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.