Police Still Searching For Monkey Taken From SF Zoo

SAN FRANCISCO - Police in San Francisco were searching on Friday for a squirrel monkey that disappeared from the San Francisco Zoo.

Financial Dispute Delays 9/11 Museum Opening

NEW YORK - The National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York will not be ready in time for its planned 2012 opening on the 11th anniversary of the attacks, due to a financial dispute between agencies involved in its construction, officials said on Friday.

Maryland Abortion Doctors Charged With Murder

BALTIMORE - Two doctors have been charged with murder after an investigation into a botched abortion uncovered 35 fetuses in a Maryland clinic's freezer, authorities said on Friday, calling the case the first of its kind in the state.

Washington To Be First State To Top $9 Minimum Wage

CHICAGO - Washington will be the first state to require a minimum wage of more than $9 an hour when it joins seven other states on Sunday in automatically adjusting salaries to keep up with inflation.

Winds, Winter Storms Snarl Some Holiday Travel

DENVER - High winds and snow slowed travelers in Colorado and Nebraska ahead of the new year, as many Americans hit the roads over the holiday weekend, officials said on Saturday.

Voter Photo ID, E-Verify Laws To Take Effect In New Year

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Laws that require voters to present photo identification at the polls, recognize same-sex civil unions and aim to restrict illegal immigration are among the state measures taking effect on New Year's Day.

LA Firefighters On New Year's Alert Amid Arson Attacks

LOS ANGELES - Firefighters in Los Angeles were steeling themselves for a busy New Year's eve on Saturday, following a rash of arson fires that saw more than 30 cars torched in recent days.

Man With Explosives Stopped At Texas Airport

SAN ANTONIO, Dec 31 - A man found to be carrying explosives in "military grade wrapping" was detained at a western Texas airport on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of the area, officials said.

Obama Strikes Hopeful Note In Year-end Address

- President Barack Obama, striking a hopeful note in a year-end weekly address, hailed foreign policy milestones while keeping pressure on Congress to further extend payroll tax cuts through the end of 2012.

Throngs Of Times Square Revelers Ring In 2012

NEW YORK - Throngs of revelers in and around New York's Times Square gave a boisterous welcome to 2012 on Sunday amid tight security, sending off a year marked by the grim 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the city.

Boxer Mayweather Pleads No Contest To Battery Of Guard

LAS VEGAS - Boxing welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. pleaded no contest on Friday in Las Vegas to misdemeanor battery against a security guard, prosecutors said.

Man Pleads Guilty In Bomb Attempt Near Columbine

DENVER - A convicted bank robber accused of trying to set off a bomb at a shopping mall near Columbine High School on the 12th anniversary of the shooting rampage there pleaded guilty on Friday to a federal charge.

Police Still Searching For Monkey Taken From SF Zoo

SAN FRANCISCO - Police in San Francisco were searching on Friday for a squirrel monkey that disappeared from the San Francisco Zoo.

FDA Says No Need To Recall Enfamil Formula

- U.S. health officials said they found no trace of potentially deadly bacteria that killed two infants in recent weeks in sealed cans of Enfamil baby formula, and that a recall was unnecessary, providing relief for the product's manufacturer, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

Police Suspect Foul Play In Case Of Missing Maine Toddler

- Authorities searching for a Maine toddler who vanished from her home about a week before Christmas said on Friday they now suspect foul play in the girl's disappearance.

Man Caught Trying To Board Flight With Loaded Handgun

KANSAS CITY, Mo - A man trying to board a Delta Airlines flight in Kansas City with a loaded handgun was charged on Thursday with carrying a concealed weapon, authorities said.

Ice-breaking Russian Ship Gets OK To Deliver Fuel To Nome

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An ice-breaking Russian tanker won an exemption from U.S. maritime law on Friday allowing it to deliver fuel to the isolated Alaska city of Nome, the state's two U.S. senators announced.

New Court Challenge To Wisconsin Union Law Filed

MADISON, Wisc - The Wisconsin Supreme Court should void a controversial state law curbing the power of public sector unions because a judge who ruled on the law had a conflict of interest, a county attorney said on Friday.

Maryland Abortion Doctors Charged With Murder

BALTIMORE - Two doctors have been charged with murder after an investigation into a botched abortion uncovered 35 fetuses in a Maryland clinic's freezer, authorities said on Friday, calling the case the first of its kind in the state.

Financial Dispute Delays 9/11 Museum Opening

NEW YORK - The National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York will not be ready in time for its planned 2012 opening on the 11th anniversary of the attacks, due to a financial dispute between agencies involved in its construction, officials said on Friday.

Two Killed, Dozens Injured In 40-car Pile-up Near New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - A 40-car pile-up near New Orleans in an area that has been blanketed by fog in recent mornings killed two men and injured dozens of other people on Thursday, tying up traffic for hours, police said.

Massive Dust Storm Closes Interstate In Idaho

SALMON, Idaho - A dust storm churned by winds of up to 50 miles per hour forced a 20-mile closure of an interstate in Idaho on Thursday, and highway officials scrambled to divert thousands of motorists near Idaho Falls.

Man Caught Trying To Board Flight With Loaded Handgun

KANSAS CITY, Mo - A man trying to board a Delta Airlines flight in Kansas City with a loaded handgun was charged on Thursday with carrying a concealed weapon, authorities said.

Appeals Court Revives Countrywide Homeowner Case

- A week after settling a landmark federal discrimination case, Bank of America Corp's Countrywide unit was ordered to face a lawsuit by a Hispanic couple who said it applied excessive pressure to refinance their home on terms they did not accept and could not afford.

Alaska Teen Girl Injected With Heroin At Party Dies

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A 14-year-old girl who was injected with heroin by a man at a party last week in Alaska died on Thursday, the victim of an overdose that damaged her brain and heart, Anchorage police said.

Air Traffic Alert After Alaska Volcano Spews Ash Cloud

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A remote volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Islands erupted violently early on Thursday, spouting an ash cloud 15,000 feet into the sky and prompting an air-traffic alert, scientists said.

Busloads Of Ski-bound Teens Turn Pot Over To Nevada Police

LAS VEGAS - Five busloads of students who stopped in Nevada en route to a ski trip were given a break on Thursday when police let them to go free in exchange for turning over large quantities of marijuana and alcohol stashed in their luggage.

Harrisburg Council Approves Budget, Mayor Ponders Veto

HARRISBURG, Pa - Harrisburg's city council, at odds with the mayor over how to dig out of a financial hole, approved a budget on Thursday that contains a slight tax increase but cuts the mayor's allotted tax dollars.

Facebook Photos Lead To Child Abuse Arrests In Arizona

PHOENIX - Two Arizona parents were arrested by sheriff's deputies after apparently posting pictures on Facebook that showed their children, an infant and a toddler, bound with duct tape, authorities said on Thursday.

Vigil Honors Victims Of Texas Christmas Shooting

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Six victims of a Christmas Day shooting rampage near Dallas were honored by more than 100 friends on Wednesday who wept and clung to each other as they shared their memories at a candlelit vigil.

Third Infant Infected As U.S. Probes Baby Formula

WASHINGTON - A third infant in the United States has tested positive for the infection that led to the death of one infant, sickened another and spurred a probe of baby formula, including Enfamil by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

Dolphins' Taylor To Retire After Sunday's Game

- Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor is to bring the curtain down on his 15-year NFL career after Sunday's season finale against the New York Jets.

Tour Offers Visitors A Special Screening Of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - It's been more than 50 years since Blanche DuBois of the New Orleans-set play "A Streetcar Named Desire" wistfully declared that she had "always depended on the kindness of strangers."

New York Unions Sue Over Retiree Health-care Change

ALBANY, New York - Seven New York state unions filed federal lawsuits on Wednesday seeking to prevent Governor Andrew Cuomo from increasing the amount that retired workers pay for health care.

U.S. Police Fatalities Up In 2011: Report

- The number of U.S. police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2011 rose 13 percent from 2010, marking another annual increase in law enforcement fatalities in recent years.

Suspect In Indiana Girl's Killing Dodged Warrant For Decade

- The baby-sitter facing murder charges in the grisly killing of an Indiana girl evaded a warrant for his arrest on probation violation charges for more than 11 years, officials said on Wednesday.

Family Of Marine Jet Crash Victims Awarded $17.8 Million

LOS ANGELES - The surviving relatives of four family members killed when a Marine fighter jet crashed into their San Diego home in 2008 were awarded $17.8 million by a federal judge on Wednesday.

Three Tennessee Miners Rescued After Fire

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Three miners were trapped underground by smoke for several hours on Wednesday before being brought safely to the surface at the Young zinc mine in Tennessee, authorities said.

Washington's Big Dig Aims To Clean Up "nation's River"

WASHINGTON - Washington is starting to dig deep in a $2.6 billion underground solution aimed at helping clean up the polluted Potomac River and the ailing Chesapeake Bay, the biggest U.S. estuary.

Vigil Honors Victims Of Texas Christmas Shooting

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Six victims of a Christmas Day shooting rampage near Dallas were honored by more than 100 friends on Wednesday who wept and clung to each other as they shared their memories at a candlelit vigil.

No Snow? For Cash-strapped Cities, A Gift From Heavens

MILWAUKEE, Dec 27 - Snowfall well below normal in the Midwest and much of the country this winter has given cash-strapped municipalities some unexpected good news.

U.S. Adds Surveillance Drone On Mexico Border

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz, Dec 27 - U.S. authorities took possession of an additional high-tech surveillance drone on Tuesday to overfly the rugged Arizona borderlands to look for drug smugglers and illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico.

Condoms For Porn Shoots To Be On June L.A. Ballot

LOS ANGELES - A ballot initiative requiring Los Angeles porn actors to wear condoms has qualified for the June election, organizers said on Tuesday.

Rare Asian Bird Takes "wrong Turn," Lands In Tennessee

NASHVILLE - A rare Asian hooded crane, normally seen only in Southeast Asia, China and Japan, apparently "took a wrong turn" and has joined sandhill cranes wintering at the Hiwassee Refuge in southeast Tennessee, bird experts say, drawing flocks of curious birdwatchers along with it.

Detroit Police Say 3 Deaths Tied To Dating Services Site

- Three women discovered dead in Detroit over the past week, including two found burned beyond recognition early on Christmas, were linked to a website called Packages that advertises adult escort services, police said on Monday.

Christmas Blaze In Connecticut Was Accidental

- A raging Christmas-morning house fire that killed an elderly couple and their daughter's three young girls in Stamford, Connecticut, appears to have been caused by embers from a fireplace and was accidental, city officials said on Tuesday.

Third Infant Infected As U.S. Probes Baby Formula

WASHINGTON - A third infant in the United States has tested positive for the infection that led to the death of one infant, sickened another and spurred a probe of baby formula, including Enfamil by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

Police Offer Reward For Lead In Missing Maine Toddler Case

- Authorities in Maine believe a toddler who vanished a week before Christmas was abducted from her home by a still-unidentified person and are offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the young girl's location.

Police Say Neighbor Confessed In Death Of Indiana Girl

- The Indiana man accused of killing a nine-year-old neighbor he was watching told investigators he beat the girl with a brick, dismembered and dumped most of her body but kept her head, hands and feet in his freezer over the Christmas weekend, according to an affidavit filed on Tuesday.

Police Name Texas Christmas Shooting Suspect

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Dressed in a Santa suit, Aziz Yazdanapah showed up at his estranged wife's home near Dallas during a Christmas celebration with her sister's family, and killed everyone before turning the gun on himself, police believe.

Kradjian Cheese Recalled On Listeria Fears

WASHINGTON - Kradjian Importing Co is recalling 231 cases of Canadian cheese because they could be contaminated with listeria, the Glendale, California, company said.

MF Global Sows Winter Of Discontent For CME

CHICAGO - Agricultural bankers and other players in the world's grain markets say fallout from the collapse of giant broker MF Global is changing cash grain trading and fueling calls for alternatives and reforms.

Nine Shot At Tennessee Teenagers' Party

- Nine people were shot, though no deaths were reported, after gunfire broke out at a teenagers' party at a nightclub in Chattanooga and another location nearby, Tennessee, a police official said on Sunday.

Holiday Recalls Hit Snack Makers, Alfalfa Producer

- Two U.S. food makers have voluntarily recalled snacks contaminated by peanuts, while another firm increased its recall of alfalfa products due to salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday.

Christmas Morning Blaze Kills 5 In Connecticut Family

- An elderly couple and their three granddaughters were killed when fire roared through a house in Stamford, Connecticut, early on Christmas morning. Two people, including the girls' mother, survived, authorities said.

Rare White Christmas Graces Texas Panhandle

AUSTIN, Texas - A light dusting of snow in north Texas delivered a rare white Christmas to this drought-stricken state, but the majority of the nation was seeing mild weather on Sunday.

Detroit Police Say 3 Deaths Tied To Dating Services Site

- Three women discovered dead in Detroit over the past week, including two found burned beyond recognition early on Christmas, were linked to a website called Packages that advertises adult escort services, police said on Monday.

Three Dead When Helicopter On Organ Trip Crashes In Florida

- Two Mayo Clinic employees and a pilot died on Monday when their helicopter crashed in Florida on a flight to pick up an organ for a transplant, hospital officials said.

Obamas Go To Church, Dine In For Christmas In Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii - President Barack Obama spent a low-key Christmas Day with his wife and daughters in Hawaii, going to church and thanking U.S. troops for their service before hosting friends for dinner at the first family's rented beach house.

Gunman In Santa Suit Killed Six, Self In Texas: Police

GRAPEVINE, Texas - A gunman who killed six people and himself at a family Christmas celebration was dressed in a Santa Claus suit when opened fire, police said on Monday.

Another Face Of The U.S. Recession: Homeless Children

MIAMI - As her mother sat in a homeless shelter in downtown Miami, talking about her economic struggles and loss of faith in the U.S. political system, 3-year-old Aeisha Touray blurted out what sounded like a new slogan for the Occupy Wall Street protest movement.

Ohio Plane Crash Leaves 2 Dead, 1 Injured

- Two people were killed and one was injured when their private plane crashed on Saturday in southeastern Ohio, authorities said.

Toddler Shoots 5-year-old To Death Near Denver

DENVER - A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed a 5-year-old child in suburban Denver, and a man visiting from Kansas is under arrest on suspicion of child abuse in connection with the tragedy, police said on Saturday.

Lawyer Morvillo, Martha Stewart Defender, Dies

- Lawyer Robert Morvillo, who led the courtroom battle of media celebrity Martha Stewart and other high-profile white-collar criminal defendants, has died at the age of 73, according to a notice on his firm's website on Sunday.

Nine Shot At Tennessee Teenagers' Party

- Nine people were shot, though no deaths were reported, after gunfire broke out at a teenagers' party at a nightclub in Chattanooga and another location nearby, Tennessee, a police official said on Sunday.

Holiday Recalls Hit Snack Makers, Alfalfa Producer

- Two U.S. food makers have voluntarily recalled snacks contaminated by peanuts, while another firm increased its recall of alfalfa products due to salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday.

Christmas Morning Blaze Kills 5 In Connecticut Family

- An elderly couple and their three granddaughters were killed when fire roared through a house in Stamford, Connecticut, early on Christmas morning. Two people, including the girls' mother, survived, authorities said.

Rare White Christmas Graces Texas Panhandle

AUSTIN, Texas - A light dusting of snow in north Texas delivered a rare white Christmas to this drought-stricken state, but the majority of the nation was seeing mild weather on Sunday.

Obamas Go To Church, Dine In For Christmas In Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii - President Barack Obama spent a low-key Christmas Day with his wife and daughters in Hawaii, going to church and thanking U.S. troops for their service before hosting friends for dinner at the first family's rented beach house.

Seven People Shot Dead At Dallas-area Apartment

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Police in Texas found the bodies of seven people in a Dallas-area apartment on Sunday, all shot to death and surrounded by newly unwrapped Christmas presents, authorities said.

Congress Punts Hard Payroll Tax Work To 2012

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension on Friday, capping a year of fierce partisan combat over taxes and spending that will resume in January and play heavily in the 2012 elections.

Christmas Won't Be White In Much Of United States

- Snowstorms snarled "Getaway Friday" plans for some holiday travelers, shutting roads in New Mexico and New Hampshire, and colder temperatures ahead renewed hopes for a white Christmas in parts of the Southwest and Northeast.

Police In Berkeley End Overnight Occupy Camping

BERKELEY, Calif - A camp of anti-Wall Street protesters in Berkeley, California, has all but vanished under pressure from police, who have returned repeatedly to enforce a nighttime curfew, authorities said on Friday.

Judge Rules Against Arizona Sheriff In Immigrant Stops

- A federal judge on Friday barred high profile Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio from detaining people simply for being in the country illegally, in a ruling that faulted the local lawman for enforcing federal immigration law.

Boston Student Re-united With $170,000 Violin

- Christmas came early for a Boston music student who was reunited with the $170,000 violin she forgot in the overhead compartment of a regional commuter bus she rode this week, police said on Saturday.

Three U.S. Citizens Killed In Mexico Attacks

MEXICO CITY - Three U.S. citizens were among those killed when gunmen attacked buses in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, said a U.S. State Department official said on Saturday.

Another Face Of The U.S. Recession: Homeless Children

MIAMI - As her mother sat in a homeless shelter in downtown Miami, talking about her economic struggles and loss of faith in the U.S. political system, 3-year-old Aeisha Touray blurted out what sounded like a new slogan for the Occupy Wall Street protest movement.

Ohio Plane Crash Leaves 2 Dead, 1 Injured

- Two people were killed and one was injured when their private plane crashed on Saturday in southeastern Ohio, authorities said.

Toddler Shoots 5-year-old To Death Near Denver

DENVER - A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed a 5-year-old child in suburban Denver, and a man visiting from Kansas is under arrest on suspicion of child abuse in connection with the tragedy, police said on Saturday.

Favorable Forecasts Are Gift For Most Holiday Travelers

CHICAGO - Holiday travelers throughout most of the United States are getting the gift of good weather to help their travel plans this Christmas Eve.

First-ever Audit Of Arlington Headstones Finds Errors

- More than 64,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. may contain typos or other errors, according to a new government report.

Baby Formula Probe Widens Beyond Enfamil

- U.S. health regulators said on Friday they are looking at several types of baby formula that could be linked to the death of an infant, expanding an investigation beyond Mead Johnson's market-leading Enfamil.

U.S. Shoppers Less Than Merry After Online Glitches

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO - Tom Nenon, a philosophy professor at the University of Memphis, is vexed with his online shopping experience at Best Buy, a sentiment shared by other U.S. Internet shoppers this holiday season.

Sales Of New Athletic Shoe Cause Fights, Arrests

CHICAGO - Police in several cities around the country on Friday were called to stores to manage unruly shoppers seeking Nike's new Air Jordan athletic shoes.

Congress Punts Hard Payroll Tax Work To 2012

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension on Friday, capping a year of fierce partisan combat over taxes and spending that will resume in January and play heavily in the 2012 elections.

Judge Rules Against Arizona Sheriff In Immigrant Stops

- A federal judge on Friday barred high profile Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio from detaining people simply for being in the country illegally, in a ruling that faulted the local lawman for enforcing federal immigration law.

Hearing Concludes For Suspected WikiLeaks Leaker

FORT MEADE, Maryland - The U.S. Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking classified files to the WikiLeaks website gave enemies "unfettered access" to government secrets, a military prosecutor said on Thursday, but a defense lawyer said the soldier had done no harm.

Christmas Won't Be White In Much Of United States

- Snowstorms snarled "Getaway Friday" plans for some holiday travelers, shutting roads in New Mexico and New Hampshire, and colder temperatures ahead renewed hopes for a white Christmas in parts of the Southwest and Northeast.

Police In Berkeley End Overnight Occupy Camping

BERKELEY, Calif - A camp of anti-Wall Street protesters in Berkeley, California, has all but vanished under pressure from police, who have returned repeatedly to enforce a nighttime curfew, authorities said on Friday.

Another Face Of The U.S. Recession: Homeless Children

MIAMI - As her mother sat in a homeless shelter in downtown Miami, talking about her economic struggles and loss of faith in the U.S. political system, 3-year-old Aeisha Touray blurted out what sounded like a new slogan for the Occupy Wall Street protest movement.

Casey Anthony Sued By Man Who Found Her Child's Remains

ORLANDO, Fla - The man who found 2-year-old Caylee Anthony's body in 2008 is suing her mother for damages, saying Casey Anthony defamed him during her murder trial earlier this year.

Nearly Half Of Extremist Plots In NYC Aim At Jewish Targets

NEW YORK - New York City police boost security at synagogues during the holiday season because nearly half the plots to attack the city in the past 20 years were aimed at Jewish targets, law enforcement sources said on Thursday.

Judge Blocks Parts Of South Carolina Immigration Law

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - South Carolina is barred from enforcing several key areas of its new law aimed to curb illegal immigration, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, the sixth state to have an immigration law stymied by the courts.

Penn State Football Program Value Damaged By Scandal: Report

- Penn State held onto the No. 3 position in Forbes' rankings of the most valuable college football programs this year, but is expected to drop in the future because of a sex abuse scandal, the magazine said on Thursday.

Indiana Secretary Of State Was Not Eligible For Office: Judge

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's Republican Secretary of State Charlie White was not eligible to run for the office he now holds and his opponent should be named the winner of the November 2010 election, an Indiana judge ruled.

Ex-White House Hopeful Edwards Seeks To Delay Trial

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for former presidential hopeful John Edwards on Thursday asked for a two-month postponement of his trial over allegations he broke campaign finance laws to hide an extramarital affair, citing in part an undisclosed "medical issue."

Berkeley Protesters Remain, Tucson Camp Shut Down

BERKELEY, California - Anti-Wall Street protesters remained in a camp of about 20 tents in the Northern California college town of Berkeley on Thursday, a day after authorities threatened to stop overnight camping.

Body Of Alleged Killer Of Ex-Afghan Central Banker Found

- Remains of a San Diego man suspected of killing a former head of the Afghanistan central bank who fled to the United States as a political fugitive have been found, police said on Thursday.

Hearing Concludes For Suspected WikiLeaks Leaker

FORT MEADE, Maryland - The U.S. Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking classified files to the WikiLeaks website gave enemies "unfettered access" to government secrets, a military prosecutor said on Thursday, but a defense lawyer said the soldier had done no harm.

Snow, Wind, Rain Cause Holiday Travel Worries

DENVER - Snowfall in the Rockies, strong winds in the West and soaking rain in the South caused problems for holiday travelers on the first official day of winter, forecasters said on Thursday.

NBA Basketball Team, Star Player Sued For Sexual Harassment

SAN FRANCISCO - A former employee of the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday sued team owners, executives and star guard Monta Ellis for sexual harassment, charging that lurid texts from the National Basketball Association star led to her termination.

Lamborghini Driver Crashes Car Hours After Winning It

SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah truck driver who won a $380,000 Lamborghini in a contest said on Wednesday a patch of ice was to blame for his crashing the high-performance sports car six just hours after he took possession of it.

Hearing For Accused U.S. Army Leaker Nears End

FORT MEADE, Maryland - U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning's unit in Iraq was characterized by weak oversight, and a violent outburst by the private accused of the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history went unreported to higher command, witnesses said on Wednesday.

U.S. Officials Split On "hands Free" Ban For Drivers

- In a public split, the Obama administration's pointman on transportation sharply disagreed with a proposal by the top U.S. transportation safety investigator for a ban on hands-free calling while driving.

Federal Agency Scales Back Nevada Mustang Roundup

LAS VEGAS - Federal land managers said on Wednesday they have decided to scale back a disputed roundup of wild horses in Nevada next month and to postpone the planned castration of stallions as part of the operation.

J&J Pulls 12 Million Motrin Bottles From Shelves

- Johnson & Johnson, the consumer products company which has been plagued by product recalls in the past two years, said it is voluntarily asking retailers to remove about 12 million bottles of Motrin pain relievers from store shelves.

Suspicious Cargo Container Disrupts Traffic At LA Port

LOS ANGELES - Cargo traffic at the Port of Los Angeles was disrupted on Wednesday after longshoremen discovered a shipping container with the word "bomb" spray painted on it, a spokesman for the facility said.

Hotlines, Lawyers' Phones Ringing In Wake Of Sandusky Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - Child molestation charges against a former Penn State coach have sparked an unprecedented awareness of sexual abuse marked by a sharp upturn in calls to abuse hotlines and lawyers, attorneys and counselors said on Wednesday.

U.S. Troops Charged In Death Of Fellow Soldier

KABUL/NEW YORK - - The U.S. Army has charged eight soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in the death of Private Danny Chen, a 19-year-old Chinese-American who was bullied and taunted by fellow troops over his heritage.

Occupy Berkeley Campers Face Eviction Wednesday Night

SAN FRANCISCO - Anti-Wall Street protesters in the city of Berkeley are bracing for an imminent eviction the city said would occur late on Wednesday night.

Supremacist Gets 32-year Prison Term For Planting Bomb

SEATTLE - A white supremacist was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Tuesday for planting a shrapnel bomb along the parade route of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration nearly a year ago in Washington state.

Blizzard Conditions Blamed For At Least Seven Deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY - Blizzard conditions that shut down highways in five states on Monday were blamed for at least seven deaths, officials said on Tuesday.

Counterfeit Ring Scams Packers' Fans On Game Day

MILWAUKEE - The toughest ticket in Titletown has just got a little more tricky to score as a counterfeit ring is targeting eager Green Bay Packers fans outside Lambeau Field, police said on Tuesday.

Philadelphia Basement Captive Case Claims Forced Prostitution

PHILADELPHIA - A woman whose aunt is accused of holding her captive in a filthy Philadelphia basement testified on Tuesday she was forced into prostitution, made to drink her own urine and had her teeth knocked out.

Man Pleads Not Guilty In Chinese Consulate Shooting

LOS ANGELES - A Chinese-born man who police described as a human rights protester pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to shooting at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles in a burst of gunfire that struck the building but left no one hurt.

Confessed "underwear Bomber" Asks For New Legal Adviser

- Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who confessed to trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day 2009, has asked the judge who will sentence him next month to give him a new legal adviser.

Philadelphia Columnist Retires Amid Abuse Allegations

PHILADELPHIA - Award-winning sports columnist Bill Conlin retired abruptly from the Philadelphia Daily News on Tuesday, the newspaper said, as a rival newspaper published an article accusing him of child sex abuse.

Leading Greenhill Banker Dies In NJ Plane Crash

- A senior Greenhill & Co Inc investment banker, an avid pilot who worked on some of his firm's biggest deals, was one of five people killed when his private plane crashed on a busy New Jersey highway on Tuesday.

Twelve Charged With Hate Crimes In Amish Beard Cutting

- A federal grand jury in Ohio returned a seven-count indictment on Tuesday charging 12 members of an Amish splinter group with hate crimes following a spate of beard cutting attacks on fellow Amish in the state.

Ex-hacker Testifies About Reporting U.S. Army Leaks Suspect

FORT MEADE, Maryland - A former computer hacker testified on Tuesday that he led authorities to the suspected source of the biggest leak of classified documents in U.S. history after several days of online chats with Bradass87, an alias for Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning.

Berenson Returning To U.S. After Peru Prison

LIMA - Lori Berenson, a New Yorker who spent 15 years in Peruvian prisons for aiding Marxist insurgents, boarded a plane late on Monday for her first trip home since her 1995 arrest, officials said.

Judge To Rule By End-year On South Carolina Immigration Law

CHARLESTON, South Carolina - A federal judge said on Monday he would decide by the end of 2011 whether to block enforcement of South Carolina's new law curbing immigration, as judges have done with several other state laws.

Five Families Awarded $1.5 Million In OSHA Violation Case

DENVER - The company that employed five workers killed in a 2007 fire at a Colorado hydroelectric plant was ordered on Monday by a federal judge to pay more than $1.5 million to the victims' surviving family members.

Teen Gets 21 Years In Prison For Slaying Of Gay Student

LOS ANGELES - A California teen was sentenced to 21 years in jail on Monday for shooting to death a 15-year-old gay middle school classmate who he said made unwanted sexual advances.

Gingrich Fades In Iowa And Nationally

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich's status as the front runner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is fading after weeks of attacks by rivals and intense media scrutiny of his political record and personality.

Former Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Out Of Hospital

- Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was released from the hospital over the weekend after fracturing his pelvis in a fall, a source close to his family said on Monday.

Man Charged With Shooting At China Consulate

LOS ANGELES - A 67-year-old man from Las Vegas was charged on Monday with shooting at the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles in a violent outburst that left no one injured, authorities said.

Harrisburg, Pa. Receiver Converting Worried Critics

HARRISBURG, Pa - If knee-jerk reactions could be taxed, Pennsylvania's capital city could be closer to escaping its $315 million financial hole.

Blizzard Strands Motorists In Southwest, Plains

OKLAHOMA CITY - A blizzard shut down highways in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas on Monday, stranding motorists and causing dozens of wrecks including a prison van in which two people died, authorities said.

Prosecutors Link Manning To WikiLeaks' Assange

FORT MEADE, MD - Military prosecutors sought to link U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning directly to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday at a hearing to determine whether Manning will be court-martialled in the biggest leak of classified documents in American history.

Penn State QB Hurt In Locker Room Fight: School

- The quarterback of bowl-bound Penn State was taken to hospital after a locker room fight with a teammate, said the university, which is struggling to restore its image from a child sex abuse scandal.

Five People Dead In Apparent Murder-suicide In Illinois Town

CHICAGO - Five people, including three children, have been found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide in a small Illinois town, police said on Saturday.

Rapper Shot To Death In Atlanta

ATLANTA - Rapper Slim Dunkin has been shot to death in Atlanta, police said on Saturday.

Peru Delays Former Prisoner Berenson's Return To U.S.

LIMA - Lori Berenson, a New Yorker who spent 15 years in Peruvian prisons for aiding Marxist insurgents, was prevented by Peru's interior ministry from making her first trip home since her 1995 arrest, her lawyer said on Saturday.

More Than 50 "Occupy" Protesters Arrested In New York

NEW YORK - More than 50 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested on Saturday after they tried to climb over a chain-link fence around a church parking lot in a bid to establish a new encampment.

Diamond Ring Dropped In Salvation Army Kettle In Florida

An anonymous donor dropped a diamond-and-sapphire ring worth $2,000 into a Salvation Army kettle in suburban Miami on Friday, the charity said on its Facebook page.

Exclusive: CME Trust's Charity Grants Halt On MF Failure

CHICAGO - CME Group Inc, which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities over the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

Southwest, Plains Face Blizzard Warnings In Big Storm

OKLAHOMA CITY - The panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma were placed under a blizzard warning on Sunday as the Southwest and plains states braced for two days of bitter cold, heavy snow, rain and high winds.

Files On Manning's Computer Linked To WikiLeaks Site

FORT MEADE, MD - Classified files downloaded to the computer of Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning matched those that later showed up on WikiLeaks, an investigator testified on Sunday, the first time the government has linked Manning to the whistleblowing website.

Man Charged With Setting Woman On Fire In Elevator

- A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder and arson in the death of a Brooklyn woman who was set on fire in an elevator ambush, police said on Sunday.

"Barefoot Bandit" Sentenced To More Than 7 Years

COUPEVILLE, Wash - A Washington state man dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit," who staged a sensational two-year, multi-state crime spree, pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

Truck Thieves Take Millions In Electronics

INDIANAPOLIS - Police said on Saturday they suspect four or five people were involved in the theft of almost $2 million in electronics when a truck driver discovered his tractor trailer missing from a rest stop.

U.S. Sues University For Banning Dog From Student Housing

OMAHA, Neb - Butch the dog is trained to put his front paws on Brittany Hamilton's shoulders to help calm her when she suffers a panic attack.

Casino Gets 16,000 Job Applications In 4 Days

CLEVELAND - A soon-to-open Cleveland casino was bombarded with job applications from 16,000 people in just four days after announcing openings for 750 positions, a casino official said on Saturday.

CME Group Cuts Charitable Giving, Citing MF Global

CHICAGO - CME Group Inc, which has given $22 million to Chicago-area schools and charities over the past five years, has stopped making grants through its main foundation, citing the collapse of MF Global Holdings Inc.

Five People Dead In Apparent Murder-suicide In Illinois Town

CHICAGO - Five people, including three children, have been found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide in a small Illinois town, police said on Saturday.

Rapper Shot To Death In Atlanta

ATLANTA - Rapper Slim Dunkin has been shot to death in Atlanta, police said on Saturday.

Peru Delays Former Prisoner Berenson's Return To U.S.

LIMA - Lori Berenson, a New Yorker who spent 15 years in Peruvian prisons for aiding Marxist insurgents, was prevented by Peru's interior ministry from making her first trip home since her 1995 arrest, her lawyer said on Saturday.

Manning Showed Warning Signs Before WikiLeak

FORT MEADE, MD - Bradley Manning, the suspected source of the largest leak of classified U.S. documents in history, displayed warning signs of emotional instability before his alleged wrongdoing and struggled with his gender identity, his attorney said on Saturday.

More Than 50 "Occupy" Protesters Arrested In New York

NEW YORK - More than 50 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested on Saturday after they tried to climb over a chain-link fence around a church parking lot in a bid to establish a new encampment.

Attorney Says Former AAU Head Dodd Is "no Pedophile"

NASHVILLE, Tenn - An attorney for former Amateur Athletic Union president Robert "Bobby" Dodd said on Friday his client is "no pedophile" and is "devastated" by the allegations of sexual abuse against him.

Florida A&M Drum Major Death Ruled A Homicide

ORLANDO, Fla - A medical examiner has ruled the death of a Florida A&M University drum major a homicide by blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident, according to a news release on Friday.

Penn State Officials To Stand Trial In Abuse Case

HARRISBURG, Pa - A judge ruled on Friday that two former senior Penn State officials must stand trial on charges of lying to a grand jury about what they knew of sexual abuse allegations against former coach Jerry Sandusky.

Millionaire Convicted Of Killing Wife Gets 30-year Sentence

ORLANDO, Fla - A millionaire convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of his wife in their Isleworth, Florida, mansion in 2009 was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison.

Sheriff Says Heroes Averted Worse Courthouse Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS - A man found guilty of a sex crime left a Minnesota courthouse shortly after the verdict was read, returned with a handgun and shot a prosecutor and witness in a chaotic struggle, authorities said on Friday.

Suspected WikiLeaks Source Appears In Court

FORT MEADE, Maryland - An American Army intelligence analyst suspected of being behind the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history made his first court appearance on Friday, sitting stone-faced as military prosecutors launched their case against him.

Five Dead Bodies Found In Virginia Home

- Sheriff's officers have found five dead bodies in a home on Virginia's Eastern Shore, authorities said on Friday.

Barry Bonds Gets 2 Years Probation In Steroids Probe

SAN FRANCISCO - Home-run king Barry Bonds avoided a prison sentence on Friday over a single criminal conviction related to an investigation of steroids in sports, a punishment one prosecutor called a slap on the wrist.

Berenson To Return To U.S. For 1st Time After Jail In Peru

LIMA - Lori Berenson, a New Yorker who spent 15 years in Peruvian prisons for aiding Marxist insurgents, will visit the United States as early as this weekend for the first time since her 1995 arrest, officials and her family said on Friday.

"Barefoot Bandit" Sentenced To More Than 7 Years

COUPEVILLE, Wash - A Washington state man dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit," who staged a sensational two-year, multi-state crime spree, pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

15 Charged In Chicago For Gun Trafficking To Gangs

CHICAGO - Prosecutors in Chicago on Thursday said they charged fifteen men with gun trafficking as part of a crackdown on illegal gun sales to gangs.

Keystone Project Has Montana Approval, Governor Says

- (Adds comment from spokesman for TransCanada Corp) Montana has given final approval to the controversial Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline, even though the project still faces obstacles with the federal government and Nebraska, the governor said on Thursday.

U.S. Says Arizona Sheriff Violated Civil Rights Laws

WASHINGTON/PHOENIX, Dec 15 - An Arizona sheriff and his deputies violated U.S. civil rights laws by engaging in racial profiling of Latinos and making unlawful arrests in their bid to crack down on illegal immigrants, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

Key Witness In Penn State Abuse Scandal May Testify Friday

HARRISBURG, Pa - A key witness who said that he saw former assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky raping a 10-year-old boy in 2002 may testify in court on Friday, a legal source said.

FBI Launches Bid To Nab 1990s "Potomac River Rapist"

WASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a media campaign on Thursday to capture the "Potomac River Rapist" who allegedly attacked nine women and murdered another during the 1990s in the Washington area.

Shots Fired At Chinese Consulate In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - Gunshots were fired at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles on Thursday by a man identified by a security guard as a protester, and police said a suspect had been taken into custody.

Hunger Up In U.S. Cities, More To Come: Mayors

WASHINGTON - A survey of 29 cities shows hunger has risen in most of them in the last year and is largely expected to increase in 2012 as the United States faces a sluggish economy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors said on Thursday.

Polemical Journalist And Atheist Christopher Hitchens Dead At 62

WASHINGTON - British-born journalist and atheist intellectual Christopher Hitchens, who made the United States his home and backed the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, died on Thursday at the age of 62.

Three Shot At Courthouse In Northern Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS - Three people were shot on Thursday afternoon at a courthouse in a remote corner of northeastern Minnesota, and a suspect has been taken into custody, authorities said.

Accused Army Document Leaker Faces Hearing

WASHINGTON - An Army intelligence analyst suspected in the biggest leak of classified U.S. documents in history makes his first court appearance on Friday accused of multiple charges including aiding the enemy, which could bring life imprisonment.

Wisconsin Debates Law To Speed Mining Permits

MILWAUKEE - A state measure to speed up the regulatory process for iron mines was met on Wednesday with a mix of support for the jobs a planned northern Wisconsin mine could create and concerns about its potential impact.

North Carolina Governor Vetoes Repeal Of Racial Justice Act

- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue on Wednesday vetoed an effort by legislators to gut a two-year-old law that lets death row inmates appeal their sentences on the basis of racial bias.

Uncle Of Severely Obese Ohio Boy Granted Temporary Custody

CLEVELAND - An Ohio judge ruled on Wednesday that a nine-year-old boy removed from his mother's house after his weight topped 200 pounds should be transferred from foster care into the custody of his uncle.

Nearly One In Five U.S. Women Raped In Lifetime: Study

ATLANTA - Nearly 20 percent of women in the United States have been raped at least once and one in four has been severely attacked by an intimate partner, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday.

Sandusky Lawyer Waived Preliminary Hearing To Avoid Bail Hike

PHILADELPHIA - The attorney for former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky said on Wednesday that he waived the right to a preliminary hearing in the child sexual abuse case to stop prosecutors from asking for a bail increase that could send his client back to jail.

Ohio Senate Sets Aside "heartbeat" Abortion Bill

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Senate on Wednesday suspended discussion of a controversial bill that would have banned abortions after the first fetal heartbeat was detected.

Study Finds Death Penalty Use In Decline

- Use of the death penalty has fallen to its lowest level since capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976, according to a report released on Thursday by a nonprofit that tracks death penalty data.

Analysis: Supreme Court Immigration Case A Federal-state Test

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court's promised ruling next year on Arizona's immigration crackdown could turn on how much a state can intrude on federal government enforcement powers.

The "99 Percent" Occupy NY Courtroom, But Not By Choice

NEW YORK - Nearly 200 Occupy Wall Street protesters flooded Manhattan criminal court on Wednesday, summonses in hand, several months after they were arrested during a march across the Brooklyn Bridge to demonstrate against economic inequality.

Manufacturing Can Thrive But Struggles For Respect

BOSTON - On a quiet stretch of the waterfront here, about a mile from Boston's main tourist sites, a Gillette factory hums along 24 hours a day making an unlikely commodity: top-of-the-line razors.

Alleged Sex Abuse Victims Sue Boeheim, Syracuse

NEW YORK - Two men filed suit on Tuesday against Syracuse University and head basketball coach Jim Boeheim for calling them liars when they said an assistant coach sexually abused them for years as children.

U.S. Postal Service Puts 5-month Pause On Closings

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to a five-month moratorium on closures of post offices and processing facilities while lawmakers hammer out legislation to overhaul the cash-strapped mail carrier, a group of U.S. senators said on Tuesday.

Safety Board Proposes Ban On Cell Use While Driving

WASHINGTON - U.S. safety investigators called on Tuesday for a nationwide ban on texting and cell phone use while driving, a prohibition that would include certain applications of hands-free technology becoming more common in new cars.

Police Believe New York Body Is Craigslist Prostitute

NEW YORK - Police on Tuesday said they found a body believed to be that of missing Craigslist prostitute Shannan Gilbert in a marsh on Long Island where she likely got stuck while fleeing a client's home and died.

Man Arrested For Beating Student With A Shoe

CONWAY, Mass - A man was arrested for brutally beating a fellow college student mistakenly suspected of stealing his pair of $200 Nike Foamposite sneakers, police said on Tuesday.

Occupy Baltimore Evicted, Western Ports Normal

BALTIMORE - Police in Baltimore evicted anti-Wall Street protesters on Tuesday and operations returned to normal at West Coast ports a day after a series of marches that disrupted operations at several terminals.

Texas Teens Hospitalized After Being Shot Outside Rural School

EDINBURG, Texas - Two teenage boys were in stable condition in South Texas hospitals on Tuesday after being shot a day earlier in what officials said was a freak hunting accident outside a school.

Analysis: Waiving Hearing Was Sandusky's Best Option: Experts

NEW YORK - When Jerry Sandusky waived his right to confront his accusers at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, the former Penn State football coach passed up a potentially valuable opportunity to bolster his defense.

Sandusky's Unorthodox Lawyer Grabs Spotlight In Abuse Case

BELLEFONTE, Pa - It was expected to be a day when accusers of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky -- listed up to now in court documents only as nameless alleged Victims 1 to 10 -- would tell their stories.

Sandusky Case Heads To Trial After Hearing Waived

BELLEFONTE, Pa - Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on Tuesday abruptly waived his right to a preliminary hearing on child sex abuse charges, meaning his case will go straight to trial.

Lowe's Defends Pulling Ads From Muslim TV Show

NEW YORK - U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Monday defended its decision to pull advertising from reality TV show "All-American Muslim" amid charges the company had given in to bigotry.

Court Strikes Down Wisconsin Political Contribution Law

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court struck down part of a Wisconsin law on Monday limiting individual annual contributions to independent groups that run political ads separate from campaigns.

Judge Blocks Alabama Immigration Rule On Mobile Homes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - A federal judge temporarily blocked a part of Alabama's tough new immigration law on Monday that requires residents to show proof of citizenship when registering mobile homes with the state.

Federal Law Expires On Ball Boy Claims Against Syracuse Coach

NEW YORK - There is no way to prosecute a former Syracuse University coach over sex abuse allegations by two former ball boys because both federal and state statutes of limitation have expired, a state prosecutor said on Monday.

Wounded Ex-Marine Scott Olsen Leads Oakland Port March

OAKLAND - U.S. Marine veteran Scott Olsen, who became a face of the Occupy movement after he was badly wounded in an October demonstration, joined marchers in Oakland on Monday for the first time since he was injured.

Anti-Wall Street Activists March On West Coast Ports

OAKLAND, Calif - Anti-Wall Street activists trying to shut down West Coast ports on Monday managed to close several terminals and scuffled with police, but fell short of mounting the full-scale cargo blockade they had promised.

Supreme Court To Decide Arizona Immigration Law

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday said it will rule for the first time on one of several tough, new state immigration laws, with a decision coming in the middle of the 2012 presidential election campaign.

Sandusky Could Face Accusers At Preliminary Hearing

BELLEFONTE, Pa - Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky could face some of his accusers for the first time on Tuesday at a preliminary hearing on 52 counts of child sexual abuse.

Police Comb New York Marsh After Missing Prostitute's Bag Found

NEW YORK - Police on Monday combed through marshes on Long Island where they recently found the purse of a missing prostitute whose disappearance led them to discover 10 bodies now believed to be victims of a single serial killer.

Military Helicopter Reported Crashed In Washington State

SEATTLE - At least one military helicopter was reported to have crashed, with possible deaths, at a Washington state military base near Tacoma during training exercises, a base spokeswoman said on Monday.

Obama, At Army-Navy Football Game, Praises Troops

LANDOVER, Maryland - President Barack Obama, attending his first Army-Navy football game as commander in chief on Saturday, praised the dedication of the country's armed forces ahead of a week in which he will focus heavily on the end of America's war in Iraq.

Harrisburg Council Decides To Appeal Bankruptcy Ruling: Lawyer

HARRISBURG, Pa - Harrisburg's city council has decided to appeal a federal court judge's decision to deny its entry into municipal bankruptcy court, a lawyer representing the council said.

Dutch Architects Apologize For 9/11 Blast Look-alike Design

SEOUL - A Dutch architectural firm has apologized for its design of twin skyscrapers in central Seoul which resemble the exploding World Trade Center towers in New York and have infuriated families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Pennsylvania Priest Arrested, Accused Of Possessing Child Porn

PITTSBURGH, Pa - A Roman Catholic priest was arrested on charges he viewed child pornography in the rectory of his Pittsburgh-area church, the diocese said on Sunday.

Former Penn State Coach Paterno Breaks Pelvis, Hospitalized

- Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno fractured his pelvis after falling at his home on Saturday and was hospitalized, a source close to major college football's winningest coach said on Sunday.

Undercover Police Spied On Protesters At Occupy LA

LOS ANGELES - Undercover police officers infiltrated Occupy LA's tent city last month to spy on people they suspected of stockpiling human waste and crude weapons for resisting an eventual eviction, police and city government sources said.

Anti-Wall Street Activists Look To Block West Coast Ports

OAKLAND - Anti-Wall Street protesters, hoping to briefly cripple a key supply chain of American commerce and re-energize their movement, plan to attempt to block major West Coast ports on Monday.

Sex Abuse Claims Prompt Look At Youth Sports Culture

BOSTON - Millions of children are lacing up sneakers and skates, donning swimsuits and grabbing rackets to join the ranks of youth sports teams and leagues across the country, often with minimal parental supervision.

Obama Strikes Pious Note At Bieber Holiday Concert

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama struck a pious tone on Sunday at a Christmas concert featuring teen pop star Justin Bieber and other singers that the president attended with his wife and daughters.

Airport Search Complaints Prompt Calls For On-site Advocates

NEW YORK - Two New York politicians urged the Transportation Security Administration on Sunday to provide passenger advocates on site at airport screenings after four elderly women complained of intrusive searches by security agents in recent months.

Judge Rules Colorado Education Law Unconstitutional

DENVER - A Colorado judge ruled on Friday that the state's education law is unconstitutional because it underfunds public schools and fails to provide a "thorough and uniform" education to all students.

Convicted Connecticut Murderer Sentenced To Death

NEW HAVEN - A Connecticut jury handed down a death sentence on Friday to a man convicted of killing a mother and her two daughters in a grisly home invasion that left the girls' father as the sole survivor.

Hollywood Gunman Shot Dead By Policeman From Movie Set

LOS ANGELES - A gunman opened fire on motorists in the heart of Hollywood on Friday, wounding three people before he was shot to death by an off-duty police officer who had been working on a nearby film set.

Police Identify Gunman In Virginia Tech Murder-suicide

BLACKSBURG, Virginia - The man who shot dead a campus police officer at Virginia Tech on Thursday before killing himself was a student at a nearby university who had stolen an SUV at gunpoint the day before, officials said.

Ohio Democrats Hope 2012 Ballot Measure Will Help Obama

CLEVELAND - A referendum issue which Ohio Democrats hope could help President Barack Obama's chances of winning the battleground state will appear on the November 2012 ballot.

Analysis: Sandusky Seems Determined For Trial

WASHINGTON - Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky appears determined to hold out for a trial on explosive child sexual abuse charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life, legal experts said.

47 Arrested After Police Clear Boston Protest Camp

BOSTON - Police cleared an anti-Wall Street tent camp in Boston's financial district early on Saturday morning, arresting 47 people in one of the few remaining major U.S. cities where authorities had not yet evicted demonstrators.

Liberal Portland Mayor Emerges As Occupy Critic

PORTLAND, Ore - Portland Mayor Sam Adams is a self-described strong liberal, but despite sharing the politics of many anti-Wall Street protesters who rocked his city, he has also emerged as one of their harshest critics.

Amateur Athletic Union Probes Abuse Charges Against Ex Leader

NASHVILLE, Tenn - The Amateur Athletic Union, one of the nation's largest youth sports groups, said on Saturday it was "shocked and deeply concerned" about allegations of child sex abuse made against former President Robert W. "Bobby" Dodd.

Obama, At Army-Navy Football Game, Praises Troops

LANDOVER, Maryland - President Barack Obama, attending his first Army-Navy football game as commander in chief on Saturday, praised the dedication of the country's armed forces ahead of a week in which he will focus heavily on the end of America's war in Iraq.

Creditors Challenge Jefferson County Bankruptcy

- Jefferson County, Alabama, has no legal grounds to be in municipal bankruptcy proceedings, the county's creditors argued in a court filing on Friday.

Alabama Promises Revisions To Tough Immigration Law

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Alabama's governor said on Friday he would work to revise the state's tough new immigration law following embarrassing incidents where foreign workers were detained because they were not carrying sufficient identification.

Officer Found Guilty Of Lying About Post-Katrina Shooting

NEW ORLEANS - A jury on Friday convicted one police officer and acquitted another of lying about their role in a civilian's killing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

High Court To Decide Texas Election Maps

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday halted the use of judge-drawn Texas election maps that favor minority candidates and Democrats in 2012 congressional and state legislative elections and agreed to decide the dispute that could have national implications.

Judge Rules Colorado Education Law Unconstitutional

DENVER - A Colorado judge ruled on Friday that the state's education law is unconstitutional because it underfunds public schools and fails to provide a "thorough and uniform" education to all students.

Former Student In Rutgers Suicide Case Rejects No-prison Deal

NEW YORK - A former Rutgers University student accused of bullying his gay roommate, who later killed himself, turned down a plea deal on Friday that would have allowed him to avoid a jail sentence.

Memphis Police Open Sex Abuse Probe Against AAU's Dodd

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Memphis police have opened an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Amateur Athletic Union president Bobby Dodd that date to the 1980s, police said on Friday.

Convicted Connecticut Murderer Sentenced To Death

NEW HAVEN - A Connecticut jury handed down a death sentence on Friday to a man convicted of killing a mother and her two daughters in a grisly home invasion that left the girls' father as the sole survivor.

Hollywood Gunman Shot Dead By Policeman From Movie Set

LOS ANGELES - A gunman opened fire on motorists in the heart of Hollywood on Friday, wounding three people before he was shot to death by an off-duty police officer who had been working on a nearby film set.

Police Identify Gunman In Virginia Tech Murder-suicide

BLACKSBURG, Virginia - The man who shot dead a campus police officer at Virginia Tech on Thursday before killing himself was a student at a nearby university who had stolen an SUV at gunpoint the day before, officials said.

Former Penn State Coach Sandusky Released From Jail

HARRISBURG, Pa - Former Penn State University football coach Jerry Sandusky posted bail and was released from jail on Thursday after being charged with 12 new counts of child sexual abuse, according to court documents.

Wife Of Accused Former Penn State Coach Says He Is Innocent

- The wife of the former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, accused of serial child sexual abuse, said on Thursday she believes the charges against her husband are "absolutely untrue."

NYC Mayor Clashes With Governor On $1 Billion Taxi Plan

NEW YORK - New York City's financial perils have worsened because the state governor is rejecting a bill that would raise $1 billion by selling taxi medallions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Thursday.

Florida A&M President Reprimanded After Hazing Death

ORLANDO, Fla - Florida A&M University's board of trustees publicly reprimanded the school's president on Thursday over his leadership in light of the death of a marching band drum major in an apparent hazing incident.

Prosecutors Want Prison For Barry Bonds

- Baseball home-run king Barry Bonds should spend 15 months in prison due to his conviction on a single criminal count related to an investigation over steroids in sports, U.S. prosecutors argued in a court filing.

Heart Problem Suspected In Oregon Football Player Death

PORTLAND, Ore - A 19-year-old football player at Oregon State University who collapsed while playing basketball died after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia despite having no known heart problems, officials said on Thursday.

Accused Trader Admits Guilt In Insider Case

- A New York stock trader pleaded guilty to participating in an insider trading scheme that relied on inside information from a corporate lawyer at four prominent law firms and spanned over 15 years, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey announced in a press release on Thursday.

Appeals Court Skeptical Of California Gay Marriage Appeal

SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. appeals court appeared skeptical on Thursday toward attempts by California gay marriage opponents to overturn a landmark court decision because the judge overseeing the case did not disclose his own long-term homosexual relationship.

Arizona Senators Concerned Over Sex Crime Probes

PHOENIX - Arizona's two U.S. senators on Thursday expressed concern over media reports accusing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, best known for his crackdown on illegal immigration, of giving short shrift to hundreds of sex-crime investigations.

Two Dead In Virginia Tech University Shooting

BLACKSBURG, Virginia - A gunman ambushed and killed a campus police officer and was later reported to have been found dead on Thursday at Virginia Tech University, the site of one of the worst shooting rampages in U.S. history.

Guards Shoot Some Prisoners To Quell California Riot

SACRAMENTO - Nine prisoners were wounded, some of them shot by guards, during a riot of 50 inmates at a California prison on Wednesday that was eventually quelled, authorities said.

New York Lawmakers Could Reform Child Abuse Laws

ALBANY, New York - New York state lawmakers said the announcement on Wednesday that a former Syracuse University coach will not face sex abuse charges because the statute of limitations had run out could boost efforts to reform state child abuse laws.

Muslim Charity Leaders Lose Appeal In Hamas Case

- A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld the convictions of five leaders of an Islamic charity on charges of funneling money and supplies to Hamas, designated a "terrorist" group following a 1995 executive order by President Bill Clinton.

Girl Shot By Mom In Texas Standoff Made Grim Facebook Post

SAN ANTONIO - Before Monday, Ramie Grimmer's Facebook page read like that of any other 12 year old girl with numerous friends, discussions about skateboarding, text messaging and "my annoying little brother."

New Orleans Police Trial From Hurricane Katrina Nears End

NEW ORLEANS - Jury deliberations may begin on Thursday in the federal perjury trial of two New Orleans police officers accused of lying about the killing of a civilian in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Tourist Helicopter Crashes Near Las Vegas, Killing 5

- A tourist helicopter based in Las Vegas crashed near the Hoover Dam on Wednesday, killing all five people aboard, the National Park Service said.

Ex-Syracuse Coach Not Charged Despite Evidence

SYRACUSE, New York - Former Syracuse University basketball coach Bernie Fine cannot be charged under New York state law for allegedly fondling two ball boys even though investigators believe the accusations to be true, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said on Wednesday.

Ex-Penn State Coach Sandusky Arrested On New Charges

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, already charged with 40 counts of abusing eight boys over 15 years, was arrested at his home on Wednesday and charged with 12 new counts of sexual abuse, Pennsylvania's attorney general said.

Economic Protesters Target Washington Lobbyists

WASHINGTON - Police arrested 62 economic protesters in Washington on Wednesday as they blocked streets and disrupted traffic in an area famous as a center for the offices of lobbyists.

Blagojevich Sentenced To 14 Years For Corruption

CHICAGO - Three years after he was arrested outside his Chicago home on federal corruption charges, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Two New Orleans Officers On Trial For Perjury Linked To Katrina

NEW ORLEANS - Two New Orleans police officers went on trial on Tuesday, accused of lying about the 2005 shotgun death of a civilian killed in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

ACLU Says Will Sue If Ohio Abortion Bills Become Law

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The American Civil Liberties Union said on Tuesday it plans to sue if Ohio state lawmakers pass either of two contentious anti-abortion bills now being considered.

Syracuse Prosecutors To Speak About Sex Abuse Probe

NEW YORK - Prosecutors in Syracuse, New York are expected to make an announcement on Wednesday about the child sex abuse investigation of former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine.

Alpha To Pay $209 Million Over Coal Mine Disaster

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Coal miner Alpha Natural Resources has agreed to pay $1.5 million to each of the families of 29 miners killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia last year.

Barry Bonds Seeks Probation For Criminal Conviction

- Baseball home run king Barry Bonds should receive no jail time for his conviction on a single criminal count related to an investigation of steroids in sports, his attorneys argued in a court filing on Tuesday.

Blagojevich Lawyers Ask For Mercy In Sentencing

CHICAGO - Lawyers for disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich asked a federal judge on Tuesday to show mercy in sentencing him for his federal conviction on multiple corruption counts.

Illinois Study Cites Cost Of High School Dropouts

CHICAGO - High school dropouts on average receive $1,500 a year more from government than they pay in taxes because they are more likely to get benefits or to be in prison, according to a U.S. study released on Wednesday.

Protesters Sit In At Congressional Offices

WASHINGTON - Protesters brought their message about alleged U.S. economic unfairness to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, sitting in or outside several Senate and House offices.

FAA Chief Resigns Over Drunken Driving Charge

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. aviation safety official resigned on Tuesday over a drunken driving charge.

Anti-Wall Street Protesters Turning To Foreclosures

SAN FRANCISCO - Anti-Wall Street protesters, seeking a new focus as cities across the country shut down two-month old Occupy encampments, launched a new wave of activism on Tuesday by rallying around homeowners as they try to resist evictions from foreclosed homes.

NYC Mayor Opposes Raising Taxes On Rich Despite Governor

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Monday spoke out against Governor Andrew Cuomo's expected recommendation for higher taxes on the wealthy.

Amanda Knox Hires Attorney For Possible Book Deal

- Amanda Knox, who was cleared of murder and freed from prison by an Italian court in October, has hired a prominent Washington, D.C.-based lawyer as she considers possible book deals, her spokesman said on Monday.

FAA Chief On Leave Over Drunk Driving Arrest

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. aviation safety official, Randy Babbitt, took an immediate leave of absence on Monday after he was arrested on a drunk driving charge over the weekend, officials said.

Disarmed Grenades Found In Woman's Luggage At Newark Airport

NEW YORK - Authorities at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey discovered five disarmed grenades in the luggage of a woman seeking to board a flight to Belgium, the Transportation Security Administration said on Monday.

MF Global Fallout Delays U.S. Farm Seed, Land Deals

CHICAGO - For the first time in 25 years, Minnesota farmer Dean Tofteland has missed his deadline to buy seed for next spring's corn and soybean crops.

California Governor Launches Tax Ballot Measure

SAN FRANCISCO - - With California once again running short on revenue, Governor Jerry Brown said on Monday he would circumvent the legislature and press a statewide ballot measure to raise the state's sales tax and increase tax rates on the wealthy for five years.

Alpha Natural Reaches Settlement Over Massey Mine Accident: Report

- Alpha Natural Resources has agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a range of civil and criminal penalties linked to the Upper Big Branch accident as well as other liabilities it inherited when it bought Massey Energy in June, the Wall Street Journal said, citing several people familiar with the settlement.

Accuser Of Syracuse Coach To Plead Guilty To Sex Abuse

NEW YORK - A man accusing an ex-Syracuse basketball coach of molesting him as a boy said he himself plans to plead guilty to similar charges of fondling a boy.

Agents Looked For Porn In Search Of Bernie Fine's Properties

NEW YORK - Federal agents searched the home and office of former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine last month for pornographic materials and items detailing his relationships with young boys, court records showed.

U.S. Postal Service Seeks To End Next-day Mail

WASHINGTON - The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service on Monday moved forward with plans to end next-day delivery of letters, postcards and other First Class mail.

First Significant Snow Of Winter To Hit Central U.S.

AUSTIN, Tex - Up to 12 inches of snow was expected to fall in parts of Colorado and New Mexico on Saturday as a storm system moved through the central U.S., bringing what forecasters said would be the first significant snow of the season to the region.

High Winds Leave Thousands Without Power In California

LOS ANGELES - High winds returned to the Los Angeles area early on Saturday as over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power, due to fallen trees and other damage from an ongoing windstorm.

Alabama Gets Black Eye Over Immigration Crackdown

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - America's toughest immigration crackdown was meant to drive illegal workers from Alabama.

Insight: Bare-bones Bikes Help Harley Slay Geezer Glide Image

- For Harley-Davidson, Michael Adams is a godsend.

Pneumonia-stricken Billy Graham Improving, Hospital Says

- Evangelist Billy Graham, who is battling pneumonia for the second time this year, was showing improvement at a North Carolina hospital on Sunday but no date has been set for his discharge, the hospital said.

Post-game Celebration Injures Oklahoma State Fans

OKLAHOMA CITY - Football fans at Oklahoma State University, where several people were injured in a post-game celebration, said on Sunday that an announcement to stay off the field was met with laughter from spectators cheering the victory over the rival University of Oklahoma.

Southern California Braces For More Extreme Wind Storm

LOS ANGELES - Tens of thousands of Southern California residents remained without power on Sunday as officials warned that dangerously high winds would return to the region in the evening.

Penn State Punished In Bowl Sweepstakes After Abuse Scandal

NEW YORK - Major college football postseason bowls spurned Penn State on Sunday because of the recent sex abuse scandal, and the Nittany Lions instead will play in a far less prominent game than its record suggests.

U.S. Power Grid Needs Cybersecurity Protection: Panel

WASHINGTON - The threat of cyberattacks on the U.S. power grid should be dealt with by a single federal agency, not the welter of groups now charged with the electric system's security, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported on Monday.

Second Mile Charity To Freeze Assets Following Lawsuit

STATE COLLEGE, Pa - The Second Mile charity has agreed to freeze its assets to settle a lawsuit filed by a man identified only as Victim 4 in a sexual abuse indictment against a former Penn State football coach, the man's lawyers said on Friday.

Texas Drought Leaves Heartbreaking Toll Of Abandoned Horses

SAN ANTONIO - The yearlong Texas drought is taking a heartbreaking toll on horses and donkeys, thousands of which have been abandoned by owners who can no longer afford the skyrocketing price of the hay needed to feed them.

Penn State's Paterno Never Raised Charges With Sandusky: Report

NEW YORK - Ousted Penn State football coach Joe Paterno never confronted former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky with accusations that Sandusky had molested young boys, even though Paterno had reportedly been told of the incidents, the New York Times said on Saturday.

Missing Son Of Country Singer Mindy McCready Found In Arkansas

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - The missing five-year-old son of country singer Mindy McCready was found hiding in a closet with his mother in Arkansas, Deputy U.S. Marshall David Rahbany said on Saturday.

Suspended Lion Suh Uninjured After Crashing Car Into Tree

PORTLAND, Ore - Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who is serving a two-game suspension after appearing to stomp on a Green Bay Packers player, lost control of his car and crashed into a tree early on Saturday but was not injured, police said.

"Laugh-In" Actor Alan Sues Dies At Age 85

LOS ANGELES - "Laugh-In" actor Alan Sues, who was known for playing outlandish and effeminate characters on television, has died at age 85, a statement on his website said.

McGovern In Stable Condition After South Dakota Fall

- George McGovern, the former U.S. senator from South Dakota and Democratic presidential candidate, was stable, alert and resting comfortably on Saturday in a South Dakota hospital after hitting his head in a fall, the hospital said.

Another Body Possibly Linked To Craigslist Ad Identified

CLEVELAND - A body which may be connected to a phony Craigslist job listing that investigators suspect is behind a deadly crime spree in Ohio was identified on Saturday as 56-year old Ralph H. Geiger.

First Significant Snow Of Winter To Hit Central U.S.

AUSTIN, Tex - Up to 12 inches of snow was expected to fall in parts of Colorado and New Mexico on Saturday as a storm system moved through the central U.S., bringing what forecasters said would be the first significant snow of the season to the region.

High Winds Leave Thousands Without Power In California

LOS ANGELES - High winds returned to the Los Angeles area early on Saturday as over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power, due to fallen trees and other damage from an ongoing windstorm.

Judge Rules Seattle College Can Evict Occupy Protesters

SEATTLE - A judge rejected on Friday a bid by anti-Wall Street activists to block their eviction from a Seattle community college, clearing the way for the city to remove them as early as next week.

Suicide Kit Maker, 93, Pleads Guilty To Tax Offense

SAN DIEGO - A great-grandmother who sold do-it-yourself asphyxiation kits from her home in California pleaded guilty on Friday to a misdemeanor tax-related offense stemming from an investigation of her mail-order business.

George McGovern Hospitalized After Fall In South Dakota

- George McGovern, the longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota who ran as the Democratic Party candidate for president in 1972, was hospitalized on Friday in South Dakota after falling and striking his head.

Oklahoma Judge Bars Eviction Of Occupy Camp, For Now

OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday to block Oklahoma City from forcibly ousting Occupy protesters from a downtown park where they have bought daily permits to stay after hours.

College Student Admits Role In Rhode Island Luxury Car Theft

CONWAY, Mass - A college student admitted his role on Friday in a violent luxury car theft in Rhode Island in which he stuffed a woman into a suitcase and a male classmate into a storage bag, authorities said.

California Homicide Rate Drops 7.8 Percent In 2010

LOS ANGELES - A state government report said on Friday that California's homicide rate fell by 7.8 percent in 2010 to the lowest level since 1966, in-line with a U.S. drop in violent crimes that researchers have attributed in part to better police work.

Pneumonia-stricken Billy Graham Showing Improvement

- Evangelist Billy Graham, who is battling pneumonia for the second time this year, is showing improvement at a North Carolina hospital, his doctor said on Friday.

Syracuse Accuser Links Alleged Sex Abuse To His Own Arrest

SYRACUSE, New York - A man accusing an ex-Syracuse basketball coach of molesting him as a boy said that because of the alleged abuse he never learned sexual boundaries and this may have led to his own arrest on similar charges of fondling a boy.

Second Mile Charity To Freeze Assets Following Lawsuit

STATE COLLEGE, Pa - The Second Mile charity has agreed to freeze its assets to settle a lawsuit filed by a man identified only as Victim 4 in a sexual abuse indictment against a former Penn State football coach, the man's lawyers said on Friday.

Los Angeles Wind Storm Disrupts Flights, Cuts Power

LOS ANGELES - A powerful wind storm with gale-force gusts left much of the Los Angeles area strewn with toppled trees and downed power lines on Thursday, slowing traffic, damaging homes and knocking out electricity to over 350,000 customers.

Icebreaker Sought To Refuel Isolated Nome, Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Coast Guard icebreaker cruising off the coast of Alaska after a research season in the Arctic Ocean should be diverted to clear a path to Nome so fuel can be delivered to that isolated northern city, the state's two U.S. senators said on Thursday.

Four Young Children Dead After Houston-area Shooting

HOUSTON - Three young brothers, ages three to five, and their 2-year-old sister have died after a Wednesday shooting at a Houston-area home that left their mother critically wounded, Bay City police said on Thursday.

As North Dakota Winter Begins, Temporary Housing Not Ready

- Temperatures have dropped to well below freezing and the snow is falling around Minot, North Dakota, where many residents displaced by a massive summer flood still await federal temporary housing.

Security, Amenities Of Anti-Wall Street Camps Lure Homeless

SAN FRANCISCO - Oscar Wesley McKinney doesn't carry a placard, and he doesn't chant slogans. He's not even sure he agrees with the message of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Police Set Up Barricades At Occupy San Francisco Site

SAN FRANCISCO - Police erected barricades on Thursday around a San Francisco park where hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters braced for eviction two days after failing to agree to a city plan for relocating their camp.

Judge Dismisses Non-U.S. Claims Against Toyota

LOS ANGELES - Toyota Motor Corp has won the dismissal of a U.S. lawsuit brought by vehicle owners in 14 other countries who said their Toyotas lost value because of the Japanese automaker's mishandling of alleged unintended acceleration problems.

Evangelist Billy Graham Again Diagnosed With Pneumonia

- Evangelist Billy Graham has been diagnosed with pneumonia for the second time this year, officials at the hospital treating him said on Thursday.

As Recession Took Hold, Families Sought Cash Help

WASHINGTON - The number of families collecting cash welfare benefits rose during the longest and deepest economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression, the U.S. Census said on Thursday.

Obama Raises U.S. Goal On Fighting AIDS

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama vowed to boost U.S. efforts to fight AIDS with a new target of providing treatment to 6 million people worldwide by 2013, up from an earlier goal of 4 million.

Los Angeles Wind Storm Disrupts Flights, Cuts Power

LOS ANGELES - A powerful wind storm with gale-force gusts left much of the Los Angeles area strewn with toppled trees and downed power lines on Thursday, slowing traffic, damaging homes and knocking out electricity to over 350,000 customers.