Court Says Immigrant Food-stamp Cuts Constitutional

- Washington state did not violate the constitutional rights of legal immigrants when it discontinued their food stamp benefits, a federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday.

Pennsylvania Judge Denies Sandusky Request For Trial Delay

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - The judge overseeing former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's child sex abuse case has denied a defense request to postpone the trial by two months, saying a delay should be a matter of last resort.

New York Protest Tries To Kick Off Revival Of Occupy

NEW YORK - About 10 Occupy Wall Street demonstrators were arrested in New York City on Wednesday during protests that failed to pull in big crowds or draw much attention on what organizers had hoped would be a nationwide day of revival for the movement.

Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty For Accused "Alphabet Murders"

SAN RAFAEL, California - Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against "Alphabet Murders" suspect Joseph Naso, a judge said on Wednesday, but the 78-year-old accused serial killer insisted on continuing to act as his own attorney.

American In NYC Bomb Case Indicted

NEW YORK - Jose Pimentel, an American Muslim convert accused of building a pipe bomb, has been formally indicted by a grand jury on terrorism charges, authorities said on Wednesday.

Judge Blocks Arizona Immigration Law's Day Labor Rules

PHOENIX - A federal judge blocked Arizona on Wednesday from enforcing a part of the state's immigration law that prohibits vehicle occupants from stopping traffic to pick up day laborers waiting for work.

Tobacco Health Labels Unconstitutional: Judge

WASHINGTON - A U.S. judge sided with tobacco companies on Wednesday, ruling that regulations requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising violate free-speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Ohio School Shooting Suspect Had Troubled Childhood

CLEVELAND - The teenage gunman suspected in a Monday shooting spree in the cafeteria of an Ohio high school that killed three students had a troubled childhood and at least one offense on his legal record, according to court documents viewed by two sources.

Senate Heads For Showdown Over Contraceptives

WASHINGTON - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate is expected on Thursday to defeat a largely symbolic measure that would exempt employers such as Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities from a controversial White House rule requiring free birth control coverage.

At Least 12 Killed As Tornadoes Strike Midwest

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Powerful storms that spawned tornadoes ripped through the U.S. Midwest on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people, including six in Illinois who were crushed when a house was lifted up and fell on them, authorities said.

Wired World To Be Boon, Bane For Generation Y: Survey

WASHINGTON - There is a good chance young people growing up in today's always-wired world will eventually become bright, nimble decision makers - if they don't wind up intellectual lightweights unable to concentrate long enough to chew over a good book.

Police Demote Arizona Cop Over Obama Image On T-shirt

PHOENIX - An Arizona police sergeant who posted a photo on his Facebook account showing youths with guns posing with an apparently bullet-ridden t-shirt with a picture of President Obama on it has been demoted, authorities said on Tuesday.

Virginia Repeals One-a-month Limit On Handgun Purchases

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia - Virginia repealed a one-per-month limit on handgun purchases on Tuesday, less than five years after a mentally-deranged student used handguns to massacre 32 people at Virginia Tech University in the worst single act of gun violence in U.S. history.

Virginia Senate Passes Ultrasound Law Minus Vaginal Probe

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia - The Virginia state Senate on Tuesday approved a law forcing a woman to have an ultrasound before an abortion but left out a provision harshly criticized by women's rights groups that might have required a more intrusive vaginal probe.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes Off Alabama Coast

MOBILE, Alabama - A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crashed off Alabama's coast in Mobile Bay on Tuesday leaving one crew member injured and three missing, a spokeswoman said.

Some September 11 Dead's Remains Ended In Landfill

WASHINGTON - Partial remains from some people killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001 ended up in a landfill, according to a Pentagon-commissioned report released on Tuesday that revealed previously undisclosed blunders at the U.S. military's main mortuary.

Students In Washington State Town Evacuated Over Threat

SEATTLE - Authorities evacuated some 900 students from a three-school compound in a small town in central Washington state and shut down a highway on Tuesday after a bomb threat was found on a computer at the high school.

Coach Who Yelled "hey" At School Shooter Does Not Feel Like Hero

CHARDON, Ohio - "Hey!" yelled Coach Frank Hall when a student gunman opened fire on classmates in the Chardon, Ohio high school cafeteria on Monday. The startled shooter retreated, with the hulking football coach giving chase, in an act of bravery that may have saved lives.

Suspect Told Police He Killed Randomly In Ohio School

CHARDON, Ohio - A 17-year-old student suspected of a shooting rampage at an Ohio high school that killed three teenagers and wounded two others has confessed to opening fire on students he chose at random, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Long, Divisive White House Fight Is Sapping Republicans

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney's narrow win in Michigan is unlikely to ease lingering doubts about his candidacy or head off the possibility of a long and divisive presidential nominating fight that is damaging Republican chances in November's general election.

Civil Rights Group Accuses Alabama Of Abusing Hispanics

MOBILE, Alabama - A civil rights group that sued the state of Alabama over an immigration law that is considered the toughest in the nation, said on Monday that it had compiled a list of what it called abuses against Hispanics since the law took effect last year.

Rutgers Student In Webcam Case Unfazed

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey - A former Rutgers student on trial for allegedly spying on the homosexual tryst of his roommate who later committed suicide did not have a problem with his roommate's sexuality, according to testimony on Monday by a key witness in the case.

Daughter-in-law Seeks Reward In Capture Of UK Fugitive

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The daughter-in-law who turned in captured British fugitive Edward Maher is trying to claim $158,000 in reward money offered 19 years ago when Maher allegedly stole $1.6 million from an armored van.

Mexico Official Seeks To Reassure Texans On Tourism Safety

SAN ANTONIO - Mexico's tourism chief met with Texas officials in Austin on Monday to head off a potential warning against visiting Mexico during the lucrative Spring Break and summer vacation seasons, a mission complicated by last week's robbery of a tourist bus in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Lone Wolf In California Inspires Conservationist Push

LOS ANGELES - A lone gray wolf known as OR-7 has made California home for only two months, but environmental groups on Monday sought to make it easier for the predator's species to reestablish a foothold in the state after an absence of more than 80 years.

Recreational Marijuana Measure To Be Put To Voters

DENVER - Colorado voters will be asked to decide whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in a November ballot measure, setting up a potential showdown with the federal government over America's most commonly used illicit drug.

Newark Airport Briefly Shut After Emergency Plane

NEW YORK - New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport was briefly closed on Monday after a passenger plane made an emergency landing there because of problems with its nose landing gear, a Port Authority spokesman said.

Stanford Defense Rests Without Calling Stanford

HOUSTON - Texas financier Allen Stanford's attorneys wound up their defense in his criminal fraud trial on Monday without calling Stanford himself to the stand, ending suspense over whether he would testify.

Maryland Governor To Sign Same-sex Marriage Into Law On Thursday

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Maryland's governor plans to sign a bill making same-sex marriage legal later this week, his office said on Monday, while opponents were making plans to challenge the new law at the ballot box.

Classes Canceled In Ohio Community After School Shooting

CHARDON, Ohio - Classes will be canceled again on Tuesday in an Ohio community outside Cleveland, a day after a gunman opened fire in the cafeteria of a high school, killing one student and wounding four others.

Kennedy Hospital Tussle Over Fresh Air For Baby: Lawyer

NEW YORK - Robert F. Kennedy's son was trying to take his newborn baby for fresh air when he got into a confrontation with two hospital nurses that led to misdemeanor charges against him, his attorney said on Saturday.

Lifetime Cost To Run F-35 Fighter: About $1 Trillion

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon estimates that it will still cost about $1 trillion to operate a fleet of 2,443 F-35 fighter jets over the next 50 years, but is continuing to analyze how to drive that staggering sum down, a top U.S. Marine Corps official told Reuters.

Glass Is Still Half Full For Flush American Farmers

WASHINGTON - Brian Roach scrawled a simple outlook for corn prices in a spiral notebook, with a line diving from the upper left hand corner to the lower right.

Goodyear Recalls 41,000 Wrangler Silent Armor Tires

- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co said Saturday it would recall about 41,000 of its Wrangler Silent Armor tires produced in 2009 over concerns that a small number could tear, leading to crashes.

U.S. Gasoline Hits $3.69/gallon On Iran Jitters: Survey

- The average U.S. price of gasoline jumped 18 cents a gallon in the past two weeks due to rising costs of crude oil and related concerns about tensions in the Middle East, although supplies of fuel remained plentiful in most of the country, according to the nationwide Lundberg Survey.

Arkansas GOP Aims For Statehouse Sweep

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - For more than a century, the Democratic Party has dominated Arkansas politics.

Drought-weary Texans Welcome Rains, Wildflowers

SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio resident Janet Garibay is starting the process of bringing her lawn back from the dead.

Biker Gang Fugitive Arrested For Funeral Slaying

- A Hells Angels member missing since October has been arrested on suspicion of gunning down a fellow member of the notorious biker gang at their local chapter president's funeral, police said.

American In NYC Bomb Case Will Likely Face Charges

NEW YORK - Lawyers for an American accused of building a pipe bomb said on Sunday they expected an indictment against him on terrorism and other charges to be unsealed in court this week.

BP Oil Spill Trial Delayed For Settlement Talks

LONDON/NEW ORLEANS - The trial to decide who should pay for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been delayed by a week, to allow BP Plc to try to cut a deal with tens of thousands of businesses and individuals affected by the disaster.

Maine Gets Enough Support For Gay Marriage Referendum

- Proponents of same-sex marriage in Maine have gathered more than enough signatures to ask voters in a November referendum to approve gay nuptials just three years after they banned them.

Prominent Lawyer Sentenced In Baby-selling Scheme

SAN DIEGO - A prominent California adoption lawyer was sentenced to federal prison on Friday for her role in running a baby-selling ring that placed unborn children of surrogate mothers with unrelated parents for up to $100,000 each.

Trial Opens In Rutgers Webcam Kiss Case

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey - Prosecutors on Friday opened the trial of a former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his roommate's homosexual tryst, saying he violated the "dignity and privacy" of his roommate who later committed suicide.

WikiLeaks Suspect Manning Defers Plea, Court-martial Begins

FORT MEADE, Maryland - U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, accused of the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history, deferred a plea in a military court arraignment on Thursday, marking the first step in a court-martial that could land him in prison for life.

2nd New York State Judge Upholds Fracking Ban In Towns

ALBANY, New York - A New York state judge on Friday upheld an upstate community's ban on gas drilling, marking the second victory this week for opponents of the drilling method known as fracking.

Sainthood Campaign Planned For Boys Town Founder

OMAHA, Nebraska - The Omaha Archdiocese is launching a campaign for sainthood for Father Edward J. Flanagan, the Catholic priest who founded Boys Town and whose story was immortalized by an Academy Award-winning movie.

U.S. Oil Shale Boom Puts Big Squeeze On Small Towns

- The suspected kidnapping and murder of a Montana teacher by two men said to be seeking work in the oilfields of North Dakota underscores the darker side of a regional energy boom that has pumped jobs and money as well as newcomers and crime into rural towns.

Minnesota's Controversial Deadly Force Bill Advances

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota bill that could be sent to the governor next week would sharply expand the circumstances under which people can use deadly force when they feel threatened, a measure that law enforcement groups call a recipe for getting away with murder.

Kennedy Hospital Tussle Over Fresh Air For Baby: Lawyer

NEW YORK - Robert F. Kennedy's son was trying to take his newborn baby for fresh air when he got into a confrontation with two hospital nurses that led to misdemeanor charges against him, his attorney said on Saturday.

Goodyear Recalls 41,000 Wrangler Silent Armor Tires

- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co said Saturday it would recall about 41,000 of its Wrangler Silent Armor tires produced in 2009 over concerns that a small number could tear, leading to crashes.

Philadelphia Priest Says Cardinal Ordered Abuse List Shredded

PHILADELPHIA - The highest ranking cleric charged in a Philadelphia child abuse scandal asked a judge on Friday to dismiss his case because his boss - the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua - ordered the shredding of a list he made of predator priests.

Wal-Mart Inks Deal For First L.A. Neighborhood Market

LOS ANGELES - Wal-Mart Stores Inc has signed a deal for its first Neighborhood Market grocery store in Los Angeles, the world's biggest retailer said on Friday.

Second New York Judge Upholds Fracking Ban In Towns

ALBANY, New York - A New York State judge on Friday upheld an upstate community's ban on gas drilling, marking the second victory in the space of a week for opponents of the controversial drilling method known as fracking.

Marines Killed In Copter Training Collision Identified

LOS ANGELES - Three of the seven U.S. Marines killed in the collision of two military helicopters during a training exercise along the California-Arizona border had previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both, the Marine Corps said on Friday.

Militia Leader Told Informant He Would Kill Police

DETROIT - The leader of a Midwestern militia group bragged to an FBI informant in secretly recorded conversations played this week at his federal trial that he would kill police and their families to try to keep other officers from enforcing federal laws.

Second Marine Acquitted In Hazing That Led To Suicide

HONOLULU - The last of three U.S. Marines court-martialed on charges they physically abused and humiliated a fellow Marine who later killed himself was acquitted on Friday of all charges in the case by a military jury.

Maine Gets Enough Support For Gay Marriage Referendum

- Proponents of same-sex marriage in Maine have gathered more than enough signatures to ask voters in a November referendum to approve gay nuptials just three years after they banned them.

Prominent Lawyer Sentenced In Baby-selling Scheme

SAN DIEGO - A prominent California adoption lawyer was sentenced to federal prison on Friday for her role in running a baby-selling ring that placed unborn children of surrogate mothers with unrelated parents for up to $100,000 each.

Trial Opens In Rutgers Webcam Kiss Case

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey - Prosecutors on Friday opened the trial of a former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his roommate's homosexual tryst, saying he violated the "dignity and privacy" of his roommate who later committed suicide.

WikiLeaks Suspect Manning Defers Plea, Court-martial Begins

FORT MEADE, Maryland - U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, accused of the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history, deferred a plea in a military court arraignment on Thursday, marking the first step in a court-martial that could land him in prison for life.

Man Acquitted Of Drowning Wife On Australia Honeymoon

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A judge on Thursday acquitted an Alabama man accused of killing his new wife on a honeymoon scuba dive trip in Australia.

John Edwards' Mistress Settles Suit Involving Sex Tape

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - The videotape purported to show former presidential candidate John Edwards and his mistress having sex will be destroyed as part of a lawsuit settlement approved on Thursday.

States, Catholics Sue Over Contraceptives Rule

WASHINGTON - Seven states, Catholic groups and individuals on Thursday filed the first major lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's new contraceptive regulations, arguing that the policy violated the constitutional rights to religious freedom.

Alaska Officials Release Final Batch Of Palin Emails

ANCHORAGE - Alaska officials on Thursday released the second and final batch of email correspondence from private accounts of Gov. Sarah Palin that she used to conduct state business.

Former Salvadoran Defense Minister Can Be Deported: U.S. Judge

MIAMI - A U.S. immigration judge has ruled that there are sufficient grounds to begin deportation proceedings against a former Salvadoran defense minister for his alleged involvement in torture and extrajudicial killings in the Central American country in the 1980s, a U.S. official confirmed on Thursday.

Evangelical Leaders Call For Immigration Overhaul

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Evangelical Christian leaders took up a bully pulpit on Thursday to call for a "humane" overhaul of the U.S. immigration system in response to tough crackdowns on illegal immigrants enacted by Alabama and other states.

NY Police Defend Surveillance Of Newark Muslims

NEW YORK - The New York Police Department said on Thursday it had not broken any laws by conducting a surveillance operation targeting Muslims in neighboring New Jersey's largest city of Newark.

Seven Marines Killed In Copter Training Collision

PHOENIX - Two U.S. military helicopters collided during a training exercise over the desert along the Arizona-California border, killing all seven Marines aboard, the Marine Corps said on Thursday.

Maryland Gay Marriage Bill Passes, Heads To Governor

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - The Maryland Senate approved on Thursday a same-sex marriage bill that will now be sent to Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has promised to sign the legislation and make the state the eighth in the nation to legalize gay and lesbian nuptials.

WikiLeaks Suspect Manning Defers Plea, Court-martial Begins

FORT MEADE, Maryland - U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, accused of the largest leak of classified documents in U.S. history, deferred a plea in a military court arraignment on Thursday, marking the first step in a court-martial that could land him in prison for life.

Grandmother, Stepmother Charged With Running Girl To Death

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Two Alabama women were accused of murder on Wednesday for allegedly killing a young girl by forcing her to run for three hours without stopping, authorities said.

One-year-old Boy May Have Drowned At Indianapolis Church

INDIANAPOLIS - Police were investigating on Wednesday the possible drowning of a 1-year-old boy in a baptismal pool at a church in Indianapolis where he attended a day care center.

Guantanamo Captive In Plea Deal With U.S. Prosecutors

WASHINGTON - An alleged al Qaeda operative from Maryland held at Guantanamo Bay has entered into a plea agreement with U.S. military prosecutors that calls for him to testify against other detainees, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

Oakland Police Accused Of Shooting Cousin Of Oscar Grant

OAKLAND, California - A man shot and wounded by an Oakland police officer last weekend was a cousin of Oscar Grant, whose shooting death by a Bay Area transit officer sparked violent demonstrations in 2010, his attorney said on Wednesday.

Judge Strikes Down Law Mandating Sale Of Contraception

TACOMA, Washington - A federal judge declared on Wednesday that a Washington state rule requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives against their religious beliefs is unconstitutional.

Ex-lacrosse Player At UVA Convicted Of Murdering

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - A jury on Wednesday found former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V guilty of second-degree murder in the 2010 death of his ex-girlfriend, and recommended he serve 25 years in prison.

Struggling Floridians Line Up For A Chance To Keep Homes

MIAMI - Nearly 1,200 people lined up at a downtown Miami conference center on Wednesday, holding onto mortgage documents and income statements in the hope of saving the homes they are struggling to pay for.

Analysis: Can U.S. Economy Withstand Gasoline Price Curse?

WASHINGTON - Could history repeat itself? That is a question uppermost in the minds of many Americans as they warily watch gasoline prices at the pump rise week after week.

More U.S. Kids Living In High-poverty Areas: Study

WASHINGTON - Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study that shows nearly 8 million children residing in poor areas in 2010.

Virginia Gov. Shifts On Abortion Bill; Revised Measure

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia - Virginia's Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday abruptly shifted his stance on a hotly-contested bill requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound, asking lawmakers to revise the legislation just before a scheduled vote.

Presbyterians Uphold Pastor's Censure For Gay Weddings

SAN FRANCISCO - A sharply divided high court of the U.S. Presbyterian Church on Tuesday upheld the ecclesiastical rebuke levied against a lesbian minister for performing same-sex weddings in California.

Saudi Accused In U.S. Bomb Plot Competent To Stand Trial: Judge

LUBBOCK, Texas - A Saudi student accused of plotting to build and detonate bombs against targets including the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush was declared competent to stand trial on Tuesday by a federal judge.

New York Judge Upholds Fracking Ban In Towns

NEW YORK - In a blow to the oil and gas industry, a judge has ruled small towns in New York have the authority to ban drilling -- including the controversial method known as fracking -- within their borders.

Mother Pushing Stroller In Texas Hit With Bullet From Mexico

EL PASO, Texas - A woman pushing her child in a stroller in downtown El Paso, Texas, was struck by an assault rifle bullet fired from across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Tuesday, mayor John Cook said.

Arizona AG Will Open Investigation Into Embattled Sheriff

- The Arizona Attorney General on Tuesday agreed to investigate accusations by the male lover of a tough-on-immigration sheriff alleging that the lawman threatened to deport him if he made their relationship public.

Pension, Medicaid Changes Sought In Illinois Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will call for cuts to escalating pension and Medicaid costs in his budget address on Wednesday to stop the two programs From devouring more of the cash-strapped state's general funds budget, top officials in his office said on Tuesday.

U.S. Consumer Agency To Examine Bank Overdraft Fees

WASHINGTON - The new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is weighing a crackdown on checking account overdraft fees charged by banks, saying the charges can "inflict serious economic harm" on consumers.

Wisconsin Mayor In Drinking Scandal Loses Recall Vote

SHEBOYGAN, Wis - The mayor of a Wisconsin town whose heavy drinking last summer sparked pressure to step down lost a special election on Tuesday to a former Democratic state representative.

Five Dead In Shooting At Spa In Atlanta Suburb

- Five people were killed in a shooting at a health spa in an Atlanta suburb on Tuesday in what appeared to be a murder-suicide, police said.

Maryland Senate Committee Approves Gay Marriage Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - A Maryland Senate committee approved a gay marriage bill on Tuesday, sending the issue to the full Senate and moving Maryland closer to becoming the eighth state to legalize same-sex nuptials.

Lin Pleads For Consideration For Relatives In Taiwan

NEW YORK - Jeremy Lin, whose meteoric rise from obscurity to dazzling court general for the New York Knicks has become a global story, had a rare favor to ask of the massive media turnout for his team's 104-97 victory over the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Turnout Steady At Komen Charity Race Despite Controversy

El PASO, Texas - The decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut, and later restore, funding for Planned Parenthood did not seem to affect turnout on Sunday for the first Race for the Cure breast cancer fundraiser held since the controversy erupted this month.

Convicted Murderer Dies While On Hunger Strike In California

OAKLAND, California - A 27-year-old convicted murderer has died while on a hunger strike to protest restrictions on access to health, good food, legal services and other amenities in a segregation unit at a California prison, prison officials said on Friday.

Former Kidnap Victim Elizabeth Smart Marries In Hawaii

SALT LAKE CITY - Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at age 14 from her Utah home and held for what she described as "nine months of hell," exchanged vows on Saturday with her boyfriend of the past year at a private wedding in Hawaii, her uncle told Reuters.

Astronaut Glenn Calls Historic Flight "best Day" Of His Life

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Astronaut John Glenn, marking the 50th anniversary on Monday of his historic flight as the first American to orbit the Earth, remembered it as the best day of his life.

Prince Of Monaco In Barroom Brawl In New York

NEW YORK - Some decidedly unprincely behavior at a New York City nightclub over the weekend landed a fist in the face of Prince of Monaco Pierre Casiraghi and sent a local man to court on assault charges, an attorney said on Monday.

In 200-year Tradition, Most Christian Missionaries Are American

SALEM, Massachusetts - At a church on the New England coast 200 years ago, five young men became ordained as Congregational missionaries and set off on cargo ships to India as the first organized group of American missionaries to travel overseas.

Anti-Wall Street Protesters Rally Against Prison Conditions

SAN QUENTIN, California - Hundreds of anti-Wall Street demonstrators and prison reform activists joined forces outside the gates of a prison in San Quentin, California on Monday to protest high incarceration rates and harsh living conditions.

Jury Selection To Begin In Philadelphia Church Abuse Scandal

PHILADELPHIA - A criminal trial in the Philadelphia Catholic Archdiocese pedophilia scandal gets underway on Tuesday, a case likely to be watched closely as one defendant is the first high-ranking U.S. cleric to go to trial in a child sex abuse case.

Four Dead In Washington State Avalanches

SEATTLE - Four people were killed in two separate avalanches near Washington state ski resorts on Sunday, but eight others initially said to be missing were found alive, authorities said.

BP Idles Large Washington State Refinery After Fire

HOUSTON/SEATTLE - BP Plc idled production at its Cherry Point refinery in Washington state on Saturday, a day after a large fire broke out near the core crude oil unit of the third-largest plant on the West Coast.

State's Attorney Appeals Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Ruling

- Vermont's Attorney General appealed on Saturday a federal judge's ruling that had prevented the state from shutting down its only nuclear power plant, escalating a two-year battle over state's rights and atomic energy.

Police Say More Human Remains Found On New York's Long Island

- Police said on Saturday that another skeleton has been found on Long Island near New York City, where investigators have found other human remains in recent years and fear a serial killer may have preyed on victims.

Lacrosse Player Accused Of Murder Admitted Being Out Of Control

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - A former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of murdering his girlfriend wrote a letter to her shortly before she died saying that he could not control his behavior and apologizing for choking her, a prosecution lawyer said on Saturday.

ESPN Apologizes For "offensive" Headline On Jeremy Lin

- Sports network ESPN apologized on Saturday for an anti-Asian slur that appeared with a story about New York Knicks star point guard Jeremy Lin published on one of its websites overnight.

Affidavit: Abducted Montana Teacher Strangled In Cocaine Frenzy

SALMON, Idaho - A man who said the crack cocaine he was smoking "brought the devil out in him" was looking for a woman to abduct and kill before he strangled a school teacher who happened to jog near him in Montana, a prosecutor said in a sworn statement.

Turnout Steady At Komen Charity Race Despite Controversy

El PASO, Texas - The decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut, and later restore, funding for Planned Parenthood did not seem to affect turnout on Sunday for the first Race for the Cure breast cancer fundraiser held since the controversy erupted this month.

Lin Pleads For Consideration For Relatives In Taiwan

NEW YORK - Jeremy Lin, whose meteoric rise from obscurity to dazzling court general for the New York Knicks has become a global story, had a rare favor to ask of the massive media turnout for his team's 104-97 victory over the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Former Kidnap Victim Elizabeth Smart Marries In Hawaii

SALT LAKE CITY - Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at age 14 from her Utah home and held for what she described as "nine months of hell," exchanged vows on Saturday with her boyfriend of the past year at a private wedding in Hawaii, her uncle told Reuters.

Four Dead In Washington State Avalanches

SEATTLE - Four people were killed in two separate avalanches near Washington state ski resorts on Sunday, but eight others initially said to be missing were found alive, authorities said.

Gay Marriage Advances In Maryland, Vetoed In New Jersey

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Maryland's House of Delegates approved by a razor-thin margin a measure on Friday that would allow same-sex couples to marry, putting it on the road to joining six other states where gay and lesbian nuptials are legal.

Convicted Murderer Dies While On Hunger Strike In California

OAKLAND, California - A 27-year-old convicted murderer has died while on a hunger strike to protest restrictions on access to health, good food, legal services and other amenities in a segregation unit at a California prison, prison officials said on Friday.

During Mardi Gras In New Orleans, Everybody Loves A Parade

NEW ORLEANS - The biggest party of the year is still days away, on February 21, but New Orleans is already immersed in the celebration of Mardi Gras, with massive parades rolling every night along several miles of oak-draped St. Charles Avenue.

BP Idles Large Washington State Refinery After Fire

HOUSTON/SEATTLE - BP Plc idled production at its Cherry Point refinery in Washington state on Saturday, a day after a large fire broke out near the core crude oil unit of the third-largest plant on the West Coast.

State's Attorney Appeals Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Ruling

- Vermont's Attorney General appealed on Saturday a federal judge's ruling that had prevented the state from shutting down its only nuclear power plant, escalating a two-year battle over state's rights and atomic energy.

Police Say More Human Remains Found On New York's Long Island

- Police said on Saturday that another skeleton has been found on Long Island near New York City, where investigators have found other human remains in recent years and fear a serial killer may have preyed on victims.

Lacrosse Player Accused Of Murder Admitted Being Out Of Control

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - A former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of murdering his girlfriend wrote a letter to her shortly before she died saying that he could not control his behavior and apologizing for choking her, a prosecution lawyer said on Saturday.

Former Kidnap Victim Elizabeth Smart Marries In Hawaii

SALT LAKE CITY - Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at age 14 from her Utah home and held for what she described as "nine months of hell," exchanged vows on Saturday with her boyfriend of the past year at a private wedding in Hawaii, her uncle told Reuters.

ESPN Apologizes For "offensive" Headline On Jeremy Lin

- Sports network ESPN apologized on Saturday for an anti-Asian slur that appeared with a story about New York Knicks star point guard Jeremy Lin published on one of its websites overnight.

Affidavit: Abducted Montana Teacher Strangled In Cocaine Frenzy

SALMON, Idaho - A man who said the crack cocaine he was smoking "brought the devil out in him" was looking for a woman to abduct and kill before he strangled a school teacher who happened to jog near him in Montana, a prosecutor said in a sworn statement.

Radiation Ruled Out, For Now, As Cause Of Alaska Seal Deaths

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Preliminary tests appear to rule out radiation from Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant as the cause of mysterious deaths and illness that struck scores of Alaska seals last year, federal officials said on Friday.

Crews Extinguish Fire At BP's Cherry Point, Wash., Refinery

SEATTLE/HOUSTON - A large blaze on Friday afternoon shut the only crude distillation unit at BP Plc's 225,000 barrel per day (bpd) Cherry Point refinery, the largest in Washington state, according to sources familiar with refinery operations.

ICE Agent Shot Boss During Performance Discussion

LOS ANGELES - A U.S. immigration agent shot his boss six times during a performance discussion at the agency's offices in a Los Angeles suburb before being shot dead by another colleague, authorities said on Friday.

U.S. Arrests Suspect In Capitol Suicide Attack Plot

WASHINGTON - A Moroccan man was arrested near the U.S. Capitol on Friday wearing a vest he believed was full of al Qaeda-supplied explosives and charged in an attempted suicide bombing of Congress, the Justice Department said.

Wisconsin Governor's Bid For Delay On Recall Signatures

MILWAUKEE - A Wisconsin judge Friday denied Governor Scott Walker extra time to review the estimated one million signatures submitted last month to the state in an effort to recall him.

Three Years On, Investors Attend Stanford Trial

HOUSTON - Defense lawyers made a case for Allen Stanford's innocence on Friday in a courtroom filled with people who said he had stolen millions of dollars of their savings.

Defense Casts Rosier Image In Lacrosse Player's Murder Trial

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va - A day before University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love died, she went to dinner with the ex-boyfriend now accused of killing her and was seen embracing his family members and holding his hand, witnesses testified on Friday.

Whitney Houston's Hometown Remembers Her Fondly

NEWARK, New Jersey - The New Hope Baptist Church, where pop star Whitney Houston first sang and family and friends will gather on Saturday to pay her a final tribute, sits in a hardscrabble corner of Newark, New Jersey. Its well-maintained red-brick facade seems at odds with the dusty parking lot and derelict housing projects around it.

Convicted Murderer Dies While On Hunger Strike In California

OAKLAND, California - A 27-year-old convicted murderer has died while on a hunger strike to protest restrictions on access to health, good food, legal services and other amenities in a segregation unit at a California prison, prison officials said on Friday.

Gay Marriage Advances In Maryland, Vetoed In New Jersey

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Maryland's House of Delegates approved by a razor-thin margin a measure on Friday that would allow same-sex couples to marry, putting it on the road to joining six other states where gay and lesbian nuptials are legal.

New York Times Reporter Anthony Shadid Dies In Syria

- Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony Shadid died on Thursday in Syria of an apparent asthma attack, the newspaper reported.

Tennessee House Votes To Boot Anti-Wall Street Protesters

NASHVILLE, Tenn - Many anti-Wall Street protesters in Nashville began to pack up their tents and leave their Legislative Plaza campground after the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday voted to outlaw living on state property not designated as residential.

Anti-abortion "personhood" Bill Clears Oklahoma Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma lawmakers edged closer toward trying to outlaw abortion on Wednesday by approving "personhood" legislation that gives individual rights to an embryo from the moment of conception.

Madoff Trustee Files Appeals In Bank Suits

- The trustee seeking money for Bernard Madoff's victims filed two appeals on Thursday to reverse judges' rulings that wiped out around $30 billion of his claims against banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co and HSBC Holdings Plc.

Two ICE Federal Agents Shot In California, One Killed

LOS ANGELES - Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were shot on Thursday inside the agency's offices in the Los Angeles suburb of Long Beach and one died at the scene, the agency said.

Nigerian "underwear" Bomber Gets Life In Prison In U.S.

DETROIT - A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Nigerian man to life in prison for trying to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009 with a bomb hidden in his underwear.

Plane Carrying Marijuana Strays Into Obama LA Airspace

LOS ANGELES - A small plane with more than 20 pounds of marijuana strayed into restricted airspace around President Barack Obama's helicopter on Thursday in Los Angeles, prompting U.S. F-16 fighters to rush to intercept it, officials said.

Hall Of Fame Catcher Gary Carter Dead At 57

- Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who led the New York Mets to a World Series and was known as "The Kid" for the exuberance he displayed on the field, died on Thursday after battling brain cancer. He was aged 57.

Rhode Island Public School Agrees To Remove Prayer

CRANSTON, Rhode Island - A Rhode Island school board voted on Thursday to comply with a federal court order to remove a prayer banner that has been displayed in a public high school for nearly a half century, saying the cash-strapped district cannot face a costly appeal.

New Jersey Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill

TRENTON, New Jersey - The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on Thursday, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a possible vice-presidential candidate who has promised a veto.

Serial Killer's Burial Sites Sparks Missing-person Inquiry

STOCKTON, California - California investigators digging up human remains from several burial sites that a convicted serial killer recently drew on maps have heard from the public about more than 60 unsolved missing-person cases, a sheriff's spokesman said on Wednesday.

Church Watchdog Group Posts Delaware Sex Abuse Papers

WILMINGTON, Delaware - A national watchdog group Wednesday began posting on line an estimated 30,000 pages of formerly undisclosed files from the Catholic Diocese here, which went bankrupt to pay damages to victims of sexual abuse.

Florida Executes Man For Woman's 1980 Murder

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Florida executed a 65-year-old man on Wednesday who had spent more than three decades on death row for the murder of a woman he met at a bar.

Four TCU Football Players Arrested For Selling Drugs

FORT WORTH, Texas - Four Texas Christian University football players, including one All-American, were among 17 students arrested Wednesday morning as a result of a six-month investigation into illegal drug dealing on the Fort Worth campus.

New York State Owes Poor Schools $5.5 Billion: Advocates

- Education advocates on Wednesday pushed New York State to increase funding for schools in impoverished areas in the budget for the new fiscal year, saying those schools are owed $5.5 billion under a 2007 court ruling.

Lacrosse Suspect Absent At Time Of Death: Witness

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - Former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V split from his friends briefly about the same time prosecutors say he murdered his ex-girlfriend, according to a friend who testified Wednesday.

California Economy To Slowly Improve In 2012: Study

LOS ANGELES - California's economy, the biggest in the United States and the ninth-largest in the world, will see a slight improvement in 2012 but a recovery in the crucial housing market is at least two years away, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Anti-abortion "personhood" Bill Clears Oklahoma Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma lawmakers edged closer toward trying to outlaw abortion on Wednesday by approving "personhood" legislation that gives individual rights to an embryo from the moment of conception.

Corruption Still Rife In Chicago Years After Al Capone: Study

CHICAGO - The city where gangster Al Capone once kept the mayor on his payroll ranked first in public corruption convictions over the past three decades though the recent pace, perhaps because lessons have been learned or due to earnest prosecutors, researchers said on Wednesday.

Gay Marriage Bills Head Toward Votes In New Jersey, Maryland

- Bills to permit gay marriage in New Jersey and Maryland face key legislative debates and votes on Thursday, highlighting a hot-button issue that is one of several social matters gaining prominence in the election year debate.

U.S. Court Dismisses Puerto Ricans' Suit Over Arms Testing

- Puerto Rican residents lost a bid on Tuesday to force the U.S. government to recognize the health effects on the local population of testing of weapons and experimenting with chemicals on the island of Vieques for decades.

Maryland Advances Gay Marriage Bill On Valentines's Day

- A joint panel of the Maryland legislature approved on Valentines's Day a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, adding to national momentum for gay nuptials following advances in California, New Jersey and Washington state over the last week.

Penn State Spends $3.2 Million On Sex Abuse Scandal

PHILADELPHIA - The Penn State child sex abuse scandal has so far cost the university $3.2 million including the expenses of an investigation, legal and public relations advice, the school said on a new website designed to promote transparency.

Arsenal Found In Home Of "defriending" Murder Suspect

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Authorities investigating a double murder in Tennessee believed to have been sparked by a Facebook "defriending" have discovered an arsenal of handguns in the home of one of the two suspects.

NYC Pension Fund Should Invest More Locally: Official

- New York City's pension funds should boost investment in local transportation, power and communications projects to create badly needed new jobs, the city's Public Advocate Bill de Blasio recommended on Tuesday.

Empire State Building Hosts First Same-sex Weddings

NEW YORK - Lucky couples have been married each year on Valentine Day's on the top of the Empire State Building for nearly two decades but this year for the first time two same sex couples said "I do" at the iconic New York landmark.

Bishops Plan Aggressive Expansion Of Birth-control Battle

- Catholic bishops, energized by a battle over contraception funding, are planning an aggressive campaign to rally Americans against a long list of government measures which they say intrude on religious liberty.

Pekingese Named Malachy Wins Prestigious U.S. Dog Show

NEW YORK - A placid Pekingese trotted to victory on Tuesday at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, beating a Dalmatian, a German Shepherd, a Dachshund and three other canines to become the first of his breed to win the prestigious annual event since 1990.

Strong 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Off Oregon Coast

- A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday roughly 160 miles off the coast of Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

One In 8 U.S. Voter Registrations Faulty: Survey

WASHINGTON - One in eight U.S. voter registrations is invalid or markedly inaccurate, the result of an outdated and inefficient registration system, a Pew Center on the States report said on Tuesday.

Obama Renews Call To End Saturday Mail Delivery

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's proposed 2013 budget repeated a call to allow the U.S. Postal Service to end Saturday mail delivery and tap into a retirement-fund surplus, as lawmakers hash out the details of postal legislation.

Autopsy Can't Rule Out Fall In Lacrosse Player's Death

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va - A medical examiner testified on Monday that a fall could have caused fatal brain trauma for a former University of Virginia lacrosse player, potentially bolstering the defense of the fellow student accused of killing her.

Occupy Protesters Sue New York City Over Pepper Spray Incident

NEW YORK - Two women caught on camera being doused with pepper spray by a New York police officer during an Occupy Wall Street march in September have sued the city, saying it failed to train police officers properly.

U.S. Says Militia Group Prepared For Anti-government

DETROIT - Seven members of a Midwestern militia group accused of plotting to kill police were preparing for war against the United States government, prosecutors told jurors on Monday at the start of a federal trial in Detroit.

Obama Seeks Tax Credit For NY's World Trade Center

- Transportation upgrades for New York's World Trade Center rebuilding would get a $200 million tax credit under President Barack Obama's budget plan proposed on Monday, providing support to finish this aspect of the long-delayed project.

Judge Allows Ex-Penn State Coach Visits With Grandchildren

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - A judge on Monday granted nearly all requests from former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, allowing 11 of his 14 grandchildren to visit him under house arrest and securing a local jury for his child sex abuse trial.

Parents Of Florida Hazing Victim Sue Bus Company

ORLANDO, Fla - The parents of a Florida college drum major killed in an apparent hazing incident sued a company on Monday that owns the bus on which he died, accusing the driver of guiding an injured and sick Robert Champion Jr. back onto the vehicle.

New Jersey Senate Approves Gay Marriage; Veto Looms

TRENTON, New Jersey - New Jersey's Democratic-controlled state Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill on Monday but New Jersey was unlikely to become the eighth state in the country to approve gay marriage as Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto it.

Washington Governor Signs Gay Marriage Law

OLYMPIA, Wash - Washington state became the seventh in the nation to put a law on its books recognizing same-sex marriage on Monday, as opponents of the measure signed by Governor Christine Gregoire vowed to try to prevent it from ever taking effect.

Obama Budget Sets Up Election-year Tax Fight

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called on Monday for new spending to boost growth and higher taxes on the rich, laying out an election-year vision for America in a budget that drew heavy fire from Republicans for failing to curb huge deficits.

Wisconsin Fishermen On Ice As Sturgeon Spear Season Opens

WINNECONNE, Wis - Dan Loftus, on a mission to spear a sturgeon from the ice-choked waters of Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago, dropped a rubber chicken into the frigid emerald abyss and waited.

U.S. Blues Museum Planned For St. Louis Riverfront

ST. LOUIS - A few blocks from the Mississippi River levee where a homeless W.C. Handy composed "St. Louis Blues" more than 100 years ago, the first national blues museum in the United States is taking shape.

Foreign Students Given Unearned Degrees At North Dakota College

- Hundreds of foreign students in a joint degree program at a North Dakota state university were admitted despite lacking credentials and awarded degrees without completing coursework, an audit of the program has showed.

Exonerated Texas Man's Grave Gets Permanent Tribute

FORT WORTH, Texas - The first person in the United States to be exonerated posthumously on the basis of DNA evidence received a lasting tribute in his home state of Texas this week.

Civil Unions Criticized Ahead Of NJ Marriage Vote

NEW YORK - In the fall of 2010, John Grant was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with a shattered skull after being hit by a car in New York City. Grant's partner, Daniel Weiss, arrived at the hospital minutes later, frantic for an update on Grant's condition.

As Xi Visits, China's U.S. Crop Demand a Balm For Tensions

DES MOINES, Iowa - China is half a world away from the 2,300-acre family farm in east-central Iowa where John Weber and his son plant corn and soybeans.

At Fort Bliss, Video Valentines Recorded For Soldiers

EL PASO, Texas - Aamber Alderson's sweetheart - her husband, Staff Sergeant James Alderson - will be thousands of miles away from her on Valentine's Day. So on Friday at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, she recorded a virtual valentine that will be sent to troops in places including Kuwait and Afghanistan, where he is stationed.

Analysis: U.S. Farmers May Fail In Fertilizer Face-off

CHICAGO - Steve Georgi is playing chicken with the world's biggest fertilizer makers.

Wintry Mix Pelts South Central U.S., Icy Temps Chill East

- The south central United States was pelted with a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain that threatened travel on Sunday, while frigid temperatures chilled the East Coast during what has been an unseasonably mild winter, forecasters said.

Exclusive: Mortgage Problems? Turn Your House Into A Billboard

BUENA PARK, California - When they saw the house on El Dorado Drive in this Los Angeles suburb being painted a startling orange and green and giant billboards hung on the outside, Scott and Beth Hostetler's neighbors were initially angry and confused. Some even considered calling the police.

Arizona Authorities Furious Over 215 Mph Bugatti Video

PHOENIX - Arizona police are seeing red over the driver of a Bugatti Veyron luxury car who seems to have given himself the green light to drive over 215 miles per hour on a public freeway.

Uzbek Man Guilty Of Plotting To Kill President Obama

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A man from Uzbekistan living illegally in the United States pleaded guilty on Friday to terrorism and weapons charges involving a plot to kill President Barack Obama.

Fugitive Wanted Over 1993 British Heist Arrested In Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Missouri authorities have arrested a man wanted in the United Kingdom over a 1993 heist from an armored vehicle that netted the equivalent of $1.6 million, and were holding him on a weapons charge.

Wounded Veterans Build New Skills To Keep Serving

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va - Sergeant Michael Kidd considered cyberspace a hobby before he joined the Marines in 2003, but he hopes to make it his new battlefield after suffering debilitating injuries in Iraq.

Virginia School District Ponders Banning Cross-gender Dress

SUFFOLK, Va - A Virginia school district is considering banning cross-gender dressing in a move proponents said aims to protect students from harassment, but which civil liberties and gay rights groups said would amount to an assault on free speech.

Hockey Buffs Forge On In Buffalo Despite Lack Of Ice

BUFFALO, NY - An unusually mild winter in upstate New York forced hundreds of amateur ice hockey players in a yearly pond hockey tournament normally held on Buffalo's inner harbor to hit the pavement on Saturday.

Coroner Rejects Autopsy In Retired Philadelphia Cardinal's Death

PHILADELPHIA - A full autopsy for Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, a key witness in a Catholic Church sex abuse trial who died last month, is unwarranted, the coroner examining the death said on Saturday.

Crowds Of Mourners Remember Boys Killed By Father In Arson

TACOMA, Wash - Over a thousand mourners flocked to a memorial service in Washington state on Saturday for two young boys killed when their father burned their house to the ground with himself and his sons inside.

Obama Shift Seeks To Defuse Birth-control Fight

- President Barack Obama, in an abrupt policy shift aimed at quelling an election-year firestorm, announced on Friday that religious employers would not be required to offer free birth control to workers and the onus would instead be put on insurers.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Under Investigation: Source

NEW ORLEANS - Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the colorful and controversial spokesman for the city after the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005, is under investigation by federal authorities, a source with direct knowledge of the probe said.

Utah Allows Firing Squad Request To Avoid Execution Delay

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah prosecutors have reluctantly allowed a condemned killer to seek execution by firing squad rather than by lethal injection, saying they want to avoid further delays in putting him to death.

In Video, Lacrosse Player's Ex Describes Their Final Fight

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va - A former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing his ex-girlfriend told police that he wrestled with Yeardley Love the night she died but insisted he never hit her, according to an interrogation video shown to jurors on Friday.

Occupy Arrest Reveals New Tactic For Oakland Police

SAN FRANCISCO - Police in Oakland, California, have made their first arrest of an anti-Wall Street protester accused of defying one of about a dozen "stay-away" orders issued to protesters barred by a court from returning to the group's favorite gathering spot.

Columnist, Author Zaslow Dies In Car Crash

DETROIT - Jeffrey Zaslow, co-author of the best-seller "The Last Lecture" and an award-winning Wall Street Journal columnist, was killed on Friday in a car crash in Michigan, the newspaper said.

Phoenix Police Say Iraqi Mom Beat Daughter, Padlocked Her To Bed

PHOENIX - An Iraqi woman has been arrested in Arizona accused of beating her daughter and padlocking her to a bed in outrage after she spoke to a male student at school in violation of the family's traditional values, police said on Friday.

New York Subway Bomb Plotter's Father Sentenced To 4.5 Years

NEW YORK - A Colorado man was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison on Friday for lying to investigators who were racing to stop his son from carrying out a plot to bomb New York City subways in 2009, and for persuading family members to help destroy key evidence of the plan.

Indian Tribe Files $500 Million Suit Against Big Brewers

- A Native American Indian tribe sued leading beer makers seeking $500 million in damages and accusing them of knowingly contributing to "crippling" alcoholism rates on one of the nation's largest reservations in South Dakota.

Arizona Authorities Furious Over 215 Mph Bugatti Video

PHOENIX - Arizona police are seeing red over the driver of a Bugatti Veyron luxury car who seems to have given himself the green light to drive over 215 miles per hour on a public freeway.

Uzbek Man Guilty Of Plotting To Kill President Obama

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A man from Uzbekistan living illegally in the United States pleaded guilty on Friday to terrorism and weapons charges involving a plot to kill President Barack Obama.

Obama Shift Seeks To Defuse Birth-control Fight

- President Barack Obama, in an abrupt policy shift aimed at quelling an election-year firestorm, announced on Friday that religious employers would not be required to offer free birth control to workers and the onus would instead be put on insurers.

Facebook "defriending" Led To Double Murder, Police Say

NASHVILLE, Tenn - A Tennessee couple who "defriended" a woman on Facebook were murdered in their home by the jilted woman's father and another man, police said on Thursday.

U.S. Extends Travel Warning To Mexico Over Violence

- Spreading drug violence, kidnappings and carjackings in Mexico have led the State Department to increase the number of places it says Americans should avoid for safety reasons for the second time in less than a year.

Mississippi Supreme Court Urged To Void Barbour Pardons

JACKSON, Miss - Most of about 200 pardons of convicted felons granted by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour should be voided because they did not follow procedures set out in the state constitution, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood told a state Supreme Court hearing on Thursday.

Eighty Arrested In Drug Bust Called Biggest Ever In Colorado

DENVER - At least 80 people have been arrested in what federal, state and local law enforcement officials on Thursday called the largest drug bust in Colorado history, a sweep that grew out of an investigation of violent bank robberies.

Lawyers Accuse Pennsylvania Judge In Abuse Trial Of Bias

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia judge presiding over a Catholic church sex abuse trial should step down because her comment that there is widespread sexual abuse in the church shows a bias against a Monsignor accused in the case, a lawyer said in a court filing.

Four Wisconsin Republican Lawmakers Challenge Recall Signatures

MADISON, Wis - Four Wisconsin lawmakers targeted for possible recall later this year filed challenges on Thursday to the validity of thousands of signatures gathered to force the special elections, the state's Government Accountability Board said.

NYC Agrees Ex-Marine Is A Man, Ending 5-year Battle

NEW YORK - After a five-year battle with bureaucracy, a former U.S. Marine finally got New York City to admit on Thursday that he is male and agree to reissue the birth certificate that incorrectly stated otherwise.

Frisbee Beach Ban Overblown, Los Angeles Officials Say

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County officials who have been widely mocked since reports surfaced that they had imposed a $1,000 fine for throwing Frisbees and footballs on the beach said on Thursday that the rule change had been badly misunderstood.

Washington State Governor To Sign Gay Marriage Bill On Monday

SEATTLE - Governor Christine Gregoire plans to sign newly passed legislation on Monday to legalize gay marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh with a law on the books to recognize same-sex nuptials, her office said on Thursday.

Biden Says Contraceptives Fight Can Be Worked Out

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday the White House was working to address concerns raised by the Catholic Church over a new rule on contraceptives, and he believed an escalating election-year battle over the issue would be resolved.

Romanian Man Charged With Hacking NASA Computers

LOS ANGELES - A Romanian man accused of hacking into NASA computers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Los Angeles under the online moniker "Iceman" has been indicted on a federal charge, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Sheriff, Facing Abuse Charge, Granted Visits With Son

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, embroiled in a child custody dispute since he was charged with spousal abuse in January, has won a loosening of court-ordered restrictions on contact with his 2-year-old son.

Judge Dismisses Suit Accusing SeaWorld Of Enslaving Whales

- A federal judge on Wednesday threw out an animal rights group's lawsuit accusing SeaWorld of enslaving captive killer whales, ruling that orcas had no standing to seek the same constitutional rights as people.

North Dakota Returns To "Fighting Sioux" Nickname

- The University of North Dakota has resumed use of its "Fighting Sioux" nickname and Indian head logo after supporters filed petitions seeking a statewide vote to resolve a long-standing controversy, the university said on Wednesday.

Teens Learn Robotics As Factories Lack Skilled Workers

MILWAUKEE - At the Escuela Vieau School in downtown Milwaukee, seventh-grader Camila Garcia was building a model wind turbine in a class intended to spark interest in engineering.

New York To Pay $15 Million In Wrongful Loitering Arrests

NEW YORK - New York City has agreed to pay a total of $15 million in compensation to some 22,000 people who were illegally arrested or issued citations over three decades under loitering laws long ago ruled unconstitutional, according to a class-action settlement.

Colorado Student Charged In "glitter Bomb" Of Romney

DENVER - A Colorado student faced misdemeanor charges on Wednesday for flinging glitter toward Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney in an increasingly frequent protest act some commentators say should be subject to prosecution.

Mississippi Executes Murderer Who Claimed To Have Mental Illness

STARKVILLE, Miss - A Mississippi man convicted of murdering two people during convenience store robberies was executed on Wednesday by lethal injection, becoming the first person to be put to death in the state this year, a corrections official said.

Fraught Relationship Preceded Lacrosse Player's Death

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va - Prosecutors in the trial of a former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend said on Wednesday her death was the drunken culmination of a deteriorating relationship.

Gay Marriage Wins Final Legislative Approval In Washington State

OLYMPIA, Wash - A bill to legalize gay marriage in Washington state won final legislative approval on Wednesday in a largely party-line vote that moved the state to the cusp of becoming the seventh in the nation to recognize same-sex nuptials.

NYPD Head's Son Will Not Face Sexual Assault Charges

NEW YORK - The New York District Attorney's Office will not bring sexual assault charges against Greg Kelly, ending a two-week probe of the local television host who is also the son of New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the prosecutor's office said Tuesday.

Astronaut Janice Voss Dies In Arizona

- Former Astronaut Janice E. Voss, one of the few women launched into space, has died of breast cancer in Arizona, her alma mater said on Tuesday.

Florida Prison Privatization Stalls In Legislature

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A proposal to privatize at least 26 prisons in south Florida is facing stiff opposition in the Florida Senate and may not have the votes to pass, the chamber's president and chief backer said on Tuesday.

Arizona Court Keeps Candidate Off Ballot Over English Skills

- Arizona's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a city council candidate with limited English skills could be kept off the ballot in a predominately Spanish-speaking town on the Mexico border, and her lawyers said they lacked resources to appeal.

Komen VP Steps Down After Planned Parenthood Flap

WASHINGTON - A senior executive of breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure resigned on Tuesday, a week after the group became the target of a public furor for cutting funding to women's health organization, Planned Parenthood.

Dozens Sickened At Washington State Cheerleading Competition

SEATTLE - Washington state health officials said on Tuesday they were investigating a possible intestinal illness outbreak that hit hundreds of people at a weekend high school cheerleading competition.

Anonymous Targets Oakland Officials Over Handling Of Occupy

SAN FRANCISCO - The hacker group Anonymous has released personal information of Oakland officials in a leak it said was in retaliation for the city's treatment of Occupy protesters, and officials on Tuesday decried the move as despicable.

Father In Washington State House Blast Left Farewell Message

SEATTLE - Josh Powell, in a farewell voicemail message left for relatives before he triggered a fiery blast that killed himself and his two young sons, said he could not live without them and was "not able to go on anymore," ABC News reported on Tuesday.

Washington State Same-sex Marriage Supporters Cheer Court Ruling

SEATTLE - Gay marriage proponents in the Pacific Northwest cheered a U.S. court ruling on Tuesday that overturned a California ban on same-sex nuptials, in what they saw as boost to their cause a day before a key vote to legalize such unions in Washington state.

California Gay Marriage Ban Overturned, Appeal Planned

SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday found California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional in a case that is likely to lead to a showdown on the issue in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty To Supporting Al-Shabaab

MINNEAPOLIS - A 27-year-old Ohio man pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges of helping raise money for al-Shabaab rebels in Somalia, prosecutors said.

U.S. Judge Allows Enforcement Of Texas Abortion Law

- A U.S. federal judge on Monday allowed the state of Texas to begin enforcing a law requiring abortion providers to show or describe to a woman an ultrasound image of her fetus, but criticized an appeals court that earlier overturned his decision to block parts of the statute.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty In U.S. To Supporting Al Shabaab

MINNEAPOLIS - An Ohio man pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in Minnesota to U.S. charges of helping raise money for al Shabaab rebels in Somalia, prosecutors said.

Cab Driver Admits Giving Cash To Militant Linked To Al Qaeda

CHICAGO - A Chicago cab driver pleaded guilty on Monday to giving hundreds of dollars to a senior Pakistan-based al Qaeda operative implicated in militant plots in South Asia and Europe who was killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in June.

Amanda Knox Appeals Slander Conviction In Italy

- Lawyers for Amanda Knox, who was cleared of murder in October by an Italian court, on Monday asked an appeals court there to overturn her slander conviction as well, a spokesman said.

U.S. Judge Grants More Time For Accused Tucson Shooter

SAN DIEGO - A federal judge has agreed that the man charged with a deadly shooting spree last year that gravely wounded then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has made "measureable progress" in regaining his mental fitness to stand trial.

Haditha Marine's Lawyers Call Anonymous "cowards" After Hack

LOS ANGELES - Lawyers for a U.S. Marine court-martialed for his role in killing Iraqi civilians in Haditha slammed the international hacking collective Anonymous as "cowards" on Monday after they knocked out the firm's website and published internal e-mails on the web.

Obama Nominates Air Force's First Female Four-star General

- President Barack Obama has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Janet Wolfenbarger to become the service's first woman four-star general, military officials said on Monday.

Former Lobbyist Abramoff Balks At Naming Ex-associates

WASHINGTON - Jack Abramoff, the former lobbyist at the center of a U.S. bribery scandal six years ago, said on Monday he does not want to publicly identify former associates because he does not want to see more people hurt.

Kids In Washington Home Blast Suffered Chop Wounds

SEATTLE - The two boys of a man who blew up his Washington state home, killing himself and his sons, suffered chop wounds in their final moments and died of smoke inhalation, a law enforcement official said on Monday.

Police, Some On Horseback, Clear Occupy DC Protesters

WASHINGTON - Police removed protesters as they confiscated bedding and most tents on Saturday from an "Occupy" protest site just blocks from the White House, enforcing a no-camping rule for the public McPherson Square they had ignored for months.

Catholics Urged To Write Congress On Birth Control Rule

CHICAGO - American Catholic clergy called on the faithful to write Congress to protest new birth control rules from President Barack Obama's administration, stepping up a campaign that began a week ago with denunciations from the pulpit at Masses across the country.

Special Report: Bloomberg Reloads In Push For Gun Control

NEW YORK - Among the slick, million-dollar ads for the likes of Pepsi and Honda during the Super Bowl this Sunday, viewers in Washington will see a far more modest spot. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be sitting on a couch touting an issue most politicians avoid like the plague: gun control.

Indianapolis Sheds Naptown Image With Super Party

INDIANAPOLIS - An NFL season that began under a dark cloud was heading towards a brilliant finish as the Super Bowl party raged under sunny skies on Sunday with the New England Patriot and New York Giants preparing for the opening kickoff.

Small Super Bowl Protest For Anti-union Law

INDIANAPOLIS - A small group of about 50 activists marched to Lucas Oil Stadium where the Super Bowl will be played later on Sunday to peacefully protest Indiana's new anti-union "right-to-work" law.

Man Pardoned By Barbour Charged With DUI Weeks Before

STARKVILLE, Miss - Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was not aware that a man who received a pardon in January had been charged with driving while intoxicated for a fourth time just weeks before Barbour granted the pardon, his spokeswoman said on Sunday.

Chrysler's "Halftime" Ad: A Roadmap For America?

LAS VEGAS - Is what is good for Chrysler good for America?

Police Clear DC Occupy Site, Protesters Look To A New Day

WASHINGTON - U.S. police officers cleared tents from an "Occupy" protest site in downtown Washington on Sunday, but demonstrators said even without the camp they would continue to fight for economic equality and other issues.

Goldman's Blankfein Campaigns For Gay Marriage

NEW YORK - Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, one of Wall Street's most powerful figures, has become the first major business leader to join a national media campaign in support of same-sex marriage.

"Intentional" Explosion Kills Husband, Two Sons Of Missing Woman

- An "intentional" house explosion on Sunday near Tacoma, Washington killed the husband and two sons of a Utah woman missing since December 2009, fire department officials said.

Charges Dropped Against U.S. Soldier In Afghan Murder

SEATTLE - The U.S. Army has dismissed all charges against the last of five soldiers to face a court-martial in the slaying of unarmed Afghan civilians, officials from their home base near Tacoma, Washington, said on Friday.

Jury Convicts Indiana Elections Chief

NOBLESVILLE, Ind - An Indiana jury convicted embattled Republican Secretary of State Charlie White in the early hours of Saturday on six out of seven felony charges including perjury, theft and voter fraud.

Second Teacher Arrested Amid L.A. Sex Abuse Probe

LOS ANGELES - Days after the arrest of a school teacher accused of taking bondage-style photos of students with cockroaches on their faces, a second instructor from the same school was arrested on Friday on suspicion of molesting two girls, authorities said.

Major Snowstorm Barrels Down On Central Plains

CHICAGO - A major winter storm that dumped two feet of snow on the Denver area marched eastward on Saturday, buffeting the Central Plains with heavy snowfall and wind gusts of 25 miles per hour.

Arizona Candidate Says English Challenge An Abuse Of Power

SAN LUIS, Arizona - An Arizona city council candidate struck from the ballot over her limited English skills concedes she isn't fluent in the language but called the legal challenge an abuse of power that could keep her from serving a poor border community where most residents speak only Spanish.

Occupy Oakland Night March Largely Peaceful

OAKLAND, California - Over 100 anti-Wall Street protesters marched in Oakland on Saturday night, but avoided any major clashes with police just one week after a similar demonstration ended with over 400 arrests.

Police, Some On Horseback, Clear Occupy DC Protesters

WASHINGTON - Police removed protesters as they confiscated bedding and most tents on Saturday from an "Occupy" protest site just blocks from the White House, enforcing a no-camping rule for the public McPherson Square they had ignored for months.

Parents Urge More Tests As Twitches Spread At New York School

LE ROY, New York - State health officials have added three more names to a growing list of students in this working-class town who are experiencing mysterious tics and twitching, while authorities on Saturday sought to assure parents the community's high school is safe.

Indianapolis Officials Urge Super Bowl Crowds To Play It Safe

- Indianapolis authorities called on Super Bowl celebrants to play it safe on Saturday night at festivities near the city's football stadium, after at least 10 people were injured the previous evening.

Special Report: Bloomberg Reloads In Push For Gun Control

NEW YORK - Among the slick, million-dollar ads for the likes of Pepsi and Honda during the Super Bowl this Sunday, viewers in Washington will see a far more modest spot. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be sitting on a couch touting an issue most politicians avoid like the plague: gun control.

WTC Museum Cost Overrun Baffles NYC Mayor

- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday admitted he could not figure out who owed money to whom in a dispute over paying for the National September 11 Museum.

Jobless Rate At 3-year Low As Payrolls Surge

WASHINGTON - The United States created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to a near three-year low, giving a boost to President Barack Obama.

Author Traces Roots Of U.S. Political Conspiracy Theories

LOS ANGELES - Extremist political conspiracies such as "birthers" and "truthers" may be a dominant theme of post-9/11 America, but in a new book by Arthur Goldwag, he argues that modern conservative groups may be a product of history repeating itself.

Second Teacher Arrested Amid L.A. Sex Abuse Probe

LOS ANGELES - Days after the arrest of a school teacher accused of taking bondage-style photos of students with cockroaches on their faces, a second instructor from the same school was arrested on Friday on suspicion of molesting two girls, authorities said.

Occupy Activists To Protest Right-to-work At Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS - Anti-Wall Street activists said on Friday they will march to protest Indiana's new anti-union "right-to-work" law in downtown Indianapolis this weekend, where the New England Patriots and New York Giants will face off in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

U.S. Army Drops Charges Against Last Soldier In Afghan

SEATTLE - The U.S. Army has dismissed all charges against the last of five soldiers to face a court-martial in the slaying of unarmed Afghan civilians, officials from their home base near Tacoma, Washington, said on Friday.

Mother Of Lisa Irwin Tearfully Denies Role In Her Disappearance

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The mother of missing infant Lisa Irwin on Friday tearfully denounced "insane theories" she had something to do with the girl's disappearance four months ago.

Prosecutor Links Accused California Killer To 2 More Murders

SANTA ANA, California - An Iraq war veteran already charged in the "thrill" killings of four Orange County homeless men has been linked by DNA evidence to the murders of the mother and brother of a high school friend, prosecutors said on Friday.

Alabama Police Shoot Dead Fugitive Cop Killer

MOBILE, Alabama - Authorities shot and killed an escaped inmate Friday who stabbed one Mobile police officer to death and wounded a second after fleeing in a stolen police car.

Komen Reverses Move To Cut Planned Parenthood Funding

WASHINGTON - The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation backed down from its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion and birth control services, following a massive outcry by supporters of the world's largest breast cancer charity.

"Civic Center Slapper" Strikes Again In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - An elusive assailant known as the "Civic Center Slapper" -- or possibly a copycat -- has struck again in Los Angeles, punching a federal prosecutor in the jaw, police said on Thursday.

Blue Dog Democrat Heath Shuler To Retire From Congress

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Democratic U.S. Representative Heath Shuler said on Thursday he would not seek a fourth term representing a North Carolina congressional district that was redrawn to include more Republican voters.

Oakland Hires First Black Woman As U.S. Big-city Fire Chief

OAKLAND, California - In a career spent climbing ladders, Teresa Deloach-Reed of Oakland has grasped a landmark rung by being named to become the first black woman chief of a major metropolitan U.S. fire department.

Roommate-matching Site Does Not Violate Housing Laws, Court

- A roommate-matching website that allows users to hunt for living partners based on gender and sexual orientation does not violate fair-housing laws that ban discrimination, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.

Spirit Airlines Names Fare Hike After Transportation Department

WASHINGTON - Commercial airlines often complain about government rules and at times seek to change them, but Spirit Airlines has created turbulence in Washington in response to a new mandate by naming a $2 fare hike after the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Packer Fans Warned Off Drunk Driving With Super Bowl Blues

MILWAUKEE, Wis - Many Green Bay Packers fans may be driven to drink this weekend as they watch the Super Bowl without their beloved team after its historic season came to an end abruptly three weeks ago.

Judge's Order Could Force Pittsburgh Protesters To Move

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday issued an order that could force the anti-Wall Street protesters in Pittsburgh to leave the Mellon Square property they have inhabited since October.

Gay Marriage Foes To Fight Expected Washington State Law

SEATTLE - As gay couples and their supporters cheered the Washington state Senate's unexpectedly swift and decisive passage of a same-sex marriage bill, opponents were already considering how to take down the anticipated law.

Judge Orders hearing On Accused Tucson Shooter's Competency

PHOENIX - A federal judge ordered a hearing for Monday to discuss giving prison doctors more time to make accused Tucson mass shooter Jared Loughner mentally fit to stand trial, and indicated he was inclined to extend his stay in hospital.

Komen Struggles To Defuse Planned Parenthood Crisis

WASHINGTON - The world's leading breast cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, struggled on Thursday to defuse a growing crisis over its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion and birth control services.

Famed Boxing Trainer Dundee Dies At 90, Guided Ali

LOS ANGELES - Famed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, who helped guide the careers of legendary fighters Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, died at age 90 on Wednesday in Florida.

Alabama Immigration Crackdown Costing State Billions: Study

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - Alabama's crackdown on illegal immigrants, widely seen as the toughest in the United States, could cost the state's economy up to $10.8 billion, according to a new study.

Unpaid Intern Sues Magazine For Minimum Wage, Overtime

NEW YORK - A former intern at Harper's Bazaar is suing the magazine's publisher, Hearst Corporation, saying that her internship violates labor laws because it was unpaid, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in New York on Wednesday.

Court Unseals Indictment Of Native American Gang Members

MINNEAPOLIS - Federal authorities were looking for three members of a Native American gang on Wednesday charged alongside 21 others in a 47-count federal indictment with racketeering and drug offenses.

Mississippi Supreme Court To Decide On Barbour Pardons

STARKVILLE, Miss - The Mississippi Supreme Court said on Wednesday that it will decide whether a lower court has the authority to block pardons issued by former Governor Haley Barbour, including some to convicted murderers.

L.A. Contemporary Artist Mike Kelley Found Dead

LOS ANGELES - Influential contemporary artist Mike Kelley has been found dead at his home in a Los Angeles suburb and authorities said on Wednesday they were investigating his death as a possible suicide.

Washington State Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

OLYMPIA, Wash - The Washington state Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to legalize gay marriage in a highly charged vote that moved the state closer to joining six others and the District of Columbia in recognizing same-sex nuptials.

Group Sues To Halt Artist Christo's Colorado Project

DENVER - A coalition of environmentalists, outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife advocates filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday to block a project by the artist Christo that would drape fabric canopies along a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River in Colorado.

U.S. Missionary Couple Killed In Mexico

MEXICO CITY - A U.S. missionary couple was killed in Mexico's industrial capital city of Monterrey, local and U.S. officials said on Wednesday, in what a personal website called a home invasion.

Indiana Becomes 23rd "right-to-work" State

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana became the 23rd state to pass anti-union "right-to-work" legislation on Wednesday and the first in the nation's manufacturing heartland, dealing a blow to organized labor by allowing workers to opt out of paying union dues.