New York City On Alert To Awlaki Revenge Attacks

NEW YORK - New York City police are on alert to possible revenge attacks following the U.S. killing of American-born militant Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, police commissioner Ray Kelly said on Friday.

Washington State Couple Charged In Adopted Daughter's Death

SEATTLE - A Washington state couple who prosecutors said beat and starved their adopted 13-year-old Ethiopian-born daughter and forced her to sleep outdoors were charged on Friday with homicide over her death.

Man Arrested In Shooting Death Of Hells Angels Boss

SPARKS, Nev - Police in San Francisco have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of a Hells Angels motorcycle club chapter president during a brawl between rival bikers in Nevada last week, authorities said on Friday.

Rogue Drift-net Fishing Vessel Seized In North Pacific

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A rogue fishing vessel found using outlawed drift nets in the North Pacific was seized with about 30 dead sharks, 30 tons of illegally caught squid and an infestation of rats aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday.

Reckless Driving Charge Dropped In Deadly Virginia Bus Crash

CHESAPEAKE, Va - Virginia prosecutors on Friday dropped a misdemeanor reckless driving charge against the driver of a bus that crashed on I-95 when he fell asleep at the wheel, killing four people, a court clerk said.

UAW Rejects Oshkosh Contract Despite Raise, Bonus

DETROIT - United Auto Workers members overwhelmingly voted down a new five-year contract offer from Oshkosh Corp on Friday despite the company's offer of a signing bonus and raise to offset higher health care costs, according to the company.

California Desert Drug Bust Nets $22.6 Million In Marijuana

LOS ANGELES - A record 14 tons of marijuana, valued at over $22.6 million, was seized in the California desert at a checkpoint roughly 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, federal officials said on Friday.

Released Video Shows Casey Anthony's Reaction To Body Discovery

ORLANDO, Fla - A Florida judge on Friday released a grainy video showing Casey Anthony's reaction in 2008 to a news report saying the remains of her missing 2-year-old daughter Caylee had been found.

Boeing Arrest Points To U.S. Workplace Drug Problems

WASHINGTON - The arrest of more than three dozen people on drug charges at a Boeing military aircraft plant highlights the growing problem of prescription drug abuse by U.S. workers, experts said on Friday.

Wall Street Protesters March On Police

NEW YORK - Protesters who have camped out near Wall Street for two weeks marched on Friday on police headquarters in Manhattan over what they viewed as a heavy-handed police response to a previous demonstration.

Judge Throws Out Toyota Bellwether Case

- A U.S. federal judge dismissed on Thursday the first scheduled bellwether case in nationwide litigation alleging Toyota Motor Corp made defective vehicles that accelerated unexpectedly.

Groups Sue To Block North Carolina Abortion Law

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday challenging a new North Carolina law that requires women to be shown an ultrasound image of the fetus before getting an abortion.

Fellow Officers Help Policeman Make Bail In Murder Case

LOS ANGELES - A California policeman accused of murdering a schizophrenic homeless man during a July altercation was freed from jail on Thursday after fellow officers helped him make bail, his lawyer said.

Facing Uncertainty, Oshkosh Pushes UAW Deal

- Pressure is mounting on the United Auto Workers union as Oshkosh Corp plans to pull a key financial incentive off the table if thousands of workers in Wisconsin fail to ratify a new contract by midnight on Friday.

Alabama Organ Center Officials In Plea Deal Over Kickbacks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Former directors from one of the first organ transplant centers in the United States agreed on Thursday to plead guilty to health care and mail fraud over a kickbacks scheme, officials said.

U.S. Court Vacates Ruling On Gays In Military

SAN FRANCISCO - A court ruling that had struck down as unconstitutional the now-defunct law banning gays from serving openly in the U.S. military must be vacated as moot, a federal appeals court decided on Thursday.

Wall Street Now Home To Protest Campground

NEW YORK, September 29 - A standoff near Wall Street between protesters opposed to what they say is corporate greed and police may drag on into winter, with a march on police headquarters the likely next test of whether tensions escalate.

U.S.-Mexico Border Governors Sign Crime-fighting Pact

ENSENADA, Mexico - Governors along the U.S.-Mexico border agreed on Thursday to examine how to create shared databases where they can swap DNA and other biometric information on criminals in an effort to curb the flow of guns and drugs between the two countries.

Massachusetts Case Ignites "home Grown" Attack Fears

BOSTON - The arrest of a Massachusetts man who allegedly plotted to fly explosives-packed model planes into the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol has reignited concern about the risk of a home-grown militant attack in the United States.

Boeing Workers Busted In Drug Sweep At Plant

RIDLEY PARK, Penn - Federal agents arrested dozens of current and former Boeing workers on Thursday on charges of illegally dealing in painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs at a plant that makes military aircraft models used in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Judge Sentences Arkansas Men To Prison Under Hate Crimes Law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Two Arkansas men were sentenced to prison time under a federal hate crimes law for attacking a group of Hispanic men and telling them to "go back to Mexico," officials said on Wednesday.

Judge Lets Key Parts Of Alabama Immigration Law Stand

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - A federal judge on Wednesday blocked parts of Alabama's crackdown on illegal immigration but let stand a provision requiring public schools to determine the legal residency of children.

Tropical Storm Ophelia Gains Some Strength: NHC

- Tropical Storm Ophelia has gained a little strength it moves northwards to the open Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Florida Executes Man For 1978 Police Killing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla - Florida on Wednesday executed a man convicted of killing a Coral Gables police officer in 1978, the first inmate put to death since the state changed its lethal injection procedure.

Judge Orders More Psychiatric Care For Loughner

TUCSON, Ariz - A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner to undergo four more months of psychiatric treatment in an effort to make him mentally competent for trial.

Tucson Police Evacuate Federal Building Over Truck

TUCSON, Ariz - Authorities closed a three-block stretch of downtown Tucson and evacuated a nearby federal building on Wednesday after a suspicious vehicle was spotted by U.S. Marshals, police said.

U.S. Man Charged In Pentagon, Capitol Explosive Plot

BOSTON - U.S. authorities on Wednesday arrested and charged a Massachusetts man with plotting to damage or destroy the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol by using remote-controlled aircraft filled with plastic explosives.

U.S. Launches New Push To Solve 2001 Murder Of Prosecutor

SEATTLE - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday announced a new media push by state, federal and local authorities to solve the nearly decade-old murder of a federal prosecutor.

Obama Urges Students To Keep Learning To Help U.S.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama urged students on Wednesday to pursue learning after high school to brighten the United States' future and restore its preeminence in education.

Rays, Cardinals Capture MLB Wild Card Berths

- The Tampa Bay Rays and St Louis Cardinals snatched the last two places in the Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs on Wednesday after one of the most dramatic endings to the regular season the sport has witnessed.

Suspended Florida Immigration Enforcement Chief Arrested

MIAMI - The suspended chief of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Miami was arrested on Tuesday, according to jail records, and local media said the arrest involved charges of possessing and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Authorities Arrest 14-year-old For School Threat

PHOENIX - A 14-year-old Phoenix boy was arrested by sheriff's deputies on Tuesday for threats made over the Internet to "go on a killing spree" and then commit suicide at his former middle school, authorities said.

St. Louis Police Make City's Biggest-ever Heroin Bust

ST. LOUIS - More than 50 suspected heroin dealers were rounded up on Tuesday in the largest operation against heroin trafficking in St. Louis history, authorities said.

Mock Diversity Bake Sale Draws Protest At UC Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif - Student Republicans holding a bake sale at UC Berkeley to mock diversity efforts by state legislators were met on Tuesday by about 200 silent, black-clad protesters but little in the way of acrimony.

Health Insurance Premiums Climb Faster In 2011

The cost of health insurance continues to climb for companies and workers, with annual family premiums this year growing at a pace triple that of 2010 and outpacing wage increases, according to a survey.

Judge Sets Bond In Ex-NBA Player Crittenton's Murder Case

ATLANTA - A judge on Tuesday set bond at $230,000 for former professional basketball player Javaris Crittenton, who has been charged with murder in the drive-by shooting death of a young mother of four in Georgia.

Police Say Killer Not Among Bodies Found In Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana state police said on Tuesday they believe none of the five bodies found in rural Franklin County over the weekend was that of the killer, although they are treating the deaths as murders.

Judge Asked To Order More Drugs For Shooting Suspect Loughner

PHOENIX - Prosecutors urged a federal judge on Tuesday to order the continued forced medication of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner over the objection of his attorneys.

Listeria Outbreak Kills 13, Infects 72: CDC

CHICAGO - A listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes from Colorado has infected 72 people in the United States and killed 13, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

Michael Jackson Images Dominate Opening Of Death Trial

LOS ANGELES - Images of Michael Jackson lying dead in a hospital and rehearsing the day before his death, along with recollections of the singer as a troubled "lost boy," made for a heart-wrenching opening on Tuesday to the manslaughter trial of the doctor hired to care for him.

Bill To Crack Down On Cyber-bullies Introduced In New York

NEW YORK - New York State Senator Jeffrey Klein introduced a new "cyber-bullying" bill on Monday, saying outdated pre-digital harassment laws fail to punish bullies who use the Internet and smartphones to torment others.

Pace Of UAW, Ford Talks Expected To Quicken

DETROIT - The United Auto Workers expect the pace of talks with Ford Motor Co to quicken now that the sides are tackling economic issues and union President Bob King is at the table, a union official said on Monday.

Missing Chicago Trader Pleads Guilty To Fraud

LAS VEGAS - A former Chicago commodities trader who disappeared in 1979 and was found earlier this year working in a Las Vegas casino, pleaded guilty to fraud on Monday, authorities said.

Ohio Governor Commutes Sentence Of Death Row Inmate

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's Republican Governor John Kasich on Monday commuted the death sentence of convicted killer Joseph Murphy to life without the possibility of parole, his second such action in the past three months.

Gas Leak Blast Destroys Seattle House, Two Injured

SEATTLE - A fiery explosion from a natural gas leak leveled a house in Seattle early on Monday, seriously injuring two people and shattering windows in the surrounding neighborhood, authorities said.

Animal Group Claims It Set Fire To Idaho Fur Store

SALMON, Idaho - Animal rights activists claimed responsibility on Monday for a fire that caused $100,000 in damage to a Boise-area store that sells fur coats and fireworks, authorities said.

New York Police Can Shoot Down A Plane If Needed

NEW YORK - New York police can shoot down an airplane if needed, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told the CBS News program "60 Minutes."

Bake Sale's Racial Pricing Rocks UC Berkeley Campus

SAN FRANCISCO - Student Republicans at the University of California at Berkeley have stirred up the famously left-wing campus with plans for a sale of baked goods priced according to the race and gender of buyers.

Indiana Police Seek Leads In Probe Of 5 Deaths

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana state police said on Monday they have no suspects in the deaths of five people in rural Franklin County, and they appealed to the public to provide tips and leads.

Recession Drove Up Poverty Rates In Most States

WASHINGTON - Poverty rates increased in almost all U.S. states and the District of Columbia over the course of the economic recession, with the worst spike in the South, according to a congressional report released on Monday.

Southern California Grocery Workers Ratify Contract

LOS ANGELES - Unionized Southern California supermarket employees at Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons ratified a contract deal reached last week that averted a threatened strike, said the union representing the workers.

Arkansas' Hillbilly Image Resonates Into 21st Century

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The image of barefoot mountain hillbillies has made many Arkansans cringe for decades.

Obama Slams Republicans In West Coast Money Swing

ATHERTON, California - President Barack Obama harshly criticized Republican opponents on Sunday as he began a West Coast fundraising tour, accusing them of "ideological pushback" at a time of national crisis.

Homecoming Mum Tradition Goes Over The Top In Texas

DALLAS, Texas - What started out as a simple token gift from a teenage boy to his girl has morphed into a tradition of gargantuan proportions that, again, proves everything is bigger in Texas.

Protesters March In Manhattan, Criticizing Wall Street

NEW YORK - Several hundred marchers wound their way through the streets of lower Manhattan on Saturday in the latest of a string of protests over the past week against what demonstrators saw as corporate greed on Wall Street.

U.S. Swimmer Nyad Ending Cuba-Florida Crossing

MIAMI - U.S. long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad decided on Sunday to abandon her third attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida after being stung overnight in the face and eyes by jellyfish, her team said.

Multiple Sclerosis Patient Finishes Record 50th Marathon

DALLAS - Life has taken long-distance runner Patrick Finney down many paths, but few have been so rewarding as the one that led him across the finish line on Sunday at the Bellingham Bay Marathon in Washington state.

Nevada Air Race Crash Victims Mourned In Reno

RENO, Nev - Hundreds of mourners filled an outdoor arboretum at sunset on Sunday for a candlelight memorial tribute to 11 people killed in the crash of a vintage World War Two plane at a Nevada air show over a week ago.

Five Found Dead In Rural Indiana - Police

INDIANAPOLIS - Five people were found dead on Sunday afternoon in two rural Franklin County, Indiana, homes after police were called to check on a small child wandering near the road.

Americans Convicted In Iran Say They Were Hostages

NEW YORK - Two American men jailed in Iran for more than two years for spying arrived in New York on Sunday, saying they were innocent and had been held hostage simply because of their nationality.

FBI Says $2.1 Million Reward Paid To "Whitey" Bulger Tipsters

BOSTON - The FBI has paid a $2.1 million reward to tipsters who provided information leading to the June arrests of former crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger and his girlfriend, who were captured after 16 years on the run together.

Cherokees Vote For Chief As Freedmen Issue Settled

OKLAHOMA CITY - Cherokee Indians, including African-American tribal citizens who nearly lost their right to vote, cast ballots on Saturday in elections for principal chief of the nation's second largest Native American tribe.

Biker Brawl Turns To Shooting At Nevada Casino, 1 Dead

SPARKS, Nev - A shooting that erupted during a brawl between rival motorcycle clubs at a high-rise Nevada casino killed a Hells Angels chapter leader and wounded two other motorcycle enthusiasts, police said on Saturday.

U.S. Men Convicted In Iran As Spies Head Home

MUSCAT - Two U.S. citizens sentenced in Iran to eight years in jail for spying left for the United States on Saturday from Oman, where they had landed after being released by Iranian authorities.

Heat, Gusty Winds Fuel Renewed Fears In Fire-weary Texas

SAN ANTONIO - Triple-digit temperatures and gusty winds in Texas on Saturday heralded the possible return of the dangerous conditions that sparked devastating brush fires earlier this month, officials said.

Beef Bound For Georgia Schools Recalled Over E. Coli Worries

- A Texas company has recalled 40,000 pounds of frozen ground beef products, shipped for distribution to Georgia schools, due to possible contamination from E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

Washington State Gunman Shot Dead After Firing Near School Field

SEATTLE - A man armed with two rifles opened fire on Saturday near where parents and students were gathered at a middle school football field in a Seattle suburb, before he was shot dead by police, authorities said.

Obama Seeks To Shore Up Black Support In Jobs Push

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama urged black leaders on Saturday to "stop complaining" and help him push his jobs plan through the U.S. Congress, as he sought to bolster his eroding support in the black community amid concern over high unemployment.

Protesters March In Manhattan, Criticizing Wall Street

NEW YORK - Several hundred marchers wound their way through the streets of lower Manhattan on Saturday in the latest of a string of protests over the past week against what demonstrators saw as corporate greed on Wall Street.

Nyad Resumes Swim After Jellyfish Sting

MIAMI - Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad resumed her bid on Sunday to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida, returning to the water after being stung in the face and eyes, presumably by a jellyfish, her team said.

Country's Burns & Poe Tell Lawmakers "I Need A Job"

NASHVILLE - Country duo Burns & Poe are not taking today's high unemployment and lack of government action sitting down. They are standing tall and belting out a tune to Washington politicians, telling them, "I Need A Job."

Feinstein Campaign Sues Bank, Ex-treasurer Over Missing Funds

LOS ANGELES - Senator Dianne Feinstein's campaign sued its former treasurer and the First California Bank on Friday, seeking the return of millions of dollars in missing funds the campaign believes were embezzled.

U.S. Soldier Gets 7 Years In Prison For Afghan Murder

TACOMA, Washington - The youngest of five U.S. soldiers accused of killing unarmed Afghan civilians in cold blood was sentenced on Friday to seven years in prison for gunning down a teenage boy whose corpse he posed with as if it were a trophy.

Judge More Than Doubles Expenses Casey Anthony Must Pay

ORLANDO, Fla - A judge on Friday raised to $217,500 the total bill Casey Anthony must pay to compensate law enforcement agencies for lying in 2008 about the fate of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.

Officers Kill Mountain Lion That Clawed Idaho Boy

SALMON, Idaho - A mountain lion that killed a family's dog and clawed a young boy near Boise, Idaho, has been killed by Idaho wildlife officers, authorities said on Friday.

Judge Allows Evidence Of Sexual Abuse By Johnson Heir

MILWAUKEE - A Racine County circuit judge said on Friday he would allow the state to present evidence that Samuel Curtis Johnson III had admitted to a therapist that he sexually molested his stepdaughter.

Hunting Partner Killed Nevada Man During Grizzly Attack

SALMON, Idaho - An autopsy shows that a Nevada man believed to have been fatally mauled by a grizzly bear in northwestern Montana was instead shot and killed by his hunting partner, authorities said Friday.

Loughner Attorneys Seek Another Emergency Block On Drugs

PHOENIX - Lawyers for Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Loughner filed an emergency petition on Friday with a federal judge who already has twice refused similar requests, asking him again to halt the forcible medication of their client with anti-psychotic drugs.

Woman Wins Court Order Against 1972 Idaho Abortion Law

SALMON, Idaho - An Idaho woman prosecuted for terminating her own pregnancy with abortion pills she ordered online won a temporary court order on Friday barring enforcement of the decades-old law under which she was charged.

Veteran U.S. Swimmer Starts Cuba-Florida Trek

HAVANA - U.S. long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad jumped feet first into Cuba's azure waters on Friday in her latest attempt to become the first person to swim from the communist island to Florida without a shark cage.

Big 12 Commissioner Resigns, Conference Pledges Rebuilding

NORMAN, Oklahoma - Big 12 Conference Commissioner Dan Beebe resigned on Thursday as the struggling conference pledged to stick together despite losing three members the past two years.

Drug Company CEO Denied State Review Of Girlfriend's Death

SACRAMENTO, Calif - California's attorney general has declined a request by pharmaceutical mogul Jonah Shacknai for a review of the police investigation that ruled the bizarre hanging death of his girlfriend a suicide.

Quotes From Republican Candidates' Florida Debate

- Republican presidential candidates met on Thursday in Orlando, Florida, in the latest of a series of debates about who should be the nominee to face Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 2012 election.

Porn Magnate Funds $1 Million Quest To Embarrass Perry

SAN FRANCISCO - Pornographic magazine publisher Larry Flynt offered $1 million on Thursday to anyone with proof of "an illicit sexual liaison" involving leading Republican presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Warden's Wife Plans Appeal On Aiding Inmate Escape

OKLAHOMA CITY - If you believe her story, Bobbi Parker spent the better part of 11 years in a prison without bars, captive to a sociopathic killer.

UAW Talks With Ford Shifting Into Higher Gear

DETROIT - United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co officials set a framework for the final stages of the negotiations toward a new labor contract on Thursday, the union said.

Teachers Ratify Deal Ending Strike In Tacoma, Washington

TACOMA, Wash - Jubilant teachers in Washington state's third-largest school district voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to ratify a contract deal that ended their weeklong strike and staved off proposed pay cuts.

Jaycee Dugard Sues U.S. Over Monitoring Of Her Captor

SAN FRANCISCO - Kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard on Thursday sued the federal government and accused it of failing to monitor the felon who grabbed her off a Northern California street as a child and held her for 18 years.

Alabama Carries Out Third U.S. Execution This Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - A man convicted of the 1994 execution-style shooting of a store clerk in Alabama was put to death on Thursday by lethal injection in the third U.S. execution carried out this week.

Perry Takes Fire On Immigration At Debate

ORLANDO, Florida - Republican Rick Perry took heavy fire from his rivals over a Texas policy that aids illegal immigrants at a presidential debate on Thursday where he struggled to protect his front-running position.

Washington Governor Intervenes In Teachers Strike

SEATTLE - Summoned to Washington state's capital on Wednesday, union leaders for 1,900 striking teachers from Tacoma huddled with school district officials in a last-ditch round of labor talks called for by the governor.

Gunman Kills Oklahoma Fire Chief, Possibly Over Job

OKLAHOMA CITY - A gunman who may have been turned down for a job in an Oklahoma fire department walked into the home of the fire chief and shot and killed him, authorities said on Wednesday.

FBI, Police Seek To Reach Buyers Of Suicide Kits

PORTLAND, Ore - FBI agents investigating the sale of suicide kits by an elderly California woman alerted authorities in Oregon of a man there who had bought one of the devices, prompting local police to storm his home in a bid to save his life.

Oklahoma Warden's Wife Found Guilty Of Helping Inmate Escape

OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma prison warden's wife claimed she was kidnapped when she and a convicted murderer vanished for nearly 11 years, while police were certain she was in love with the man and helped him escape.

Kaiser Southern California Healthcare Workers Strike

LOS ANGELES - Some 2,500 nurses and other medical workers walked off the job at Kaiser Permanente facilities in southern California on Wednesday in a three-day planned strike protesting benefit cuts sought by the nonprofit healthcare giant.

Texas Executes Man In Race-motivated Dragging Death

AUSTIN - Texas executed a white supremacist on Wednesday convicted of helping to kill a black man by dragging him behind a truck in what some call the most notorious race crime of the post-Civil Rights era.

Two Plead Not Guilty To Harassing Palin Attorney

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Pennsylvania father and son pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to federal charges they harassed an attorney for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in phone calls authorities say followed their similar badgering of Palin herself.

Accused Tucson Shooter, Lawyers At Odds Over Hearing

PHOENIX - Accused Tucson shooter Jared Loughner wants to attend a court hearing in Arizona next week, against the wishes of his lawyers who argued it could pose a risk to his mental health, court documents said.

Full Tilt Poker Rejects Ponzi Allegations

NEW YORK - A lawyer for Full Tilt Poker rejected allegations made by U.S. federal prosecutors that the online poker operator and its board of directors ran the company as a global Ponzi scheme.

Georgia Executes Convict Troy Davis In High-profile Case

JACKSON, Georgia - The state of Georgia executed convicted murderer Troy Davis on Wednesday in a case that drew international attention because of claims by his advocates that he may have been innocent.

$16 Muffins, $8 Coffee Served In Justice Audit

WASHINGTON - As the government grapples to find ways to trim the bloated federal deficit, a new report suggests officials might start with cutting out $16 muffins and $10 cookies.

Thousands Of White Bass Turn Up Dead In Arkansas River

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - Wildlife officials have discovered thousands of dead fish along the Arkansas River in Little Rock and were still counting carcasses on Tuesday, a day after an angler reported seeing dozens of dead white bass.

Defiant Teachers In Tacoma, Washington, Strike For Sixth Day

SEATTLE - Striking teachers in Tacoma, Washington, walked picket lines for a sixth day on Tuesday, defying a judge's back-to-work order and facing possible court sanctions as school officials canceled classes again for 28,700 students.

Dougherty Siblings Ordered To Stand Trial

DENVER - A Colorado judge on Tuesday ordered three Florida siblings accused in a four-state crime spree to stand trial on attempted murder charges over accusations they fired at police during a high-speed chase.

Alaskans To Get $1,174 Dividend From Oil Fund

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Nearly all Alaskans will receive $1,174 this year from the state as part of its annual dividend payout from Alaska's oil wealth fund, Governor Sean Parnell said on Tuesday.

Eleventh Victim Confirmed Killed In Reno Air Crash

LAS VEGAS - An 11th person has been confirmed as killed in last week's crash of a World War Two-era plane near the grandstand at a Nevada air race, authorities and a lawyer for the man's family said on Tuesday.

Clemency Denied For Georgia Death Row Inmate

ATLANTA - A Georgia parole board on Tuesday denied a last-ditch clemency appeal by Troy Davis, who is set to be executed in a high-profile case on Wednesday for the murder of a police officer.

Prospect Of Bloomberg In Court Makes Picking Jurors Tricky

NEW YORK - On Monday morning, Justice Ronald Zweibel of state Supreme Court in Manhattan had just begun the process of selecting a jury for the trial of a man accused of stealing more than $1 million.

Oil Mats After BP Spill Pose Long-term Ecosystem Threat: Study

MOBILE, Alabama - Auburn University researchers said oil mats submerged in the seabed more than a year after the biggest oil spill in U.S. history pose long-term threats to coastal ecosystems across the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Obama Hails End Of U.S. Military Restrictions On Gays

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the end of the policy banning gays from serving openly in the armed forces, as the Pentagon vowed "zero tolerance" for harassment of homosexuals in the military.

Missouri Local School Board Ends Ban On Slaughterhouse Five

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A school board in southwest Missouri on Monday restored two books it had banned from public schools for being contrary to teachings in the Bible.

Listeria Outbreak Deaths Rise To Four, CDC Says

DENVER - The number of confirmed deaths from a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe from a Colorado farm that spread to 10 states has grown to four, federal officials said on Monday.

Federal Court Reviewing Arkansas Desegregation Funding Case

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - A federal appeals court began reviewing a lower court order on Monday that would end state payments to Arkansas public schools that began over two decades ago to aid in desegregation efforts.

Accused Tucson Shooter Must Attend Competency Hearing

PHOENIX - Accused Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner must attend a court hearing to determine whether doctors will get more time to restore his mental competency so he can be tried, a federal judge ordered on Monday.

Two Marines Die In California Helicopter Crash

SAN DIEGO - Two Marines aboard a helicopter were killed on Monday when the aircraft crashed during a training mission at a Southern California military base, officials said.

Lawyer Convicted In Dramatic Delaware Murder Dies In Prison

PHILADELPHIA - A once prominent lawyer in Wilmington, Delaware, convicted in one of the most dramatic murders in the state's history, died on Monday in his prison cell.

Settlement Reached On Eve Of September 11 Airline Trial

NEW YORK - What could have been the only wrongful death trial stemming from the September 11, 2001, attacks ended on Monday after the two sides reached a settlement.

Plane Crashes At U.S. Air Race, At Least 3 Dead

RENO, Nevada - A vintage World War Two fighter plane crashed near the grandstand at a Nevada air race on Friday, killing at least three people, including the elderly pilot, and injuring more than 50, officials said.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" For Military Gays Runs Out

WASHINGTON - The military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law for gay personnel is slated to run out as scheduled on Tuesday, the armed forces said, ending a 17-year rule fraught with controversy.

GM Labor Deal Heads Toward UAW Vote

DETROIT - About 48,500 General Motors Co workers at U.S. factories will begin considering the details of a proposed four-year contract on Tuesday that represents the first labor deal for the automaker since its 2009 bailout by the Obama administration.

PETA To Launch Porn Site In Name Of Animal Rights

NEW YORK - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, no stranger to attention-grabbing campaigns featuring nude women, plans to launch a pornography website in the name of animal rights.

California Grocer Labor Talks Ongoing, Deadline Passes

LOS ANGELES - Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons remained in talks with the union representing 62,000 Southern California supermarket workers as the deadline for canceling their labor contract passed on Sunday evening.

Largest Dam Removal In U.S. History Begins In Washington

PORT ANGELES, Wash - As a child, Adeline Smith, an elder in the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe who grew up along the Elwha River, saw how a hulking concrete dam choked off one of the most prolific salmon runs on earth.

Opening Remarks In Connecticut Home Invasion Trial Begin Monday

NEW HAVEN, Conn - Opening statements in the grisly home invasion trial of a second accused man were set to begin on Monday, after a judge rejected a flurry of defense moves aimed at avoiding the fate of his alleged accomplice, who has been convicted and sentenced to death.

Clinton's Philanthropic Summit To Push For Jobs

NEW YORK - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will push corporations and non-profit groups at his philanthropic summit this week to create jobs as the U.S. unemployment hovers at 9.1 percent and poor nations worry that the economic crisis will stall their labor growth.

Gunman Wounds Two Clergymen At Florida Church

ORLANDO, Fla - A man marched into a Florida church on Sunday during a prayer service and shot and wounded two clergymen after first killing his wife at the couple's home nearby, police said.

Five People Found Dead After Tennessee Motorcycle Charity Run

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Five people who were part of a charity motorcycle run in Tennessee, were found dead at a campground where bikers were staying after the Saturday event, organizers said on Sunday.

Pilot Killed At West Virginia Air Show Is Identified

CHARLESTON, W.Va - The pilot killed in the crash of a vintage military plane at a West Virginia air show was identified on Sunday as John "Flash" Mangan of North Carolina, officials said.

NTSB Probes Plane's Tail In Reno Air Race Crash

RENO, Nevada - Federal investigators trying to determine why a World War II-era fighter crashed at a Nevada air race, killing nine people, said on Saturday they would focus in part on the plane's tail assembly.

Nevada Wreckage Yields Memory Cards, Possibly From Downed Plane

RENO, Nev - Federal investigators probing the wreckage of a World War II-era fighter that crashed near the grandstands at a Nevada air race have recovered memory cards that could be from recording devices on the downed plane, officials said on Sunday.

Airport Security Still Evolving A Decade After Sept 11 Attacks

BOSTON - Despite impressive changes to airport security in the decade since the September 11 attacks, gaps remain in securing the nation's airports, keeping passengers safe and investigating breaches, lawmakers said on Friday.

Wounded Grizzly Kills Hunter Tracking It In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - A grizzly bear attacked and killed a Nevada man whose friend moments earlier had shot and wounded the animal during a hunting trip in northwest Montana, authorities said on Saturday.

Lockdown Ends At Arizona Air Base, No Gunman Found

TUCSON, Ariz - A security incident that placed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in southern Arizona on lockdown ended after a thorough search of the facility found no gunman or weapon, the base commander said on Friday.

Eleanor Mondale Dies Of Brain Cancer At Age 51

MINNEAPOLIS - Eleanor Mondale Poling, 51, daughter of former Vice President Walter Mondale, died at her Minnesota home early on Saturday after a six-year battle with brain cancer.

Hundreds March In Georgia To Oppose Troy Davis Execution

ATLANTA - More than 2,000 activists chanting and toting banners joined a march and rally on Friday to oppose the execution of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, convicted of the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer.

Daughter Of Late Senator Ted Kennedy Dies At Age 51

BOSTON - Kara Kennedy Allen, the only daughter of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, has died at age 51, a Kennedy family friend said on Saturday.

Northeast Pumpkin Crop Threatened By Hurricane Irene

NEW YORK - The hurricane that might be renamed Wicked Witch Irene has wiped out pumpkin crops in flooded fields throughout the Northeast, where farmers on Saturday were scrambling to meet demand before Halloween.

Native New England Cottontail Rabbits Disappearing

CONWAY, Mass - The New England cottontail rabbit, in sharp decline for decades throughout the Northeast, is on the verge of disappearing from several states, with the reason somewhat a mystery, wildlife experts say.

Historic Plane Crashes At West Virginia Air Show

MARTINSBURG, W., Virginia - A vintage military plane crashed in a fireball on Saturday at a West Virginia air show, killing the pilot, officials said, a day after a World War II fighter plane crashed at a Nevada show, killing nine people and injuring more than 50 others.

NTSB Probes Plane's Tail In Reno Air Race Crash

RENO, Nevada - Federal investigators trying to determine why a World War II-era fighter crashed at a Nevada air race, killing nine people, said on Saturday they would focus in part on the plane's tail assembly.

Hero Rabbit Saves Owners From House Fire In Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A pet rabbit is being credited for saving its owners from a house fire in southeastern Alaska before it died of smoke inhalation, fire officials said on Friday.

Kansas Airport Fake Bomb Suspect Ordered Held In Jail

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - A man who tried to board a Southwest Airlines flight with materials that resembled bomb parts was ordered held without bond on Friday by a federal judge, authorities said.

Trial Puts Campaign-finance Focus On Mayor Bloomberg

NEW YORK - In late October 2009, a Republican operative approached members of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's re-election campaign with a proposal.

Oman Plane In Iran, Awaiting U.S. Citizens' Release

MUSCAT - The Gulf state of Oman has sent a plane to Iran for the expected release of two U.S. citizens convicted of spying, and they could be freed within 24 hours, an Omani Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.

Grizzly Bear Kills Hunter In Montana

SALMON, Idaho - A grizzly bear attacked and killed a hunter in northwest Montana near the Idaho border on Friday, and was then itself shot and killed by the dead man's hunting partner, authorities said.

Prosecutors Seek More Treatment For Accused Tucson Shooter

PHOENIX - Accused Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner needs a further eight months of mental health treatment at a federal prison hospital if he is to become competent to stand trial, prosecutors said on Friday.

Hundreds March In Georgia To Oppose Troy Davis Execution

ATLANTA - More than 2,000 activists chanting and toting banners joined a march and rally on Friday to oppose the execution of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, convicted of the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer.

Airport Security Still Evolving A Decade After Sept 11 Attacks

BOSTON - Despite impressive changes to airport security in the decade since the September 11 attacks, gaps remain in securing the nation's airports, keeping passengers safe and investigating breaches, lawmakers said on Friday.

Lockdown Ends At Arizona Air Base, No Gunman Found

TUCSON, Ariz - A security incident that placed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in southern Arizona on lockdown ended after a thorough search of the facility found no gunman or weapon, the base commander said on Friday.

Plane Crashes At Nevada Air Race, At Least Three Dead

RENO, Nevada - A vintage World War Two fighter plane crashed near the grandstand at a Nevada air race on Friday, killing at least three people including the elderly pilot and injuring more than 50 others, officials said.

Top Court Stays Texas Death Row Inmate Execution

WASHINGTON/AUSTIN, Texas - The Supreme Court gave a reprieve on Thursday to a Texas death row inmate in a case tinged by racial controversy, granting a stay more than 90 minutes after the scheduled time of execution.

Casey Anthony Must Pay Some $100,000 In Probe Costs

ORLANDO, Fla - Casey Anthony, the young Florida mother acquitted of killing her daughter, was ordered on Thursday to pay almost $100,000 to cover some of the expenses incurred after she falsely claimed 2-year-old Caylee had been kidnapped.

Obama Backs Away From Social Security In Deficits Plan

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, yielding to pressure from his political base, has backed off a proposal to reform Social Security retirement benefits in a high-stakes deficits deal Congress needs to reach this year.

South Carolina Man Sentenced To Prison For Threatening Obama

PHILADELPHIA - A South Carolina man was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday for threatening to kill President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and other dignitaries, authorities said.

Southern California Union Takes Major Step Toward Strike

LOS ANGELES - The union representing many of the 62,000 workers at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons supermarkets in southern California issued a required 72-hour notice of its plan to cancel its extended contract, a move that could pave the way for a strike.

Texas Police Shoot Fugitive Who Fled In Police Car

EL PASO, Texas - Police in West Texas shot and wounded an "extremely dangerous" fugitive who earlier in the day overpowered a detective and fled in an unmarked police car with stolen guns and a bulletproof vest.

U.S. Nets Thousands In Offshore Tax Dodge Crackdown

WASHINGTON - Major progress is being made in a crackdown on international tax evasion, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service said on Thursday.

Teen Accused Of Cancer Hoax To Get Donations

AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas teenager faces theft charges after police said she duped her community into giving her $17,000 because they erroneously believed she was dying of cancer.

Marine Awarded Medal Of Honor Believed He Would Die

WASHINGTON - A Marine who saved 36 of his comrades' lives during an ambush in Afghanistan was awarded the Medal of Honor on Thursday, the first living Marine to win the highest U.S. military decoration since the Vietnam War.

New Orleans Policemen Jailed Over Beating Death Of Handyman

NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge sentenced two former New Orleans police officers to prison time on Thursday for their roles in the beating death of a handyman in 2005 and a subsequent cover-up of the crime.

Convicted Trader Zvi Goffer Deserves No Mercy: U.S.

NEW YORK - Former hedge fund trader Zvi Goffer orchestrated a "brazen, sophisticated and extensive" insider trading scheme, and should be sent to prison for 10 to 12-1/2 years, federal prosecutors said in a court filing.

Possible Meteor Sightings Dazzle Arizona And California

PHOENIX - Dozens of people reported observing a dazzling, bright light, or lights, streaking across the sky Wednesday night over Arizona and Southern California in what authorities said were likely meteor sightings.

Roof Collapse Hurts 17 At Busy U.S.-Mexico Crossing

SAN DIEGO, Calif - A roof collapsed at the San Ysidro border crossing between Mexico and the United States on Wednesday, piling debris on lines of cars, injuring at least 17 travelers and construction workers and closing lanes to northbound traffic.

Agents Find Weapons, Rocket Launcher Near Rio Grande

MCALLEN, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents found a rocket launcher, assault rifles and explosives near the Rio Grande river in Texas, the agency said on Wednesday, a discovery that suggests a link to Mexico's drug wars.

Rising Seas Expected To Wash Out Key California Beaches

SAN FRANCISCO - Rising seas forecast from climate change will likely wash away some of California's most iconic beaches by century's end, along with hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate, roads and tax revenues, a new study found on Wednesday.

Casey Anthony Dad Says Caylee Died Of Drug Overdose

LOS ANGELES - The father of Casey Anthony said in a TV interview that aired on Wednesday he believes his daughter or someone with her drugged his 2-year-old granddaughter and caused the girl's death.

Jury Selection Begins In Christmas Day Bomber Case

DETROIT - Jury selection began on Wednesday in the trial of a Nigerian man accused of a botched attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger jet on Christmas day in 2009.

Arkansas Court Gunman Walked Into Building Unopposed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - A gunman who opened fire in an Arkansas judge's office on Tuesday entered the courthouse unopposed while wearing tactical gear and armed with three semi-automatic weapons, authorities said on Wednesday.

U.S. Blames BP For Gulf Spill

WASHINGTON/HOUSTON - The United States heaped the lion's share of blame for the country's biggest ever offshore oil spill on BP on Wednesday as the government issued its final assessment of last year's Gulf disaster.

GM, Chrysler Extend UAW Contracts After Talks Slow

DETROIT - General Motors Co and Chrysler Group LLC agreed to extend labor contracts with the United Auto Workers on Thursday as the union's negotiations failed to produce the expected breakthrough on pay for 113,000 autoworkers.

Man Opens Fire In Arkansas Court, Is Killed By Police

- A gunman armed with several weapons opened fire in an Arkansas courthouse on Tuesday, wounding two people including a court employee before he was shot dead by police, officials told Reuters.

Cherokee Indians Say They Will Not Be Dictated To By U.S.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The nation's second-largest Indian tribe said on Tuesday that it would not be dictated to by the U.S. government over its move to banish 2,800 African Americans from its citizenship rolls.

Gumby Attempted Robbery Suspect Surrenders To San Diego Police

LOS ANGELES - Gumby's bandit days appear to be over.

Republican Wins In New York Democratic Stronghold

NEW YORK - Republicans won an upset victory in a Democratic stronghold in New York on Tuesday in a special House of Representatives election for the seat vacated by former Representative Anthony Weiner, who resigned after a Twitter sex scandal.

CIA Reviewing Ties With New York Police Department

WASHINGTON - The CIA inspector general is reviewing the spy agency's ties with the New York Police Department after critics questioned whether the relationship amounted to "domestic spying" that infringed civil liberties.

Wal-Mart Aims To Do More Work With Women

CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will double the money it spends with women-owned businesses, train women around the world and push major suppliers to use more women and minorities on work they do for the retailer as it keeps trying to shed a poor corporate image.

Some Pro-Israel Groups Defend U.S. Aid To Palestinians

WASHINGTON - Worried about possible U.S. aid cuts to the Palestinians, some American Jewish groups find themselves in the peculiar position of defending the funding, particularly money that supports Palestinian security forces.

Casey Anthony's Mother Raises Possibility Of Seizure

LOS ANGELES - Casey Anthony may have suffered a seizure on the day her 2 year-old daughter Caylee died, Casey's mother said in an interview with talk show host Phil McGraw that aired on Tuesday, according to media reports.

Release Of Key BP Oil Spill Probe Expected Soon

WASHINGTON - The results of a pivotal federal U.S. probe of last year's massive BP oil spill could be released as early as Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Number Of Poor Hit Record 46 Million In 2010

WASHINGTON - A record 46 million Americans were living in poverty in 2010, pushing the U.S. poverty rate to its highest level since 1993, according to a government report on Tuesday on the grim effects of stubbornly high unemployment.

Routine Colorado Traffic Stop Turns Up $10 Million In Cocaine

DENVER - A routine Colorado traffic stop led to the discovery of 220 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $10 million in the rental car of a California couple, police said on Monday.

North Carolina House Approves Same-sex Marriage Ballot

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina's House of Representatives voted on Monday to put a proposed constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage before voters in a statewide ballot next May.

Perry Targeted By Rivals In Republican Debate

TAMPA, Florida - Republican Rick Perry came under heavy fire on Social Security, jobs and his Texas record in a heated U.S. presidential debate on Monday as rivals tried to halt the front-runner's momentum.

Giffords To Share Story With ABC's Diane Sawyer

LOS ANGELES - Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt in January, will share her story with ABC journalist Diane Sawyer in November, ABC News said on Monday.

San Francisco Hopes Graffiti Vandals Will Go Virtual

OAKLAND, Calif - San Francisco arts officials are embracing what they say is a digital-age solution to the decades-old problem of graffiti: An iPhone application that allows "virtual" tagging instead of the real thing.

Man Charged Over September 11 Kansas City Airport Scare

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Prosecutors charged a man on Monday with trying to bring fake bomb through security at Kansas City International Airport on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

U.S. Attack Threat Remains Uncorroborated

WASHINGTON - Intelligence that militants were plotting an imminent attack on the United States remained uncorroborated on Monday after the tenth anniversary of the September 11 2001 attacks on New York and Washington passed without incident.

Texas Fires Coming Under Control, Schools Reopen

SAN ANTONIO - As armies of firefighters descend on Texas to fight back massive brush fires that have destroyed more than 1,500 homes in the past week, the sensitive work of helping the victims deal with loss is swinging into high gear.

Flight 93 Families At Burial Of Remains In Shanksville

PITTSBURGH - Family members witnessed the burial on Monday of unidentified human remains recovered at the crash site of Flight 93, a day after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

September 11 Memorial At World Trade Center Opens To Public

NEW YORK - Thousands of people visited the National September 11th Memorial at the site of the World Trade Center on Monday after it was opened to the public for the first time.

Boston Police Find "suspicious" Truck, No Threat

CONWAY, Mass - Police in Massachusetts on Sunday canceled a statewide search for a rental truck ending a hunt triggered by a tip from a nervous citizen on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Texas Wildfire Partly Tamed; Up To 22 People Unaccounted For

SAN ANTONIO - As many as 22 people who were ordered to evacuate by one of the worst brush fires in Texas history remained unaccounted for on Sunday, authorities said, even as firefighters appeared to be gaining the upper hand over the blaze.

Washington State Wildfire Fight Turns Toward Mop Up

SEATTLE - A wildfire in south Washington state that forced several hundred people from their homes was more than 30 percent contained on Sunday with more than 800 firefighters battling the blaze.

Hells Angel Charged With Killing Witness, Two Others

GREENFIELD, Mass - A senior member of a Massachusetts local Hells Angels chapter was charged on Sunday with the murders of three men, including a key witness scheduled to testify against him, prosecutors said.

Military Jets Escort Two Flights Over Security Scares

WASHINGTON - Military jets were scrambled to escort two passenger airline flights on Sunday because of security scares, as Americans marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Travelers Feel Fear, Resolve About Flying On September 11

BOSTON/WASHINGTON - Mariane and Richard Newton arrived for their flight at Boston's Logan International Airport on Sunday with both the trepidation and resolve felt by many fellow travelers flying exactly 10 years after the deadly hijackings of four civilian airplanes.

Obama, Bush See Raw Emotions At 9/11 Events

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama picked up where his predecessor George W. Bush left off in the war against Islamic militants after the September 11 attacks, and on Sunday both saw the raw emotions that linger 10 years later.

Three Passengers Detained In Detroit After Flight From Denver

DETROIT - Three passengers aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Detroit were taken off the airplane and interviewed by federal law enforcement officers when the jet landed on Sunday after fellow passengers reported suspicious behavior.

Solemn Gathering Marks Flight 93 Crash In Pennsylvania

SHANKSVILLE, Pa - Thousands gathered Sunday at the site where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed as the nation paused to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people -- including 40 passengers and crew here.

America Mourns Sept 11 Dead With Somber Ceremonies

NEW YORK - Children yearned for lost parents and grown men and women sobbed in raw grief on the brass bearing the names of nearly 3,000 dead as America commemorated the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Soldiers' Voices: "I Can Do Anything"

BERKELEY, California - For Emily Yates, the worst part of serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army was the loss of control.

Fresh Crews, Light Winds Help Fight Texas Wildfires

SAN ANTONIO - More than a thousand firefighters, aided by lighter winds, on Saturday began to beat back raging wildfires that have scorched Texas for the past six days torching 1,600 homes and killing four people.

Two Soldiers Detained Over Missing Fort Bragg Ammunition

WILMINGTON, N.C - Two male soldiers have been taken into custody at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in connection with the disappearance of roughly 14,000 rounds of ammunition reported missing at the Army base on Wednesday morning, officials said on Saturday.

Williams To Carry U.S. Hopes On 9/11 Anniversary

NEW YORK - Six months after she nearly died, Serena Williams finds herself carrying the hopes of a grieving nation at the U.S. Open. By a twist of fate, the women's singles final was moved from Saturday to Sunday, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Had the men's final been held on Sunday as originally scheduled, the U.S. would not been represented but the switch, caused by two days of rain, has thrust Williams into the spotlight on a day when emotions wil

New York Cracks Down After "credible" 9/11 Threat

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - New York police amassed a display of force on Friday including checkpoints that snarled traffic in response to intelligence about a car or truck bomb plot linked to the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Fresh Crews, Light Winds Help Fight Texas Wildfires

SAN ANTONIO - More than a thousand firefighters, aided by lighter winds, on Saturday began to beat back raging wildfires that have scorched Texas for the past six days torching 1,600 homes and killing four people.

Wildfire Burns 9 Homes In Washington State

SEATTLE - Over 700 firefighters battled to contain a wildfire on Saturday that torched nine homes and led to the evacuation of several hundred people in south Washington state.

Suspicious Item Found At Airport Near Washington

WASHINGTON - Authorities found a suspicious object at Dulles International Airport near Washington on Saturday, prompting the closure of several gates on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Bush Says U.S. Will Never Forget Flight 93

SHANKSVILLE, PA - Former President George W. Bush on Saturday promised that the nation would never forget the heroism of the 40 passengers and crew killed in the crash of hijacked United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Americans Mark 10th Anniversary Of September 11 Attacks

NEW YORK - Americans Sunday remembered the horror of September 11, 2001, and the nearly 3,000 people who died in the hijacked plane attacks as authorities worked to ensure the emotional 10th anniversary was peaceful.

U.S. Says No Deal Cut With Accused Mexico Drug Kingpin

CHICAGO - U.S. prosecutors denied on Friday striking a deal with an accused Mexican drug trafficker who said he was a confidential informant for U.S. agents and was entitled to immunity from prosecution.

Crack Forces Closure Of Key Bridge Over The Ohio River

INDIANAPOLIS - An Interstate highway bridge over the Ohio River that links Indiana to Kentucky was abruptly shut on Friday after a crack was discovered in an important load-bearing part of the span.

TS Maria To Reach Near U.S. Virgin Islands By Saturday: NHC

- Tropical Storm Maria is forecast to move over the Leeward Islands Friday night through Saturday and is expected to be near the U.S. Virgin Islands by Saturday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report.

Man Who Joined Marines After 9/11 Made Sacrifice

SAN FRANCISCO - Jordan Towers said he was unpacking a truck during a family move from Truckee, California, to the state capital of Sacramento when he heard the news that a plane had flown into New York's World Trade Center.

NBC News Twitter Hacked With Fake Attack Messages

LOS ANGELES - The NBC News Twitter feed was hacked on Friday by a group that claimed a hijacked plane, in a fresh attack, had crashed into the site where New York's twin towers were destroyed in September 11 attacks 10 years ago.

Power Restored In Southwest, Mexico After Outage

SAN DIEGO - Power was restored on Friday to some 7 million people plunged into darkness by a blackout, blamed partly on "human failure," that snarled traffic, idled elevators and sent workers home early in parts of California, Mexico and Arizona.

Pennsylvania Hit By Huge Flooding, Towns Submerged

WILKES-BARRE, Pennsylvania - The Susquehanna River, swollen by rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, reached record levels in Pennsylvania on Friday and submerged some towns amid worry that flood waters had been turned toxic by swamped sewage processing plants.

September 11 Lawyers Reflect On Decade Of Legal Twists

NEW YORK - Gregory Cannata was standing in a parking lot on Barclay Street at 9:03 a.m. on September 11, 2001, staring at the smoking North Tower of the World Trade Center a block away. He was wondering how a pilot could have accidentally crashed into the skyscraper when United Flight 175 roared up over the harbor and exploded into the South Tower.

New York Cracks Down After "credible" 9/11 Threat

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - New York police amassed a display of force on Friday including checkpoints that snarled traffic in response to intelligence about a car or truck bomb plot linked to the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Decade After September 11, New Yorkers Ready To Move On

NEW YORK - The attacks of September 11, 2001 changed life in the United States forever, but 10 years after the devastating hit, New Yorkers have learned to live in a more dangerous world and are ready to move on.

Squirrel Hunter Survived On Diet Of Worms And Muddy Water

NASHVILLE - A Tennessee lawman who got lost while squirrel hunting survived his five-day ordeal on worms and muddy water as colleagues combed the dense woods of a 13,000-acre state park looking for him.

Man Charged With Theft From Nuclear Worker Health Plans

DENVER - A grand jury has indicted a Colorado man for stealing more than $3.5 million from health care programs aimed at compensating injured nuclear industry workers in at least three western states, federal authorities said on Thursday.

Rural Areas Less Healthy Than Urban Areas: Study

MILWAUKEE - Conventional wisdom might suggest living in the country would be healthier than the city, but that is not necessarily so, according to a study comparing relative health across cities, suburbs and rural areas.

Officials Triple Number Of Homes Charred In Texas Fire

AUSTIN, Texas - Some 1,386 homes have been destroyed in a monstrous fire burning southeast of Austin that has destroyed more homes than any other blaze in Texas history, county officials said on Thursday.

Ohio Justices, Lawyer Task Force To Study Death Penalty

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's top court and state bar association will form a joint task force to review the administration of the state's death penalty, the chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court said on Thursday.

Trial Of John Edwards Pushed Back To January

RALEIGH, North Carolina - A federal judge has ordered that the criminal trial of former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards be delayed three months until January 2012.

Huge Blackout Hits Southern California, Mexican Border

SAN DIEGO - A massive blackout caused by "human failure" left nearly 5 million people without power in parts of California, Arizona and Mexico on Thursday, and officials said many residents may be out of service for a day or more.

U.S. Sees Credible But Unconfirmed Terrorism Threat

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered a redoubling of counter-terrorism efforts in the face of a "credible but unconfirmed" threat ahead of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Three U.S. Marines Face Charges Stemming From Suicide

HONOLULU - Three U.S. Marines appeared in military court at their home base in Hawaii on Thursday to face charges they physically abused and humiliated a fellow Marine who later killed himself while they were in Afghanistan.

Eastern Floods Force 130,000 To Evacuate

WILKES-BARRE, Pa - Relentless rain caused catastrophic flooding in the eastern United States on Thursday, killing at least five people and forcing the evacuation of more than 130,000 more in three states.

Toyota, Plaintiffs' Lawyers Spar On Trial Plan

NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp is battling with plaintiffs' lawyers over how many vehicle owners the company can interview ahead of a potential trial over sudden unintended acceleration claims.

Weather Disasters Keep Costing U.S. Billions This Year

CHICAGO - Blizzards. Tornadoes. Floods. Record heat and drought, followed by wildfires.

Worker Killed In Alaska Gold Mining Accident

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A worker at the Kensington Gold Mine in Alaska was killed in an accident on the job on Monday morning, the mine's owner said.

Gunman Attacks Seven People In Three States, Then Kills Self

MORGANTOWN, W.Va - A West Virginia man on a tri-state killing spree gunned down six people and ran over a seventh with his car before committing suicide, police said on Wednesday.

Wisconsin Official Told DMV Not To Push Free Voter ID Cards

MADISON - A Wisconsin official has discouraged state workers from volunteering information about free IDs available under a controversial voter identification law that critics complain is designed to suppress votes, a memo leaked on Wednesday showed.

Baltimore Jury Clears Brothers In Murder-for-hire Trial

BALTIMORE - Two brothers were found not guilty on Wednesday of conspiring to murder a blind, developmentally disabled man in Maryland so his case worker could collect $1.4 million in life insurance policies.

Weather Disasters Keep Costing U.S. Billions This Year

CHICAGO - Blizzards. Tornadoes. Floods. Record heat and drought, followed by wildfires.

Firefighters Gain Some Control Over Deadly Texas Blaze

BASTROP, Texas - Firefighters gained ground for the first time on Wednesday against a deadly wildfire raging near Austin that has destroyed more homes than any other blaze in Texas history, officials said.

Post-9/11 U.S. Intelligence Reforms Take Root, Problems Remain

WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence agencies will forever be scarred by their failure to connect the dots and detect the September 11 plot, but a decade later efforts to break down barriers to information-sharing are taking root.

Polygamist Leader Seeks New Trial, Says Rights Violated

SAN ANTONIO - Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting his two child brides, has asked for a new trial, claiming his religious rights were violated.

Lawyer Who Was Accused Of Fraud By California Fires Back

SAN FRANCISCO - A lawyer targeted by California's attorney general for allegedly defrauding homeowners has responded with multiple lawsuits against the state, according to a press release.

California Legislature Approves Shark Fin Ban

SACRAMENTO - Shark fin soup would be off the menu in California, under a bill headed for the governor's desk following its approval by the state Senate on Tuesday.

Mexico Man Accused Of Locking Up, Abusing Girls For 7 Years

MEXICO CITY - A Mexico City man was arrested on Tuesday accused of imprisoning and abusing two teenage girls for seven years, fathering five children with them and beating one to death along with one of her babies.

Starbucks CEO Campaigns To End Washington Gridlock

LOS ANGELES - Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Howard Schultz called on Americans on Tuesday to deluge U.S. lawmakers with demands to end the partisan gridlock that he said is paralyzing Washington.

American Nabbed For Smuggling Grenade Parts To Mexico

MEXICO CITY - Mexican police arrested an American accused of trafficking grenade and gun parts to one of the country's deadliest drug cartels in a sign the gangs could now be making their own weapons, authorities said on Tuesday.

Crews Curb California Fire Sparked By Plane Crash

LOS ANGELES - Fire crews made decisive gains on Tuesday against a fierce blaze that destroyed 12 homes after it was ignited by a small-plane crash in Southern California, and evacuation orders were lifted late in the day for hundreds of dwellings.

Missouri River To Return To Normal By Early October

MINNEAPOLIS - The Missouri River, which has been pressing flood defenses from Montana to Missouri for more than three months, was expected to return to normal water flows by early October, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Gunman Kills 4 At Nevada Pancake House, Shoots Self

CARSON CITY, Nev - A man with an assault rifle opened fire at a pancake house in Nevada's capital on Tuesday, killing three National Guard soldiers and a civilian and wounding seven others before killing himself, authorities said.

Wildfires Sweep Across Texas, Four Dead

AUSTIN, Texas - Two people have died in a monstrous wildfire that raged out of control near Austin on Tuesday and had destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to be evacuated, officials said.

U.S. Safer 10 Years After 9/11, But At What Cost?

NEW YORK - Tourists flock to Times Square for the bright lights and Broadway shows. There they find another spectacle: helmeted police with machine guns patrolling the subway station on the lookout for would-be bombers and gunmen.

Louisiana Coastal Towns Struggle With Storm Flooding

NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana Gulf Coast towns and inland waterways struggled with flooding on Monday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee continued to test flood barriers but the city of New Orleans remained in fairly good shape.

In The World's Breadbasket, Climate Change Feeds Some Worry

The United States, the breadbasket and supplier of last resort for a hungry world, has been such an amazing food producer in the last half-century that most Americans take for granted annual bounteous harvests of grain, meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and other crops.

Two Dead In Texas Wildfires, Homes Destroyed

SAN ANTONIO - Sixty separate wildfires, whipped by strong winds, were burning across Texas on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least two people, officials said.

Fire From Plane Crash Menaces California Homes

LOS ANGELES - A brush fire ignited by a fatal small-plane crash near the mountain town of Tehachapi, north of Los Angeles, forced hundreds of homes to be evacuated on Monday and left some 8,600 acres charred by nightfall in its second day.

Gulf Coast Braces For More Rain, One Dead

MOBILE, Ala - Gulf Coast residents from Texas to Florida struggled with a third day of severe weather on Monday with one man dead and a teenager missing in rough waters as remnants of Tropical Storm Lee lashed the region.

Austin-area Wildfire Burns A Record 476 Homes In Texas

AUSTIN, Texas - A massive wildfire east of the Texas state capital of Austin has destroyed 476 homes since Sunday and is still burning out of control, state officials said on Monday.

Katia Ramps Up Power, But Seen Missing East Coast

MIAMI - Hurricane Katia powered up to a major Category 4 storm on Monday, but was expected to veer away from the U.S. East Coast later this week, avoiding a direct hit on a seaboard already battered by Hurricane Irene.

Giuliani And Bloomberg: NY Mayors Linked By Sept 11

NEW YORK - Had it not been for the September 11 attacks, neither Rudy Giuliani nor Michael Bloomberg would have such high profiles on the American political stage.

Two Dead As Wildfires Scorch Texas, Perry Back Home

SAN ANTONIO/AUSTIN - Sixty separate wildfires, whipped by winds as Tropical Storm Lee passed, burned across parched Texas on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving at least two people dead, authorities said.

Lower Manhattan: Rising From The Ashes

NEW YORK - A decade after the September 11 attacks enveloped Lower Manhattan in a thick gray dust of pulverized buildings and human remains, the surrounding area has become a trendy neighborhood with a booming population.

No Apology From N.Y. Mayor Bloomberg Over Aide's Arrest

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declined to apologize on Sunday for how he handled the resignation of a former deputy mayor, who was arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Police Say Teen Guns Down Eight At New York House Party

NEW YORK - A male teen allegedly gunned down eight people at a house party in New York City early on Sunday morning, evaded police capture and remains at large, according to New York City police officials.

Burning Man Anti-consumerism Celebration Goes Non-profit

BLACK ROCK CITY, Nev - When the 50-foot tall effigy known as "The Man" burned to the ground on Saturday night before tens of thousands of screaming people, it marked a new age for the iconic celebration known as Burning Man.

New Orleans' Post-Katrina Flood Defenses Pass Big Test

NEW ORLEANS - New post-Katrina flood protection systems in New Orleans and surrounding areas were performing "very well" Sunday, in what officials said was the first true test since the devastating 2005 hurricane.

Man Taken Off Los Angeles Flight For Making Threat

CHICAGO - A man was taken into police custody after making a bomb threat on a flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, officials said on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Lee Spawns Tornadoes On Gulf Coast

MOBILE, Ala - Tropical Storm Lee spawned tornado sightings and alerts from the Louisiana Gulf Coast to the Florida panhandle on Sunday, and at least two deaths related to the storm were reported.

Lightning Forces Another College Football Evacuation

CHICAGO - More than 50,000 fans were forced to clear West Virginia University's football stadium on Sunday as severe weather rolled through, the third evacuation this weekend of a college football game because of lightning.

Australia's Howard A Surprise 9-11 Witness

SYDNEY - Australia's former Prime Minister John Howard, a surprise witness to the September11, 2001, attacks on the United States, believes former U.S. President George W. Bush deserves more praise for his response and for stopping further attacks.

Obama Vows Federal Help For Irene Victims

PATERSON, New Jersey - President Barack Obama on Sunday urged Republicans not to play politics with federal disaster aid as he toured flood-stricken New Jersey and pledged to do everything possible to help states recover after Hurricane Irene.

Storm Lee Threatens Southeast With Heavy Rains

NEW ORLEANS - After testing New Orleans' flood defenses over the weekend, Tropical Storm Lee moved northeast on Monday after weakening to a tropical depression, and threatened to bring heavy rains and flooding to a large section of the U.S. Southeast.

Man Convicted Of Killing Eight At North Carolina Nursing Home

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - A North Carolina man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury on Saturday found him guilty of fatally shooting eight people at a nursing home in March 2009.

Michigan Football Stadium Cleared Due To Lightning, Game Ended

DETROIT - The University of Michigan's mammoth football stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was cleared on Saturday during its season opening game with Western Michigan due to lightning strikes in the area, a spokeswoman said.

Notre Dame, Michigan Stadiums Cleared Due To Storms

DETROIT - Nearby lightning strikes forced the University of Michigan and University of Notre Dame to clear their football stadium seats on Saturday, pressing nearly 200,000 fans to take cover inside or in nearby buildings.

Neo-Nazi Rally, Counter-protests Peaceful In Wisconsin

WEST ALLIS, Wis - Members of a neo-Nazi group and counter protesters peacefully rallied within yards of each other here on Saturday.

Vermont Presses Post-Irene Recovery, Braces For More Flooding

BRATTLEBORO, Vt - A week after Tropical Storm Irene washed out scores of roads across southern and central Vermont, state officials on Saturday worked to restore more routes and worried about forecasts for more heavy rain.

Alabama, Mississippi Get Rain And Warnings Ahead Of Lee

MOBILE, Ala - Heavy rains and strong wind gusts pressed across southern Alabama and Mississippi on Saturday as the center of Tropical Storm Lee neared coastal Louisiana to the west.

New Orleans Feeling Lucky, Wary As Storm Nears Land

NEW ORLEANS - Southern Louisiana was coping fairly well with heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee on Saturday but New Orleans officials warned residents against rising winds and complacency amid the storm's slow onslaught.

Lee Causes Thousands Of Power Outages In Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS - Tropical Storm Lee knocked out power early on Saturday for more than 38,000 customers, primarily in the New Orleans area, said a utility company that provides power for most of Louisiana.

Labor Day Crowds Pack Jersey Shore After Irene

OCEAN CITY, N.J., Sept 3 - Beaches and the boardwalk were packed with Labor Day weekend visitors here on Saturday in the wake of a hurricane that many said left barely a trace of damage.

Tropical Storm Lee Soaks New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - Tropical Storm Lee was drenching New Orleans on Sunday as the Southern city, inundated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, faced a test of its flood defenses from the slow-moving system.

After Irene, Jersey Shore Readies For Labor Day Tourists

NEW YORK - Businesses along the New Jersey shore, from Asbury Park to Atlantic City, geared up for the last hurrah of summer on Friday, a week after Hurricane Irene forced the evacuation of some one million people from the popular resort towns.

California Man Arrested For Biting Pet Python

SACRAMENTO, Calif - Police in California's capital have arrested a man accused of biting a live python in what apparently was an unprovoked attack on the pet snake of an acquaintance.

Family Sues Police Over California Taser-related Death

LOS ANGELES - The parents of a Southern California man who accuse police of killing their son with a Taser after he honked at a patrol car have sued the sheriff's department and county.

North Carolina Plans Temporary Bridge For Damaged Outer Banks

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced plans on Friday for a temporary bridge that will allow traffic to return to parts of the Outer Banks cut off when Hurricane Irene breached the main highway.

Alabama Coast Braces For Heavy Rain From Tropical Storm Lee

GULF SHORES, Ala - People along the Alabama coast braced for up to 20 inches of rain that Tropical Storm Lee could bring their way over the Labor Day holiday weekend, but their spirits on Friday seemed impervious to the predicted soaking.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Returns To Tucson

PHOENIX - Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords returned on Friday to Tucson, Arizona, for a holiday weekend break from her physical therapy program, making her second visit to her hometown since she was shot there in January, her office said.

Ex-employee Sues Borders Over Mass Layoffs

NEW YORK - A Borders Group Inc unit failed to give its workers proper notice of mass layoffs when it announced plan to liquidate in July, a new lawsuit alleges.

Wildfire Threatens Southern California Community

LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of firefighters sought to beat back an out-of-control wildfire bearing down on Friday on a desert community east of Los Angeles where one home was already lost and dozens more threatened.

Six Years After Katrina, New Orleans Braces For Storm

NEW ORLEANS - Almost exactly six years after Hurricane Katrina inundated New Orleans and produced one of the worst disasters in the nation's history, residents are again bracing for a storm lumbering north in the Gulf of Mexico.

Milestone Moments: Remembering 9/11

NEW YORK - Current weather forecasts for New York are for a possible rainy start to the 9/11 weekend.

Katia Over The Open Atlantic, No Immediate Threat To Land: NHC

- Tropical Storm Katia continues over the open Atlantic with no immediate threat to land, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a report late Thursday.

Flood Victims Still In The Dark, Stuck In Mud

LUDLOW, Vermont - Residents of several Northeast states approached the Labor Day holiday weekend mired in mud and stuck in the dark on Thursday nearly a week after Hurricane Irene swallowed parts of the region with flooding.

Ohio Sells State Prison To Private Contractor For $73 Million

CLEVELAND - Ohio said on Thursday it had gone through with a controversial plan to privatize a portion of the state's prison system, the latest step in Republican Governor John Kasich's campaign to shrink government and close the state's budget shortfall.

Family Sues Police Over California Taser Death

LOS ANGELES - The parents of a Southern California man who accuse police of killing their son with a Taser after he honked at a patrol car have sued the sheriff's department and county.

Boys, 8, Face Felony Arson Charges In Idaho Brush Fire

SALMON, Idaho - Two 8-year-old Idaho boys are facing felony charges for igniting a wildfire that destroyed a house, prompted evacuations and took four days to extinguish, authorities said on Thursday.

Appeals Court Asked To Vacate "Don't Ask" Judgment

PASADENA, Calif - Obama administration lawyers asked a federal appeals court on Thursday to vacate a judgment declaring "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional now that the ban on openly gay men and women in the military is about to be repealed.

Insight: Murdoch's Tough Guy Carlucci Under Pressure

NEW YORK - Paul Carlucci's name doesn't appear on any public list of News Corp's power players. As CEO of News America Marketing and publisher of the New York Post, he is the most influential executive you've never heard of inside Rupert Murdoch's empire.

9/11 Firefighters Have Higher Cancer Risk: Study

CHICAGO - Male firefighters who were exposed to toxic dust and smoke from the 9/11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center have a 19 percent higher risk of getting cancer of all kinds than colleagues who were not exposed, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

McCourt Offered $1.2 Billion For Dodgers: Report

Bangalore - Bill Burke and certain other investors have offered Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team owner Frank McCourt $1.2 billion for the bankrupt team, a Los Angeles Times report said, citing two people familiar with the contents of an offer letter.

Reinforcements, Weather Aid Firefighters In Oklahoma And Texas

OKLAHOMA CITY - A wildfire burned for a third day in a wooded 18-square-mile area of Oklahoma's capital on Thursday and has consumed at least 25 homes, including rambling mansions with horse facilities.