin Businesses Rebounding Quickly From Tornado

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Businesses destroyed in a deadly tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri, in May are quickly bouncing back, with Walgreens cutting the ribbon on a store rebuilt in a corporate record of 90 days.

Louisiana Paper Mill Spill Causes Massive Fish Kill

NEW ORLEANS - A rotten stench hung over a 60-mile stretch of Louisiana's Pearl River as boats trawled through thick layers of hundreds of thousands of dead fish, and sweating workers bent to scoop the carcasses from the water.

Jurors Deliberate Fate Of "Angry Mom" From Dr. Phil Show

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Jurors began deliberations on Monday in the child-abuse trial of an Alaska mother seen forcing her adopted Russian-born son to swallow hot sauce during an "Angry Moms" episode of the "Dr. Phil" show.

Prosecutors Ask Judge To Deny Loughner Videotaping Request

PHOENIX - U.S. prosecutors asked a federal judge on Monday to turn down an appeal by defense attorneys seeking to videotape any psychiatric evaluations of Tucson mass shooting spree suspect Jared Loughner.

Prosecutors Ask NY Judge To Drop Strauss-Kahn Case

NEW YORK - New York prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss sexual assault charges against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Monday, a stunning reversal that could revive the political future of a man many had seen as the next president of France.

Dougherty Siblings Charged With Attempted Murder

DENVER - Three Florida siblings accused of carrying out a multi-state crime spree before they were arrested following a shootout with Colorado police were charged on Monday with attempted murder and a host of other crimes.

Gunman Opens Fire At Philadelphia Basketball Game, 6 Hurt

PHILADELPHIA - Six spectators were shot and wounded when a gunman opened fire at half-time of an adult basketball league game in Philadelphia on Monday, and one person was in critical condition, police said.

Wyoming Museum Tells Story Of Japanese-American Internment

RALSTON, Wyo - It was a bittersweet return for more than 250 Japanese-American former detainees at Wyoming's Heart Mountain Relocation Center who gathered there for the opening of a museum about their wartime internment.

Southern California Grocery Workers Authorize A Strike

LOS ANGELES - The union representing 62,000 grocery workers in southern California has received the go-ahead from members to call a strike if an acceptable contract deal cannot be reached with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons supermarkets, officials said on Sunday.

Two Shot After 49ers Versus Raiders Football Game

SAN FRANCISCO - Two men were shot and wounded in the parking lot of Candlestick Park after a preseason football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, and a third man was beaten unconscious inside the stadium, police said on Sunday.

New Jersey Town Mourns Four Athletes Killed In Car Crash

PHILADELPHIA - Hundreds of grieving parents, students and friends were gathering at Mainland Regional High School in southern New Jersey on Sunday evening to mourn the deaths of four football players in a car crash.

Three Generations Of Family Die In Car Crash

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Three generations of women from one New York City family died after their SUV flipped several times on I-95 in eastern North Carolina, authorities said on Sunday.

Wingwalker Dies After Fall At Michigan Air Show

DETROIT - A wingwalker at an air show near Detroit plunged about 200 feet to his death on Sunday as he tried to climb onto a helicopter in mid-air, in the third fatal air performance accident this weekend, officials said.

Police Arrest Dozens Protesting Oil Pipeline At White House

WASHINGTON -Authorities arrested dozens of people on Sunday protesting outside the White House against a proposed $7 billion oil pipeline they oppose for environmental reasons.

Sunken Treasure Sparks Legal Tussle

WILMINGTON, Delaware - It was an eye-popping investment pitch no one else could match -- in return for $2 million, Manhattan accountant Neil Ash was offering investors a stake in the one of the biggest sunken treasures ever, an underwater site teeming with emeralds.

Two Shot, One Attacked, At NFL Pre-season Game

SAN FRANCISCO - Two men were shot and wounded in the parking lot of Candlestick Park after a preseason National Football League (NFL) game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, and a third man was beaten unconscious inside the stadium, police said on Sunday.

Prosecutor To Drop Strauss-Kahn Case: Report

NEW YORK - Prosecutors will ask a judge to dismiss all charges in the sexual assault case against former IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn at a court hearing on Tuesday, the New York Post reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources.

Descendants Maintain Confederate Graves, Memory In Virginia

NORFOLK, Va - Not a single blade of uncut grass mars a clutch of Confederate graves in Elmwood Cemetery, a refuge of calm in this bustling southeastern Virginian city.

Chicago Youth Center Offers Refuge From Violence

CHICAGO - On a sweltering summer day on the South Side of Chicago, a group of teenage boys hauled rocks and pulled weeds in a vacant lot. They were working for free -- and being hollered at by a woman they call "Ms. Diane."

First Lawsuits Filed Over Deadly Indiana Fair Collapse

INDIANAPOLIS - The first wrongful death lawsuits have been filed as a result of the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis last week which killed six and injured more than 40 others, lawyers said onSaturday.

Storms Bring Deadly Weather, More Due Over Weekend

PITTSBURGH - Severe storms hit the Midwest on Saturday and are expected later in the Northeast, where flash flooding killed at least four people in Pittsburgh on Friday.

Pilot Killed In Kansas City Air Show Crash

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The pilot of an aerobatic airplane died in a fiery crash on Saturday in front of shocked onlookers at a weekend air show in Kansas City.

Flash Flood Kills At Least 3 In Pittsburgh, Fourth Body Found

PITTSBURGH - A flash flood killed at least three people in Pittsburgh late on Friday, and the body of a possible fourth victim has been found, authorities said on Saturday.

Missouri Teachers Sue To Block Social Media Law

KANSAS CITY, Mo - In the face of a lawsuit, a Missouri state senator defended on Saturday a new state law that will prohibit teachers from communicating privately with students over the Internet.

Meeting May Lead To Strauss-Kahn Dismissal: Lawyer

NEW YORK - The prosecutors in the case of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn will meet on Monday with the hotel maid accusing him of sexual assault, in a sign the case may be headed for dismissal, one of her lawyers said on Saturday.

Verizon Strike To End But Talks To Continue

NEW YORK - About 45,000 Verizon Communications employees are set to end a two-week strike and return to work by Tuesday after the telephone company and unions said they reached an agreement to resume bargaining.

Giffords Now Knows Who Died In Tucson Shooting Spree

WASHINGTON - Recovering Representative Gabrielle Giffords now knows who died in the Tucson shooting spree this January that left six dead and her own survival from a wound uncertain, her senior press adviser said on Saturday.

Women Who Want To Be Supermoms At Higher Depression Risk

LAS VEGAS - Working women who expect they can fill the role of a supermom are at greater risk of depression than mothers who combine work and family but don't expect perfection, new research showed on Saturday.

Masked Men Steal $2 Million In Diamonds In L.A. Heist

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police said on Friday they were looking for a group of masked thieves who stole an estimated $2 million in diamonds in a backpack from a man whose car they intentionally struck.

Judge Stays Measure Cutting N.C. Planned Parenthood Funds

RALEIGH, North Carolina - A federal judge in North Carolina halted enforcement on Friday of part of the state budget that blocks government funding to Planned Parenthood because it performs abortions.

Eritreans Plead Not Guilty To U.S. Airport Fake Bomb Charges

PHOENIX - Three Eritrean nationals pleaded not guilty on Friday to trying to sneak a fake bomb past a screening area at a Phoenix airport in what the FBI described as a possible test of security.

After 18 Years, "West Memphis 3" Free On Plea Deal

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Three men imprisoned for the "satanic" 1993 slayings of three 8-year-old boys in Arkansas walked free on Friday after nearly two decades of proclaiming their innocence from behind bars.

Thunderstorms Threaten The Mid-Atlantic And Midwest

WASHINGTON - Much of the Mid-Atlantic braced on Friday for a round of strong thunderstorms to pelt the region with heavy rainfall, gusty winds and lightning, forecasters said.

U.S. Court Sets Deadline For Womens' Wal-Mart Claims

SAN FRANCISCO - Women who had comprised a massive class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc must begin filing individual claims against the company in the coming months, a U.S. judge ruled.

One Man Dead As Storms Cut Through Northern Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE - One man died as storms and a suspected tornado roared across northern Wisconsin on Friday night, cutting off power to around 2,000 homes, the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management said.

Flash Flooding Kills At Least Three In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH - Flash flooding killed at least three people in Pittsburgh on Friday when heavy rains submerged cars in flood water that was nine feet deep in places, authorities said.

Toll In Indiana Fair Stage Collapse Rises To Six

INDIANAPOLIS - The death toll from the collapse of an outdoor concert stage in heavy wind just before a show at the Indiana State Fair last week rose to six on Friday with the death of a Ball State University senior.

Orange Mystery Goo In Alaska Now Called Fungal Spores

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A mysterious orange goo that collected on shorelines in an Alaska village is made up of fungal spores, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Thursday.

California Iraqi-Mexican Crime Ring Busted, Police Say

LOS ANGELES - Police in southern California have arrested 60 people and broken up an Iraqi criminal ring accused of selling drugs, machine guns and improvised bombs out of an immigrant social club, authorities said on Thursday.

Surprise Court Hearing For "West Memphis 3" Spurs Hopes

LITTLE ROCK - A judge has called a surprise hearing for Friday concerning three men - known as the West Memphis Three - convicted of "satanic" killings in 1993 of three 8-year-old Cub Scouts in Arkansas.

Rain Helps Some Drought-hit Areas, But Not Enough

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A band of showers has offered some relief to parched areas from Kansas to Mississippi, but the historic drought causing billions of dollars in losses in the South is showing no signs of abating soon.

FBI Suspects Arrested Woman Is "Bad Hair Bandit"

SALMON, Idaho - The FBI suspects an Idaho woman jailed over a California heist is the "Bad Hair Bandit" wanted for 20 bank robberies and a judge set her bail on Thursday at $500,000 following her recent arrest.

Billowing Dust Storm Engulfs Downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX - A billowing wall of dust engulfed downtown Phoenix on Thursday, cutting visibility to a few hundred yards and delaying flights at the international airport, authorities and news reports said.

China-U.S. Basketball "friendly" Erupts Into Brawl

BEIJING - As Vice President Joe Biden built trust with China in Beijing's corridors of power, goodwill between the two nations unraveled Thursday night on a nearby basketball court, where players beat each other up and even a chair was thrown.

Virginia Executes Man Who Raped, Killed Elderly Woman

CHESAPEAKE, Va - A man convicted of raping and killing an elderly Virginia woman was executed by lethal injection on Thursday, the first inmate put to death in that state this year, the attorney general's office said.

Kansas City Sets Youth Curfew After Weekend Shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The weekend shooting of three teenagers at a large late-night "flash mob" gathering prompted local authorities to pass an ordinance on Thursday that sets curfews as early as 9 p.m. for people under age 18.

Pakistani Man Tied To Times Square Bomber Pleads Guilty

NEW YORK - A Pakistani immigrant pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court to running an illegal money-transfer business that provided $7,000 to the man who tried to bomb New York's Times Square.

Man Pleads To Sexual Battery Over Match.com Date

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles man pleaded no contest on Wednesday to sexually battering a woman he met on Match.com in a case that led his date to push for better screening methods by the matchmaking site.

Army Says Improperly Tested $2.5 Billion Body Armor Is Safe

WASHINGTON - Body armor worth $2.5 billion that the Department of Defense's Inspector General found had been improperly tested poses no hazard to troops, according to the Army.

Judge Orders New Hearing On Loughner Subpoenas

PHOENIX - A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday ordered a hearing in the case of accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner to hear arguments about subpoenas issued by his lawyers that may seek to shape an insanity defense.

Abuse Trial Opens For Mom Featured On "Dr Phil" Episode

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The trial of an Anchorage mother accused of abusing her adopted Russian-born son got underway on Wednesday as jurors watched a videotape of her pouring hot sauce into the boy's mouth.

Man Shoots Self While Driving On Highway In Tennessee

NASHVILLE - A 23-year-old man faced possible criminal charges on Wednesday after he accidentally shot himself in both legs when he reached for his gun while driving on a highway in Tennessee, authorities said.

Police Find Stolen Tombstones At California Home

LOS ANGELES - Deputies searching a suspected California meth house found some two dozen granite tombstones stolen from local cemeteries in the backyard, a San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Biggest Jump In Midwest Farmland Prices In 34 Years

CHICAGO - Prices for farmland in the heart of the U.S. grain belt were up 17 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago, the biggest jump since 1977, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said on Wednesday.

Virginia Due To Execute Man Who Raped, Killed Elderly Woman

CHESAPEAKE, Va - A man convicted of raping and killing an elderly Virginia woman will on Thursday be the first inmate put to death in that state this year unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes to stop the execution.

Drought Losses Hit $5.2 Billion In Texas

SAN ANTONIO - The historic Texas drought that has parched most of the state throughout the summer has caused $5.2 billion in losses to agriculture, making it the most destructive drought in the state's history, agriculture officials said on Wednesday.

Florida Police Foil Bomb Plot At Tampa School

TAMPA, Florida - Florida police said on Wednesday they arrested a 17-year-old who had material to make pipe bombs at his home and had planned to attack and cause mass casualties at the Tampa high school that had expelled him.

Evacuation Order Lifted After Idaho Wildfire Flares Up

SALMON, Idaho - Residents in Pocatello in southeastern Idaho returned home on Tuesday afternoon after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed a house and prompted the evacuation of 44 others, officials said.

Cigarette Makers Sue FDA Over New Labeling Rules

NEW YORK - Four big cigarette makers sued the Food and Drug Administration, seeking to void as unconstitutional new graphic labels and advertising that warn consumers about the risks of smoking and induce them to quit.

Latinos Protest Deportations At Obama Campaign HQ

CHICAGO - Latino activists held a protest outside President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign headquarters on Tuesday to ask him to end a criminal deportation program they say is snaring large number of illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes.

Lightning Strike At Florida's Seaworld Sends 8 To Hospital

ORLANDO, Florida - A lightning strike at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove sent eight people to the hospital, a SeaWorld spokesman said on Tuesday.

Giant South American Rodent Spotted In California

LOS ANGELES - A giant South American rodent weighing at least 100 pounds has been spotted at a California waste-water treatment facility, but has since disappeared in the brush, a wildlife official said on Tuesday.

Yale Disputes OSHA Criticism In Student's Lab Death

AMHERST, Mass - Federal safety regulators say Yale University lab equipment responsible for a student's accidental death this spring lacked some required safety features, a finding that the school disputed on Tuesday.

Did "gustnado" Topple Indiana Stage? Experts Divided

MIAMI - Was the sudden wind gust that collapsed an outdoor concert stage in Indiana at the weekend, killing five people, a 'gustnado,' a sometimes powerful whirlwind that scoots ahead of thunderstorm fronts?

Obama Says "lone Wolf Terrorist" Biggest U.S. Threat

WASHINGTON - A decade after the 9/11 attacks, a "lone wolf terrorist" like the shooter in Norway now presents a bigger risk to the United States than a large-scale operation, President Barack Obama said on Tuesday.

Australian Collar Bomb Suspect Appears In Court

LOUISVILLE, Ky - A man wanted in Australia over accusations he strapped a fake bomb to the neck of a teenage girl appeared in U.S. federal court on Tuesday, a first step toward extraditing him home to face charges.

Democrats Hold Seats In Wisconsin Recall Elections

RHINELANDER, Wis - Two Wisconsin Democratic state senators beat back Republican challengers on Tuesday in the last of a series of recall elections triggered by a fight over collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

Thome Warms Purists' Hearts With 600th Home Run

NEW YORK - Jim Thome powered his way into one of Major League Baseball's most exclusive clubs on Monday when he slugged his 600th home run after a long journey built on hard work and consistency.

Louisiana Man Charged In Beheading Of Disabled Son

NEW ORLEANS - A Louisiana man decapitated his disabled 7-year-old son and placed the boy's head near the street so that his mother would see it when she came home, police said on Monday.

Pregnant Woman Killed By Pit Bull Died From Blood Loss, Shock

SAN FRANCISCO - Preliminary autopsy results show that a pregnant San Francisco-area woman who was killed by her pit bull died from blood loss and shock, police said on Monday.

Hackers Protest Peacefully In San Francisco Subway

SAN FRANCISCO - A few dozen protesters turned out on Monday for a San Francisco rally organized by the hacker group Anonymous to protest alleged police brutality and what they called anti-free speech tactics by authorities.

Arizona Man Jailed For Life For Killing Father, Daughter

PHOENIX - A judge on Monday sentenced a member of an Arizona border vigilante group to life in jail for gunning down a man and his 9-year-old daughter during a home invasion two years ago.

Loughner Attorneys Again Challenge Forced Medication

SAN FRANCISCO - Attorneys for accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner on Monday again filed court papers challenging an order that allows him to be forcibly medicated in prison.

Australian Collar Bomb Suspect Arrested In Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky - A man wanted in Australia for allegedly strapping a fake bomb to the neck of a teenage girl was arrested near Louisville on Monday, authorities said.

Prosecutor: Dougherty Siblings To Be Charged Next Week

DENVER - Three Florida siblings will be charged next week for firing at police during a high-speed chase as they tried to elude capture following a suspected three-state crime spree, a Colorado prosecutor said on Monday.

Alaska Congressional Offices Closed Over Packages

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Suspicious packages, with white powder spilling out of at least one of them, prompted scares and temporary closures on Monday at Alaska offices of all three of the state's members of Congress.

Indiana State Fair Reopens With Memorial Service

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana State Fair reopened on Monday with a half-hour service remembering those who died following the collapse of its main concert stage over the weekend in heavy wind.

Minnesota Gay Teens Bullied By Adults, Peers, Say Activists

PINE CITY, Minn - Barb Schroeder knew about her son Alec's struggles as an openly gay freshman in rural Minnesota's Mora High School. But she didn't know about the knife.

Camp For Girls At Risk Of HIV Aims To Boost Self Esteem

HENRICO COUNTY, VA - The girls camp in eastern Henrico County has no traditional activities such as fishing or swimming but provides its young participants with statistics scarier than any campfire story.

Severe Weather Leaves Thousands Without Power In Kentucky

LOUISVILLE - Severe thunderstorms across southwest Indiana and into Kentucky left about 74,000 Louisville customers without power on Sunday, officials said.

Struggling Republican Pawlenty Exits White House Race

WASHINGTON - Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty became the first major casualty in the marathon presidential campaign on Sunday while fellow Republicans Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry built momentum in the race.

Art Thieves Nab $250,000 Rembrandt From California Hotel

LOS ANGELES - Investigators were examining hotel surveillance video on Sunday for clues to the disappearance of a drawing by Rembrandt from a private exhibit near Los Angeles, officials said.

U.S. Probes Mazda SUV Brake Warranty Claims

NEW YORK - U.S. safety regulators have opened an investigation into warranty claims regarding the brake effectiveness of a 2008 Mazda Motor Corp sport utility vehicle.

Two Dead, Four Injured In Small Plane Crash In Alaska

ANCHORAGE - Two people were killed and four others injured in a small plane crash near Alaska's Lower Yukon Valley that had rescuers searching for more than 14 hours, authorities said on Sunday.

Wisconsin's Historic Recall Elections Wrap Up This Week

CHICAGO - Wisconsin's series of recall elections concludes on Tuesday when voters go to the polls in two state Senate districts where Democrats are being forced to defend their seats.

National Beef Recalls 60,424 Lbs Ground Beef For E.coli

CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said National Beef Packing Co has recalled about 60,424 pounds of ground beef products after inspection at an Ohio processing plant produced suspicions of contamination by e.coli 0157:H7 bacteria.

Death Toll Rises In Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse

INDIANAPOLIS - A fifth person has died from the collapse of an outdoor concert stage in heavy wind just before a weekend show at the Indiana State Fair, which was shut down on Sunday, authorities said.

Conservationists Ask Court To Stop Idaho, Montana Wolf Hunts

SALMON, Idaho - Conservation groups on Saturday asked a federal appellate court to stop upcoming hunts in Montana and Idaho that target more than 1,000 wolves.

Donors Helping To Reboot California Listening Post For Aliens

LOS ANGELES - A California institute plans to reboot its listening post for intelligent life in space, with private donations to replace government cutbacks.

Passengers Injured When Bus Flips On Pennsylvania Turnpike

PHILADELPHIA - A Greyhound bus flipped over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early on Saturday, trapping a woman inside the wreckage and injuring nearly two dozen other passengers, officials said.

Missouri Law Limiting Teacher-student Online Contact Draws Ire

KANSAS CITY - As the school year resumes next week, Missouri teachers will have to think twice about making private contact with students on Internet sites such as Facebook.

Appeals Court Rules Against Obama Healthcare Law

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law suffered a setback on Friday when an appeals court ruled that it was unconstitutional to require all Americans to buy insurance or face a penalty.

Missing Girl's Neighbor Charged With Murder In Missouri

CHICAGO - Authorities charged a neighbor of Breeann Rodriguez, a Missouri toddler who disappeared last week, with first-degree murder on Saturday.

As Gold Prices Soar, Dreamers Grab Their Picks And Pans

SAN ANTONIO - There's still gold in them thar hills.

Flight Diverted To Boston After Smoke Detected In Cabin

BOSTON - A US Airways flight bound for Charlotte, North Carolina was diverted to Boston on Saturday after smoke was found in the cabin, the airline said.

Michele Bachmann Wins Iowa Republican Poll

AMES, Iowa - Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll on Saturday in the first big test of the 2012 Republican presidential campaign, as Texas Governor Rick Perry launched a White House bid that could reshape the race.

Four Dead In Stage Collapse At Indiana State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS - Four people were killed and at least 40 people were injured when an outdoor stage collapsed in windy weather at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, just minutes before country music duo Sugarland was set to perform.

U.S. Identifies Remains Of Troops In Afghan Crash

WASHINGTON - The military said on Friday it had identified the remains of all 30 American troops killed when the Taliban shot down their helicopter last weekend in Afghanistan, the deadliest incident for U.S. forces in the nearly decade-long war.

White House Announces Medal Of Honor For Marine

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor, to a former active duty Marine Corps corporal, the White House said on Friday.

Concern Grows Over Qaeda Poison Threat: Report

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is concerned that a dangerous regional arm of al Qaeda is trying to produce the deadly poison ricin to use in attacks against the United States, the New York Times reported Friday.

Man Arrested For Pipeline Bomb: FBI

HOUSTON - An Oklahoma man was arrested and charged on Friday with trying to destroy a natural gas pipeline with a homemade bomb, the FBI said.

Three Africans Charged Over Fake Bomb At Phoenix Airport

PHOENIX - Three Africans were charged on Friday with trying to sneak a fake bomb past a screening area at a Phoenix airport, in what the FBI describes as a possible test of security.

Judge Tells Dougherty Gang More Charges Could Be Coming

DENVER - A judge on Friday advised three Florida siblings accused in a sensational multi-state crime spree that they could face attempted murder charges in a second Colorado county for firing on police during a high-speed chase, court documents show.

U.S. Citizen Kidnapped In Pakistan-police

LAHORE, Pakistan - An American citizen was kidnapped from his residence in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Saturday, police said.

Appeals Court Rules Against Obama Healthcare Law

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law suffered a setback on Friday when an appeals court ruled that it was unconstitutional to require all Americans to buy insurance or face a penalty.

Obama, CEOs Talk Markets, Global Economy Woes

WASHINGTON - Global financial upheaval was on the agenda on Friday when President Barack Obama met with top executives from the U.S. business community, the White House said.

Republicans Compete In Iowa, Perry Poised To Run

AMES, Iowa - Six Republican presidential hopefuls compete Saturday in the Iowa straw poll, an unofficial test of campaign strength that will share the stage this year with the launch of Texas Governor Rick Perry's White House run.

California Congressman's Abducted Grandchildren Found

LOS ANGELES - Three grandsons of a congressman from California who were abducted in 2007 have been returned to the United States from Mexico, where they were living with his son's ex-wife, authorities said on Thursday.

"Barefoot Bandit" Signs Movie Deal To Pay Victims

LOS ANGELES - The 20-year-old convicted burglar dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" has agreed to a $1.1 million movie deal to pay victims of his crime spree, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Arizona Court Lifts Injunction On Abortion Law

PHOENIX - An Arizona appeals court, in a victory for abortion opponents, tossed out an injunction on Thursday that blocked key parts of a 2009 Arizona abortion law from taking effect.

Stephen Colbert Aims Comedic Political Ad At Iowa

LOS ANGELES - Comedian Stephen Colbert is putting his political action committee cash to work with advertisements that mockingly endorse Texas Governor Rick Perry ahead of an Iowa straw poll this week on the other Republican presidential hopefuls.

Teen Dies After Fall On Yosemite Hiking Trail

SAN FRANCISCO - A teenager has died at a hospital four days after suffering head injuries in a fall at Yosemite National Park, in a deadly year for visitors to the California nature reserve, authorities said on Thursday.

No Guilty Verdicts In Alabama Gambling Trial

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - An Alabama jury returned not guilty verdicts on Thursday against nine defendants accused in an alleged vote-buying scheme involving state lawmakers, casino owners and lobbyists, a lawyer involved in the case said.

Police: Dougherty Sister Admits Firing At Officer

DENVER - A former topless dancer accused along with her two brothers in a three-state crime spree admitted she leveled a machine pistol at a Colorado police officer before he shot her, arrest warrant affidavits showed on Thursday.

Judge Rules Little Rock Bus Line Wrong To Deny Atheist Ads

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - A federal judge ruled on Thursday that the free speech of a coalition of atheists had been violated when Little Rock's public bus line denied them the right to place $5,000 worth of ads on city buses.

Woman Mauled By Chimp Shows New Face In First Photo

BOSTON - A woman who underwent a full face transplant in May after being mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009 revealed her new face in a photo released on Thursday.

Former Judge Sentenced To Prison For "kids For Cash" Scheme

PHILADELPHIA - A former Pennsylvania juvenile court judge was sentenced on Thursday to 28 years in prison for accepting payment to send juveniles to a for-profit detention facility in a scandal dubbed "kids for cash,".

Principal Found Dead In Memphis Classroom, Student Held

MEMPHIS - The female principal of a small Christian school in Memphis was found dead on Wednesday and a 17-year-old male student was in custody, police said.

Crystal Cathedral Bankruptcy Sale Sparks Bidding War

LOS ANGELES - The bankruptcy sale of Crystal Cathedral, the glass-walled Orange County church known for its "Hour of Power" broadcasts, has touched off a bidding war between a Roman Catholic diocese and a local university.

Corrected: Grain Elevator Company Pleads Guilty In Teen Death

DENVER - A rural Colorado company pleaded guilty in federal court in Denver on Friday to violating workplace laws in the death of a 17 year-old boy who suffocated after he was sucked under flowing grain while cleaning a bin.

Scientists Head To Arctic Ocean To Track Acidification

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will embark next week on an expedition to monitor acidification trends in the Arctic Ocean linked to carbon emissions, the agency said on Wednesday.

FBI, Oklahoma Police Investigate Pipeline Bomb

HOUSTON - FBI agents were investigating what appeared to be a bomb attached to a natural gas pipeline in central Oklahoma, law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.

Strauss-Kahn Civil Case Will Need More Than Accusations

NEW YORK - While civil suits have wider latitude of what may be introduced in court, a judge in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn civil case will want hard evidence rather than mere accusations from other women that he sexually assaulted them, analysts say.

Florida Fugitive Siblings Caught In Colorado

DENVER - Three fugitive siblings wanted in connection with crimes in Florida and Georgia last week were taken into custody in Colorado after shots were fired and a high-speed chase ended in a crash, police said on Wednesday.

Graduates Accuse Law Schools Of Scamming Students

NEW YORK - Facing a stagnant job market, law graduates from New York and Michigan schools on Wednesday accused their alma maters of duping graduates out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition by publishing misleading post-graduation employment and salary statistics.

Media-savvy Lawyer Defends Maid In Strauss-Kahn Case

NEW YORK - It was Kenneth Thompson's starring role in the prosecution of New York police accused of beating and sodomizing a Haitian immigrant that put the son of one of the city's first female beat cops on the map in 1997.

Teen Gets Prison Time For Planned Columbine-style Attack

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - A 15-year-old in South Carolina was sentenced on Wednesday to serve six years in prison for charges connected to a Columbine-style attack authorities said he had intended to carry out at his school.

Texas Jury Sentences Polygamist Leader To Life

SAN ANGELO, Texas - A jury sentenced polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who heads a breakaway Mormon sect, to over a century in prison on Tuesday for sexually assaulting two underage girls he wed as "spiritual" brides.

Missouri Priest Charged In Federal Child Pornography Indictment

CHICAGO - A federal grand jury in Missouri indicted a jailed Catholic priest on Tuesday on fresh child pornography charges including that he took sexually explicit photos of girls as young as two years old.

Three Arrested Over Fake Bomb At Phoenix Airport

PHOENIX - Three African refugees were arrested after one tried to board a flight at a Phoenix airport with a fake bomb, in what may have been a test of security, police said on Tuesday.

Authorities Still Hunting Fugitive Florida Siblings

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - A Florida sheriff on Tuesday urged three fugitive siblings accused of crimes in Florida and Georgia to heed their mother's advice and turn themselves in after a week on the run.

States Benefit By Lowering Prison Terms: ACLU

NEW YORK - Six U.S. states that reduced incarceration rates by focusing on parole or probation instead of prison time have cut costs without increasing crime rates, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Tea Party Faithful Wonder If Rick Perry Walks The Walk

NEW YORK - Rick Perry has been widely touted as a Republican presidential candidate who could appeal Tea Party voters, but some in the anti-tax movement wonder if his record as Texas governor stacks up to his rhetoric.

Special Report: Bad Weather A Boon For Private Forecasters

MIAMI - Heat and drought are parching the southern U.S. plains, floods and tornadoes have shattered long-standing records, and the tropical Atlantic is steaming into the traditionally busiest part of the hurricane season.

Prosecutors Seek As Much As 24-1/2 Years For Rajaratnam

NEW YORK - Prosecutors asked a federal judge to sentence Raj Rajaratnam to as much as 24-1/2 years in prison, calling the Galleon Group hedge fund founder "arguably the most egregious violator" of insider trading laws ever to be caught.

Grand Jury Indicts U.S. Private In Fort Hood Plot

WACO, Texas - A Texas grand jury on Tuesday indicted an Army private accused of plotting to kill soldiers from the Fort Hood military base with a homemade bomb, setting the stage for a trial.

Wisconsin Republicans Hang On In Recall Elections

MILWAUKEE - Republicans appeared to narrowly retain their majority in the Wisconsin state Senate on Tuesday, staving off a strong recall election challenge from Democrats and union members angered by a new law curbing the power of organized labor.

Gunman, Victims Identified In Ohio Shooting Rampage

CLEVELAND - Police were still trying to determine on Monday why a 51-year-old man shot and critically wounded his longtime girlfriend and killed seven other people in a quiet Ohio suburb before he was killed by police.

Gas-soaked Idaho Man Jailed For Bomb Threats

SALMON, Idaho - A man soaked in gasoline and armed with a machete threatened to blow up himself and police during a confrontation in a northwest Idaho town, authorities said on Monday.

Groups Ask Appeals Court To Restore Wolf Protections

SALMON, Idaho - Conservation groups asked an appeals court on Monday to strike down a move by Congress to strip more than 1,500 wolves in Idaho and Montana of federal endangered species protections.

Financial Advisers Have "black Monday" Blues

NEW YORK - For plenty of financial advisers -- who also serve as quasi-therapists, spiritual gurus and confidantes -- Monday was bad.

No DNA Match For Latest DB Cooper Suspect, FBI Says

LOS ANGELES - DNA analysis has failed to establish a link between the skyjacker dubbed D.B. Cooper and a new suspect in the decades-old case, but the results do not rule out that he may have been the culprit, the FBI said on Monday.

Pro-Romney Group Confirms Identity Of Mystery Donor

WASHINGTON - Pro-Mitt Romney political action committee Restore Our Future confirmed on Monday the identity of a donor whose mysterious million dollar gift sparked a furor over 2012 presidential campaign finance transparency.

Southern U.S. Boils While Midwest Has Storms

AUSTIN, Texas - The Southeast and southern Plains broiled under more record-breaking heat on Monday while heavy rain and gusting winds threatened to pummel the nation's midsection.

Jurors Hear Polygamist Leader Warn Girls Not To Reject Him

SAN ANTONIO - Texas jurors heard polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who heads a breakaway Mormon sect, warning underage girls in a tape played on Monday that God would reject them if they refused to have sex with him.

Americans Wonder Where The Misery Will End

From Times Square to St. Petersburg, Florida, and Portland, Oregon, people are trying to understand how the downgrading of America's AAA credit rating by Standard and Poor's agency caused a stock market crash and torpedoed their economic prospects so badly again.

New York Maid Hits Strauss-Kahn With Civil Lawsuit

NEW YORK - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted a housekeeper in a "violent and sadistic attack" in his hotel suite in Manhattan in May, a civil lawsuit filed on Monday alleges.

American To Attempt 60-hour Cuba-to-Florida Swim

HAVANA - Veteran long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad will take on time and Mother Nature when she jumps into the Florida Straits on Sunday to begin what would be a world record swim from Cuba to Florida.

University Graduates, Grieves Six Lost Students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala - Two days after a tornado took her sister's life in April, Michelle Downs Whatley crossed the stage at her own college graduation wearing her lost sister's shoes, salvaged from the wreckage.

Former Sen. Hatfield, Anti-war Republican, Dies

PORTLAND, Ore - Former Senator Mark Hatfield, a liberal anti-war Republican from Oregon, died on Sunday at age 89.

U.S. Municipal Debt May Prove Resilient Despite S&P

NEW YORK - The U.S. municipal market could prove more resilient than feared in the face of Standard & Poor's historic downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, analysts said.

Hugh Carey, Former N.Y. "governor For Hard Winters", Dies Age 92

NEW YORK - Former New York Governor Hugh Carey, a fiscal hawk who tamed a potentially ruinous fiscal crisis in the Empire State in the 1970s, died on Sunday at his summer home on Long Island, officials said. He was 92.

Outkast Rapper Big Boi Arrested For Drugs

MIAMI - Miami police arrested Outkast rapper and "Hey Ya" singer Big Boi on Sunday for possessing ecstasy and other drugs that the performer's lawyer later characterized as "contraband."

Flash Floods In North Carolina Damage Homes, Leave Two Dead

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Flash floods in Charlotte, North Carolina, damaged nearly 100 homes and left two people dead in apparent drownings, officials said on Sunday.

More Extreme Weather In Store Across U.S.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - More extreme weather was expected across the country on Sunday, as parts of the Midwest and Northeast faced possible flooding from slow-moving storms while blistering triple-digit temperatures were expected in coastal Southeastern states.

Shooter Kills Seven In Ohio Rampage: Police

COPLEY TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Seven people were shot to death on Sunday before police killed the alleged gunmanin a small town near Akron, Ohio, police and town officials said.

Verizon Unions Strike After Contract Talks Fail

NEW YORK - Almost half the workers in Verizon Communications' wireline telecommunications business went on strike on Sunday as negotiations for a new labor contract failed.

New Orleans Officers Convicted In Katrina Shootings

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury on Friday found four New Orleans police officers guilty in the shooting deaths of two civilians in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and also convicted a former policeman of helping cover up the killings.

Explosion At Alon Refinery In Texas: Report

NEW YORK - There was an explosion at Alon USA's 70,000 barrel per day refinery in Big Spring, Texas, local media reported on Saturday.

Top Mexico Trafficker Claims He Was DEA Informant

MEXICO CITY - A top Mexican drug trafficker awaiting trial in Chicago is claiming that he has immunity from prosecution as he was working all along as a confidential informant for U.S. agents -- allegations the U.S. government denies.

New Yorker Charged With Stalking French Actress Cotillard

NEW YORK - Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard, cast in the next Batman movie, has a role in a real life Gotham crime after a stalker sent threatening messages to her fan site, authorities said on Saturday.

Abu Ghraib Abuse Ringleader Graner Released From Prison

CHICAGO - The soldier who orchestrated abuses of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison was released on Saturday after serving more than six years in a Kansas military prison barracks, a U.S. Army spokeswoman said.

Historic Wisconsin Recalls Boil To A Head With Votes

CHICAGO - Months of political rancor and a tsunami of special interest spending come to a head on Tuesday with historic recall votes for Wisconsin state lawmakers that some see as a pointer for the 2012 election.

US South Deep In Heat, Storms Break Out Northeast

HOUSTON - The southern United States stood mired on Saturday in an unrelenting heat wave that promised more of the triple-digit temperatures that have roasted the region for weeks.

First Tax-free Holiday In Arkansas A Boon For Business

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Arkansans shopped until they dropped on Saturday, braving temperatures deep into the triple-digits to take advantage of the state's first sales tax holiday weekend.

Body Of Man Who Plunged Over Yosemite Waterfall Found

LOS ANGELES - Yosemite National Park rangers on Friday found the body of a California man who plunged over a 317-foot waterfall nearly three weeks ago -- but his two friends who fell with him remain missing.

University Graduates, Grieves Six Lost Students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala - Two days after a tornado took her sister's life in April, Michelle Downs Whatley crossed the stage at her own college graduation wearing her lost sister's shoes, salvaged from the wreckage.

Soldier Sentenced To Three Years In Afghan Crimes Case

SEATTLE - A U.S. soldier accused of killing Afghan civilians was sentenced to three years of confinement on Friday after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors, an Army statement said.

"Very Aggressive" Monkey Attacks Tennessee Woman

NASHVILLE, Tenn - An aggressive snow monkey named Yoshi, who was being kept by a Tennessee family, bit a woman and a sheriff's officer before he was shot and killed, police said on Friday.

Grain Elevator Company Pleads Guilty In Teen Death

DENVER - A rural Colorado company pleaded guilty in federal court in Denver on Friday to violating workplace laws in the death of a 17-year-old boy who suffocated after he was sucked into a bin being filled with grain.

Cuban Court Upholds Sentence For Jailed American

HAVANA - Cuba's Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence of jailed American aid contractor Alan Gross for trying to set up Internet networks in Cuba, in a damaging decision for U.S.-Cuba relations.

Chicago Man Sentenced To Year In Prison For Bomb Threat

PEORIA, Ill - A 19-year-old Chicago man who authorities accused of making a series of bomb threats to Western Illinois University dormitories last fall was sentenced on Friday to a year in federal prison.

Plane Evacuated In Philadelphia Over Bomb Threat

PHILADELPHIA - A US Airways Boeing 757 with 157 passengers on board was evacuated on Friday at Philadelphia International Airport because of a bomb threat but was later cleared for departure.

Bones Found In California Desert Tied To 1946 Murder

LOS ANGELES - The skeletal remains of a young woman murdered 65 years ago and left in the California desert have been identified through DNA analysis, authorities said on Friday.

Security Upped After Violence At Wisconsin State Fair

MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin State Fair imposed heightened security on Friday, a day after fighting between groups of youths on and around the midway and attacks on police officers resulted in 24 arrests, fair officials said.

New Orleans Officers Convicted In Katrina Shootings

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury on Friday found four New Orleans police officers guilty in the shooting deaths of two civilians in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and also convicted a former policeman of helping cover up the killings.

No Relief In Sight For Texas Heat And Drought

WASHINGTON - The nation's triple digit heat wave -- which hit its 34th day on Friday -- could last until the end of August, while extensive drought in and around Texas may last into October, forecasters said.

Forced Labor Case Against Hawaii Farmers Dismissed

HONOLULU - A federal judge dismissed all charges against two Hawaii farmers on Thursday accused of coercing at least 30 Thai nationals into forced labor, after the prosecutors' case unraveled.

Scientists Warn Of Heat Risk To High-school Football Players

AUSTIN - Most high school football players who die from heat-related illness are overweight, in the first weeks of practice, and on the field in the morning, when the humidity is high and coaches take cooler temperatures for granted, researchers said on Thursday.

Judge Refers Army Soldier To Grand Jury

WACO, Texas - A judge weighing the case against an Army soldier accused of a terror plot to bomb soldiers from a Texas military base on Thursday said there was sufficient evidence to refer the charges to a grand jury.

Fire Consumes Historic Arkansas Hospital Complex

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - A massive fire claimed a historic World War Two-era hospital in Arkansas and more than 100 other buildings near Fort Smith, and was still burning on Thursday night.

Two Border Patrol Agents Accused Of Abusing Suspects

PHOENIX - Two Border Patrol agents were indicted on Thursday on charges of forcing accused drug smugglers to eat marijuana and flee barefoot and nearly naked into the chilly Arizona desert.

Missing Credentials Harm Jobless Veterans

NEW YORK - Army officer Donna Bachler has not had a regular paycheck since she left active duty four years ago, even though she boasts the kind of skills employers vie for.

Rhode Island City Bankruptcy May Be Lesson: Official

CENTRAL FALLS, Rhode Island - A bankruptcy filing this week by Central Falls, Rhode Island, could be a lesson for other struggling cities in the advantages of taking that drastic legal step, the city's receiver said in an interview on Thursday.

Strauss-Kahn Accuser May Sue In Friendly Bronx

NEW YORK - For almost three months, the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn has centered around the upscale Sofitel hotel where a maid claimed the former International Monetary Fund chief attacked her.

Gun Scare At Virginia Tech, Scene Of 2007 Massacre

WASHINGTON - Authorities reopened the Virginia Tech campus after an hours-long lockdown on Thursday following a report of a gunman at the university where 32 people were killed in a mass shooting in 2007.

Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Guilty Of Child Sex Assault

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who heads a breakaway Mormon sect, was found guilty on Thursday of child sexual assault for his so-called "spiritual marriages" to two underage girls.

Oregon Representative Wu Resigns In Wake Of Controversy

WASHINGTON - Oregon Democratic Congressman David Wu, accused of an unwanted sexual encounter with a campaign donor's 18-year-old daughter, gave notice of his resignation late on Wednesday.

Cargill Recalls Ground Turkey On Salmonella Risk

LOS ANGELES - A Cargill Inc unit is recalling roughly 36 million lbs of fresh and frozen ground turkey products due to possible contamination from an antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strain believed to be linked to one known death.

White House Unveils Plan To Combat Domestic Militancy

WASHINGTON - The White House, citing concerns al Qaeda militants were actively recruiting Muslim Americans to carry out attacks, unveiled a strategy on Wednesday to combat home-grown extremism by reaching out to local communities.

Earth's Moon Shaped By Impact With Another: Study

LOS ANGELES - A primordial collision of two moons that once orbited Earth explains why the present-day moon is a bit lopsided and its far side much rockier than the lunar surface facing our planet, scientists said Wednesday.

Polygamist Trial Jury Hears Recording Of Alleged Rape

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Prosecutors finished presenting their sexual assault case against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs on Wednesday by playing a recording of his alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl for jurors.

Missouri Man Charged With Stealing Baby's Charity Money

KANSAS CITY, Mo - A Kansas City man was charged on Wednesday with stealing an oversized baby bottle containing about $400 in charity money being raised to help a family pay burial expenses for an infant who died.

Judge Refuses To Restore Wolf Protections

SALMON, Idaho - A federal judge refused on Wednesday to overturn an unprecedented act of Congress that removed some 1,500 wolves in Montana and Idaho from the endangered species list.

Iconic Turtle, On The Mend, Back At Sea Off Florida

JUNO BEACH, Fla - A plucky sea turtle was released back into the wild off Florida's coast on Wednesday after months of intensive medical care to reverse damage caused by the propellers of a wayward motorboat.

Judge Puts Probation For Casey Anthony On Hold

ORLANDO, Fla - A judge ruled on Wednesday that Casey Anthony, the Florida mother acquitted of murdering her toddler, will not be required to report to an Orlando probation office on Thursday as ordered by a different judge.

South Plains Break Heat Records, Midwest Cold Front Due

AUSTIN, Texas - Oppressive heat and record temperatures baked the southern Central Plains on Wednesday with the mercury soaring to a blistering 115 degrees in one Arkansas town, breaking a record set in the 19th century.

Aggressive Yellowstone Grizzly Euthanized After Charging Hiker

SALMON, Idaho - Rangers have taken the rare step of capturing and killing a grizzly bear deemed a threat to human safety in Yellowstone National Park after the bruin menaced a hiker without any apparent provocation.

New Jersey Democrat Resigns After Nude Photos Circulated

NEW YORK - After an online sexting scandal brought down Congressman Anthony Weiner, the last thing a politician would even consider is sending a nude self-portrait over the Internet. Apparently not.

Texas Jury Hears Taste Of Polygamist Life In Audiotape

SAN ANTONIO - Jurors in the Texas child sexual assault trial of Warren Jeffs got a snippet via an audiotape on Tuesday of what life may have been like for the polygamist leader's wives, whom he called his "quorum of 12 women".

Mustard Gas Vapors Detected At Army Weapons Depot

DENVER - Mustard gas vapors were detected seeping from a chemical weapons depot in southern Colorado on Tuesday, but no one was sickened or injured, the U.S. Army said in a statement.

Authorities Unsure Of Cause Of Death For New Hampshire Girl

LITTLETON, New Hampshire - An autopsy on 11-year-old New Hampshire girl Celina Cass, whose body was found in the Connecticut River a week after she went missing, could not immediately pinpoint on Tuesday how she died.

Mississippi Primaries Thin Field For Governor's Race

OXFORD, Miss - Mississippi voters cast ballots on Tuesday in party primary elections to choose candidates for the governorship in one of four states due to hold gubernatorial contests in the fall.

New York Police Launch System To Detect And Track Radiation

NEW YORK - The New York Police Department is launching a mobile radiation detection system equipped with location-tracking GPS technology that it says could help avert a so-called "dirty" bomb attack.

Wild Mustangs Spared Roundup In Wyoming For Now

WASHINGTON - Wild horses on the vast rangelands of Wyoming can continue to roam free, for now, after the U.S. government's Bureau of Land Management postponed a planned roundup, horse advocates said on Tuesday.

Analysis: Obama Suffers Political Setback In Debt Deal

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama suffered a defeat in the battle over raising the U.S. debt limit that may have repercussions for his efforts to restore growth to the U.S. economy and win re-election in 2012.

High Heat In Midwest And South

WASHINGTON - Record-breaking heat continued to broil central and southern states on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Emily threatened to dampen the Southeast, forecasters said.

Town Official Pleads Guilty To Running Guns To Mexico

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - An ousted official of a tiny New Mexico border town pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to run guns to warring Mexican drug cartels.

Obama Administration Sues To Block Alabama Immigration Law

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Monday sued to block enforcement of Alabama's new immigration law, widely considered to be the toughest measure in the United States to try to crack down on illegal immigrants.

Judge Blocks Kansas Law Aimed At Planned Parenthood

KANSAS CITY, Kan - A judge has blocked a Kansas law that would stop federal family planning money from going to Planned Parenthood, officials confirmed on Monday, and Kansas plans to appeal the decision.

TV Product Placements Termed Junk Food Ad Loophole

BOSTON - Companies that have pledged not to market unhealthy food and beverages directly to children may be turning to product placement on television shows instead of traditional ads to target youngsters, a new study showed.

Heat, Thunderstorms On Tap, Also Tropical Storm Watch

WASHINGTON - Overnight thunderstorms peppered the Northeast on Monday and threatened to return with damaging wind gusts and hail as record-breaking heat tightened its grip on the Southern and Central Plains.

Plea Deal Expected For U.S. Soldier In Afghan Crimes Case

SEATTLE - One of five U.S. soldiers accused of murdering Afghan civilians last year has agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and drug use, a source close to the case said on Monday.

North Carolina Group Suggests Compensating Sterilization Victims

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - North Carolina should compensate the surviving victims of the state's forced sterilization program, the Governor's Eugenics Compensation Task Force recommended on Monday.

Body Of Missing New Hampshire Girl Found In River

LITTLETON, New Hampshire - Divers pulled the body of a missing 11-year-old girl, Celina Cass, from the Connecticut River on Monday not far from her New Hampshire home, and her death was being investigated as suspicious, authorities said.

Analysis: Tea Party Proves Clout, But At What Cost?

WASHINGTON - Tea Party conservatives scored their biggest political triumph with a debt-ceiling deal that cuts federal spending, but their hardline tactics could risk a voter backlash in the 2012 elections.

FBI Pursues New Clues In 1971 D.B. Cooper Hijack Case

SEATTLE - Four decades after a skyjacker dubbed D.B. Cooper bailed out of a U.S. jetliner in mid-air and vanished with $200,000 in cash, federal agents are pursuing new clues pointing to a suspect they believe is long dead, an FBI spokesman said on Tuesday.