Occupy San Francisco Activists, For Now, Reject Offer To Leave

SAN FRANCISCO - Anti-Wall Street activists in San Francisco, who hold one of the largest remaining Occupy camps on the West Coast, essentially rejected an offer to trade their compound for a new site even as officials said time was short for a deal.

Four Accused Of Amish Beard-cutting Attacks Ordered Held

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Four men from an Amish splinter group in Ohio facing hate crimes charges over beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish were ordered to remain in custody of U.S. Marshalls, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Agents Charge 20 In New Mexico Meth Ring Bust

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Federal authorities on Wednesday said they had broken up a methamphetamine trafficking ring that supplied large amounts of the illegal drug to towns in southeastern New Mexico.

Texas Man Sentenced To 37 Years For Fire Bombing Church

SAN ANTONIO - A Texas man who prosecutors said wanted to "gain status" with the white supremacist gang The Aryan Brotherhood was sentenced to more than 37 years in prison on Wednesday for fire bombing an African American church in an admitted attempt to murder a parishioner.

Police Take Down Occupy L.A. Camp, Arrest Nearly 300

LOS ANGELES - Police in riot gear and biohazard suits removed anti-Wall Street activists from their camp at Los Angeles City Hall Wednesday, arresting nearly 300 people and fencing off the area.

Honda Worker Caught In New Alabama Immigration Net

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - A second foreign auto worker has been stopped by authorities in Alabama, where the nation's toughest immigration law recently went into effect, officials said on Wednesday.

Billy Graham Hospitalized With Possible Pneumonia

- Billy Graham, one of America's best-known evangelists, is in a North Carolina hospital with possible pneumonia, and is listed in stable condition, officials with the facility said on Wednesday.

Five Shot And Wounded At Texas Home, Suspected Gunman Dead

- A woman and four children were shot and critically wounded on Wednesday in a Texas home, and the suspected killer was dead after apparently shooting himself in the head, police said.

Penn State Officials Say Applications Up Despite Scandal

STATE COLLEGE, Pa - Penn State officials on Wednesday said applications to attend the university that has been rocked by a sex abuse scandal are ahead of last year and reassured students worried about the school's reputation.

New Accuser Is First To Sue Former Penn State Coach

PHILADELPHIA - A new accuser filed the first lawsuit against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on Wednesday, accusing the coach of sexually abusing him "over 100 times" as a child,

Bar Owner Charged With Rape Served Drinks To Minors

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota - A South Dakota bar owner, out on bond for allegedly raping three girls he had gotten drunk in October, served alcohol to 11 minors over the weekend at the same bar, police said on Tuesday.

Hearing For Two Officials In Penn State Abuse Case Delayed

HARRISBURG, Pa - A preliminary hearing for two Penn State officials charged with perjury in connection with the child sex scandal of a former assistant football coach has been postponed, court records showed on Tuesday.

Judge Allows Suit Challenging New York Same-sex Marriage Law

ALBANY, New York - A conservative religious group may proceed with a lawsuit seeking to overturn New York's new law legalizing same-sex marriage, a state judge has ruled.

New York Homeless Policy Change Called "cruel"

NEW YORK - The New York City Council voted on Tuesday to sue Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration over new eligibility requirements for homeless shelters that the council speaker described as "cruel and punitive."

Syracuse Coach Boeheim Not Worried About Losing His Job

SYRACUSE, New York - Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim said on Tuesday he was not worried about losing his job following allegations that his longtime assistant sexually fondled ball boys working with the team.

Philadelphia Protesters Vacate Camp After Police Warnings

PHILADELPHIA - Anti-Wall Street activists in Philadelphia vacated their camp early on Wednesday after police moved in and warned protesters they faced arrest unless they cleared out of their downtown compound, police said.

San Francisco Offers Anti-Wall Street Protesters New Camp Site

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, seeking to lure anti-Wall Street activists from a downtown encampment, offered them an alternate site on Tuesday at a former school 2.5 miles from the current Financial District camp.

California Babysitter Who Advertised Online Charged With Abuse

LOS ANGELES - A teenager who advertised babysitting services over the Internet and was believed to have "conversed" with scores of parents has been jailed on charges of sexually abusing two boys of a Los Angeles-area client, police said on Tuesday.

Michigan Governor Approves State Takeover Of Flint

- Michigan Governor Rick Snyder approved a state takeover of the city of Flint on Tuesday, following a review team's assessment earlier in the month that the city, a former manufacturing hub for the auto industry, is in a financial emergency.

Occupy LA Campers Brace For Imminent Eviction

LOS ANGELES - Throngs of anti-Wall Street protesters braced for eviction on Tuesday night from their encampment outside Los Angeles City Hall, as word spread by broadcast news reports and the Internet that a police raid was imminent.