Toyota casts doubt on account of runaway Prius
Toyota says it has tested the Prius that a California man says sped out of control and everything worked as it should.

Arteries improve after smokers quit, study finds
A new study shows that smokers who quit have healthier arteries a year later and probably will have less risk of heart disease as a result.

Jackson in $200M-plus recording deal
The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Stevens considers retiring from Supreme Court
Justice John Paul Stevens, at 89 the Supreme Court's oldest member, says he will decide in the next month or so whether this term will be his last.

Mexico violence factors in spring break plans
Students at the spring break destination of South Padre Island, Texas, say they're avoiding Mexico.

Obama seeks to reassure seniors on health care
President Barack Obama is trying to reassure seniors that they wouldn't be hurt by the health care legislation that's approaching a final vote in Congress.

19 hurt when Houston transit train, bus collide
Officials say a collision between a transit bus and light-rail train in downtown Houston has sent 19 people to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported.

State of emergency in three Northeast states
The Northeast is taking a pounding for a third day.

Germs may blow the whistle on crooks one day
This sounds like something straight out of a CSI TV episode.

Sandbag delivery begins ahead of floods in Fargo
Police are escorting truck convoys carrying sandbags into the lowest areas of Fargo, N.D. because the Red River is rising rapidly.

Pilots who overshot airport reach deal with FAA
Two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot the Minneapolis airport have agreed not to fight the revocations of their licenses but could fly again.

Leaky valves could delay space shuttle launch
Space shuttle Discovery has some leaky valves that could delay its launch next month.

Today's the day to adjust to the clock change
A psychology professor at New York's Cornell University says it's a good day for a nap.

ESPN's Andrews' stalker sentenced to 27 months
An insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison.

Edwards mistress: We love each other very much
The mistress of former presidential candidate John Edwards says she is helping him live "a life of truth."

Feds urge judge not to delay Blagojevich trial
Federal prosecutors want a judge to turn down ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's request to delay his corruption trial because public interest in the case warrants a speedy resolution.

Pentagon shooter died from head, arm wounds
The medical examiner in Washington, D.C., says an autopsy shows a man who opened fire at the Pentagon nearly two weeks ago died from gunshot wounds to his head and arm.

More charges in alleged child-punching at Walmart
Police in Ohio have brought more charges against a Walmart shopper accused of punching children in the head for kicks.

Census forms arrive in the mail: What to expect
More than 120 million U.S. census forms begin arriving Monday in mailboxes around the country.

FCC set to unveil sweeping national broadband plan
Communications regulators on Tuesday will unveil a sweeping proposal to overhaul U.S. broadband policy. Their aim: to bring affordable, high-speed Internet connections to all Americans and make access much faster for people who already have broadband.

Judge to unseal Yale killing search warrant
A Connecticut judge is planning to unseal parts of a search warrant that could shed more light on the killing of a Yale University graduate student last September.

Woman says doctor gave wrong breast implants
A lawsuit says a Pennsylvania doctor gave an Ohio woman the wrong kind of breast implants after asking her fiance whether to continue with the botched operation.

Dentist pleads guilty to dumping waste in NJ ocean
A Pennsylvania dentist has pleaded guilty to dumping medical waste into the ocean, causing numerous beach closures in New Jersey.

NASA finds shrimp dinner on ice beneath Antarctica
In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.

Four on two motorcycles killed in Fla. collision
Four people on two motorcycles have been killed in western Florida after a pickup truck struck both bikes.

Red River rise has ND, Minn. residents on guard
The Red River is rising — and so is the anxiety level for residents in North Dakota and Minnesota who dealt with record flooding last year.

School soccer player killed at Mass. birthday bash
A high school soccer player has been stabbed to death at a Massachusetts restaurant where more than 200 teens had gathered for a birthday party.

No word from woman freed in alleged plot, mom says
A woman who says she is the mother of an American woman held and later released in Ireland over an alleged plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist says she does not know where her daughter and grandson may be.

Five people hurt in SoCal apartment complex shooting
Authorities say five people were wounded in a shooting at an apartment complex in Southern California.

US cautious on removing nuclear arms from Europe
The U.S. is taking a go-slow approach on one of the touchiest and least discussed national security issues: whether to remove the last remaining Cold War-era U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe.

White House backs down on health bill deals
The White House is backing down from trying to get senators to remove some special deals from the health care bill.

State Department warns of violence threat
The State Department is authorizing U.S. government employees at six U.S. consulates in northern Mexico to send their family members out of the area because of concerns about rising drug-related violence.

FAA directs airlines to check tail flap of 737s
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency airworthiness directive demanding that airlines check a mechanism that controls tail flaps on about 600 Boeing 737s.

Northeast storm leaves half-million without power
More than a half-million customers have lost electricity in the Northeast and 500 passengers on a commuter train have been stranded for hours thanks to a strong storm.

Body of missing Portland woman found
Authorities in Washington state say the body of a missing 24-year-old Portland woman has been found but won't be recovered until after daybreak.

Probe questions runaway Prius story
A memo drafted for a congressional panel says the Toyota Prius involved in a California runaway car incident performed exactly as it is designed to in tests trying to replicate the situation.

Thousands mourn death of SoCal teen
Thousands of teachers, classmates and neighbors have filled a high school football stadium to honor a 17-year-old girl whose body was discovered in a shallow, lakeside grave, allegedly killed by a registered sex offender.

Lesbian sgt. discharged after police tell military
The rule is still "don't ask, don't tell." And Jene Newsome didn't tell. The Air Force sergeant never told anyone in the military she was a lesbian.

Ohio woman says Lexus sped up, caused Ind. crash
An Ohio woman says her Lexus careered through a parking lot and crashed into a light pole in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after its accelerator dropped to the floor.

Former astronauts criticize US moon decision
Two former astronauts say they are disappointed with the U.S. government's decision to cancel NASA's moon landing program.

Jewish, Latino leaders form ties in more cities
More Jewish and Latino leaders are forming coalitions in cities across the U.S. as both groups try to rally around immigration reform.

American arrested in terror plot released
Irish police say an American woman who'd been arrested in an alleged plot to assassinate a Swedish artist has been released without charge.

Appeals court upholds conviction in Miss. killings
A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a reputed Ku Klux Klan member accused in the kidnapping of two black men who were abducted and killed in rural Mississippi in 1964.

Ex-US Secretary of State Kissinger hospitalized
A hospital official says former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is recovering after being hospitalized in the South Korean capital with stomach pains.

Landfill search ends, no sign of missing Ariz. boy
San Antonio police have called off a landfill search after finding no evidence in the disappearance of an eight-month-old Arizona boy.

New Florida case thwarts Calif. molester's release
A convicted child molester remains in a California prison instead of being out on parole thanks to new, last-minute federal charges.

New charge for U.S. missionary leader
The last of 10 American missionaries detained in Haiti on suspicion of kidnapping is facing a new charge.

Texas ed board adopts social studies standards
The Texas State Board of Education has preliminarily adopted new standards that will direct teachers in social studies, history and economics for millions of students for the next decade.

Government knew about New Jersey man before Yemen arrest
A law enforcement official says the U.S. government knew about the New Jersey man charged in Yemen with being a member of al-Qaida, even before Yemeni officials arrested him.

FDA warns some patients cannot process Plavix
Experts don't expect to see genetic testing become standard procedure for patients taking the blood-thinner.

Autopsy finds Washington girl was strangled and stabbed
Authorities say a central Washington high school student whose body was found along the Columbia River four days after she went missing was killed by manual strangulation and a stab wound to the neck.

Man waits months before collecting $200 million prize
For five months, Virginia carpenter Steve Williams lived with a $200 million-dollar secret.

Ohio man found guilty in teens' slayings
An Ohio registered sex offender, whose attorneys told jurors he killed two teenage girls, has been found found guilty of the slayings.

NYC taxi drivers overcharged riders
New York City officials have discovered a widespread scam in which thousands of taxi drivers overcharged passengers by more than $8.3 million.

Insanity defense planned for suspect in Smart case
Attorneys for the man charged in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart are telling a federal judge they plan to present an insanity defense.

Police: Man tells attorney he killed two
It wasn't the kind of call police get very often — a lawyer informing them a man walked into her office and told her he had killed two people the previous day and was turning himself in.

Severe storm damages 28 units at Fla. golf resort
A storm system rumbling across central Florida damaged 28 units at a golf resort, leaving five of the condos uninhabitable.

Unemployment higher among young war veterans
The Labor Department says the unemployment rate for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans was 21.1 percent last year.

Hearing for Pa. boy accused of killing woman
A hearing is under way in Pennsylvania to determine whether a 12-year-old boy can be tried as an adult on charges he killed his father's pregnant fiancee.

Atheist plans to continue challenge to pledge
An atheist who challenged the inclusion of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance says he's going to ask a federal appeals court in San Francisco to rehear the case.

Brake, driver problems cited in fatal Ariz. crash
Authorities say a bus that rolled on an Arizona freeway last week, killing six passengers and injuring 16 others, had problems with its brakes and its drivers.

Hotel owner offers prom for Mississippi students
A hotel owner in New Orleans is offering to host a prom for seniors at a Mississippi high school.

Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC responders
New York's mayor is calling it a "good settlement for everybody."

Obama delays Asia trip to deal with health care
President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Asia next week to focus on his big push on health care.

Former John Edwards aide returning to NC court
A former aide to John Edwards is returning to court just days after a North Carolina judge nearly sent him to jail over his handling of a videotape purportedly showing the two-time presidential candidate in a sexual encounter.

Toyota 'mystified' by runaway Prius case
A Toyota executive says the company is "mystified" by a report that a California man's Prius gas pedal became stuck, causing the car to speed out of control on a California freeway.

Board votes to close Kansas City public schools
Nearly half of the public schools in Kansas City, Missouri will be closing because of financial problems.

Al-Qaida eyeing less complex attacks on U.S.
Officials and counterterrorism experts say the Christmas airline plot and last November's shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, may have shown al-Qaida that smaller-scale attacks can prove just as unsettling as complex and riskier ones.

U.S. Customs says Mexican cartels corrupt border agents
Customs officials say Mexican drug cartels are infiltrating federal law enforcement agencies along the southwest border, and those charged with weeding them out say they don't have the money to catch every corrupt agent.

Indiana man who murdered two executed in Texas
An Indiana man, whose cross-country crime spree with his girlfriend a decade ago ended in a gun battle with police in San Francisco, was executed Thursday in Texas for killing a sheriff's officer.

Tips and IDs follow release of serial killer's photos
California police say they are receiving calls from the public after releasing more than 100 photos apparently taken by convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala in the 1970s.

Two killed on New Jersey train tracks
Two people have been struck and killed by trains in separate accidents in New Jersey.

Tornadoes hit Arkansas
Tornadoes have cut a path through much of Arkansas, injuring four people and destroying a handful of homes.

Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs
For the first time since the 1980s, when Congress last overhauled Social Security, the retirement program is projected to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes.

Vote keeps Everglades restoration deal alive
Florida water managers have approved a contract extension for a bold plan to buy land from the nation's largest cane sugar producer for Everglades restoration.

More ex-players join antitrust suit against NCAA
Former college basketball players spanning many eras have joined a lawsuit filed by ex-UCLA star Ed O'Bannon against the NCAA for profiting from the use of their images without permission.

World War II-era plane crashes at small Arizona airport
Authorities say a World War II-era plane has crashed at a small airport in suburban Phoenix, prompting an evacuation of parts of the airport.

Jet to NC returns to NY airport after hitting bird
A US Airways jet bound for Charlotte, N.C., has made an emergency landing at an upstate New York airport after the pilot reported a bird strike shortly after takeoff.

Highway deaths drop to lowest levels since 1950s
U.S. highway deaths have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1950s.

Police: Va. Tech gets threats in online postings
Virginia Tech police are investigating new threats of another mass shooting at the university in online YouTube postings.

Foreclosures ease, but risk remains
The pace of foreclosures is down, but a new wave could be ahead.

Homes damaged, four injured, in Arkansas tornadoes
Tornadoes have struck parts of Arkansas, injuring four people and destroying a handful of homes.

NY man dies after police use stun gun on him
Police say they're investigating the death of a 44-year-old New York man who died after a sheriff's deputy used a stun gun to subdue him.

NJ man accused of raping, beating five daughters
A New Jersey man with apocalyptic visions is preparing to stand trial on accusations of terrorizing his family, raping his five daughters and impregnating three, beating his children with wooden boards and even moving to avoid child welfare investigators.

Woods crash prompted hundreds of e-mails to patrol
The Florida Highway Patrol was flooded with e-mails criticizing their handling of the investigation of the crash involving golfer Tiger Woods that led to him admitting to extramarital affairs.

Pennsylvania woman accused of recruiting jihadists online
A boyfriend of the American woman charged in a foreign terrorism plot says she never showed any Muslim or other religious leanings.

More notice urged in postal closings
The agency that regulates postal affairs says when the Postal Service wants to close a local office, it should give residents more notice and an increased chance to air their concerns and comments.

Toyota wants the Prius involved in crash
A New York police official says Toyota wants a Prius that was involved in a crash but his department is "not prepared to release it just yet."

Obama continues final push for health care reform
Supporters and opponents of President Barack Obama's plan for overhauling health care are turning up the heat.

D.C. courthouse busy with same-sex applications
Hundreds of couples applied for marriage licenses in Washington during the first week they were available to same-sex couples.

Study suggests too many invasive heart tests given
Researchers said Wednesday that doctors could do a better job of deciding which patients should get an angiogram, a test to look for heart disease.

Photos taken by O.C. serial killer released
Huntington Beach police are asking for the public's help in identifying any potential victims among dozens of young women apparently photographed by Rodney Alcala, convicted in the serial murders of four women and a 12-year-old girl.

School prom off after lesbian's date request
The prom's off at a northern Mississippi school after a lesbian student demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend.

No-fly list nearly doubles since attack
An intelligence official says the government has nearly doubled the number of people on the no-fly list since the attempted Christmas Day attack near Detroit.

Police: No foul play in Haim's death
Los Angeles County police say there's no evidence of foul play in the death of actor Corey Haim.

Unemployment rises in 30 states in January
The government says unemployment rose in 30 states in January, evidence that jobs remain scarce in most regions of the country.

Hikers detained in Iran call home
The families of three U.S. hikers detained in Iran for months say their loved ones have been allowed to call home for the first time.

New national math, English standards drafted
Proposed national educational guidelines would move math and English instruction closer to standards that are uniform and more rigorous.

Robber holds up 11 people, gets $6
They say crime doesn't pay. For one robber in California, it did, but not much.

Seven-year-old calls 911, saves family from attack
A dramatic 911 call reveals a terrified 7-year-old boy begging emergency dispatchers to send police to his California home where three armed robbers were threatening his parents.

David Letterman thanks authorities after shakedown case
David Letterman is thanking authorities for their efforts in prosecuting the former CBS producer who tried to shake him down.

Toyota to probe Prius incident
The California Highway Patrol officer who helped a man stop his runaway Toyota Prius says he could smell the burning brakes.

Guilty plea in Letterman case
A television producer has pleaded guilty to trying to shake down David Letterman over the comic's sexual affairs.

Envelope with powder sent to Montana state office
An envelope containing a suspicious powder burst open Tuesday while being handled by state workers in a Montana government office.

Missing exec's body found in river in New Orleans
Police in New Orleans say the body of a missing Texas oil executive has been pulled from the Mississippi River.

Judge plans to unseal Yale killing search warrant
A judge has ruled that part of a search warrant can be unsealed in the case of an animal research technician charged with killing a Yale University graduate student.

Poll finds Americans want health care bipartisanship
A new poll shows that Americans and their lawmakers are out of sync on health care.

Michelle Obama donates ball gown to Smithsonian
Michelle Obama said Tuesday that she'll always cherish the moment she slipped into her inaugural ball gown, a one-shouldered, white chiffon design she wore for her first Cinderella-like spins on the dance floor as first lady.

Hearing pushed back in California teen murder case
A San Diego judge has postponed the preliminary hearing for a sex offender accused of murdering 17-year-old Chelsea King.

Judge rescinds anti-death penalty ruling
A Texas judge has rescinded his highly criticized ruling that the death penalty is unconstitutional.

Ex-Detroit mayor arraigned on probation violation
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been arraigned on a probation violation and released on a $10,000 personal bond pending another hearing.

Archbishop defends decision on lesbians' children
The archbishop of Denver is defending a Catholic school's decision not to allow two children to continue as students because their parents are a lesbian couple.

Ohio State employee kills co-worker, then self
Ohio State University says an employee shot two co-workers in a campus maintenance building, killing one of them, and then fatally shot himself.

Future of whale that killed trainer still unknown
SeaWorld hasn't decided whether a whale that killed its trainer by dragging her into the water will keep performing.

Job openings up sharply in January to 2.7M
Job openings rose sharply earlier this year, a sign that employers might be preparing to step up hiring.

Vehicle backs into Michigan school; students injured
An official says a vehicle backed through a large window at a suburban Detroit school and into a classroom. More than a dozen young students were injured but none seriously.

Airlines improve on-time performance
U.S. airlines have their best January in four years, when it comes to arriving on time.

Class-action lawsuits could cost Toyota $3B-plus
Toyota owners claiming that massive safety recalls are causing the value of their vehicles to plummet have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits that could cost the Japanese auto giant $3 billion or more, according to an Associated Press review of cases, legal precedent and interviews with experts.

Washington weddings begin for same-sex couples
Forget about June. March is shaping up to be a brisk marriage month in Washington.

Odor leads police to 200 pot plants in LA
Los Angeles police say all they needed to find marijuana growing in a Van Nuys warehouse was a sense of smell.

Agency warns of Web scam targeting Madoff victims
Internet con artists appear to be targeting victims of Bernard Madoff.

John Edwards sex tape dispute back in NC court
Lawyers are returning to court in North Carolina in a dispute over a tape purportedly showing two-time presidential candidate John Edwards in a sexual encounter.

Money key to more space shuttle flights
NASA's space shuttle manager says it wouldn't be hard to add more shuttle flights. The real question is money.

Puff, puff, puff, nicotine rises gradually
Some new research could lead to new ways to help people quit smoking.

Superintendent accidentally fires gun during class
The superintendent of a rural Montana school district says he was showing students his black powder muzzleloader when he accidentally fired the weapon into a classroom wall during a history lesson.

Newark airport breach suspect due in court Tuesday
A graduate student charged with a security breach at a New Jersey airport that led to a terminal shutdown and worldwide flight delays is due back in court.

Manufacturer expands pet food recall
Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella.

Tornado hits Okla.; no injuries reported
Authorities say at least five homes and a barn owned by the county government were destroyed in a tornado in western Oklahoma.

Architect of Chicago's former Sears Tower dies
Bruce J. Graham, the pioneering architect who designed the iconic Chicago skyscraper formerly named the Sears Tower, has died. He was 84.

Police: Man eyed in second teen murder investigation
Police say a registered sex offender is the focus of an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Amber Dubois, whose skeletal remains were discovered in a rugged, remote area north of San Diego.

Officer: DC gunman's expression warned of trouble
A Pentagon police officer who confronted gunman John Patrick Bedell said the look on Bedell's face betrayed his intentions in the moments before the shooting.

Casey Anthony trial set for May 2011
The trial of a Florida mother charged with murdering her two-year-old daughter has been pushed back.

P&G recalls two Pringles flavors
Procter & Gamble Co. has recalled two versions of Pringles chips because of concerns about potential Salmonella exposure.

Accused Ga. killer uses creative legal argument
A Georgia man accused of killing two people is trying to get his murder charges dismissed by using the Census defense.

After setbacks, Obama looks to deal on Gitmo
A senior administration official says the U.S. still hopes to put some Guantanamo Bay detainees on trial in U.S. civilian courts.

Court to rule in military funeral protest case
The Supreme Court is entering an emotionally charged dispute between the grieving father of a Marine who died in Iraq and the anti-gay protesters who picket military funerals with inflammatory messages like "Thank God for dead soldiers."

Colorado asks US to halt medical marijuana raids
Colorado lawmakers trying to regulate marijuana dispensaries are asking the U.S. attorney general to stop raids of medical marijuana operations.

Gunman, two others wounded in Dallas shootout
A father and son are in stable condition at a Dallas hospital after a shooting in a financial office in a high-rise building today.

Obama attacks insurance companies at health reform rally
President Barack Obama is taking aim at insurance companies and congressional Republicans as he tries to rally support for health care reform.

Odierno says U.S. troop withdrawal plan on schedule
The top U.S. general in Iraq says the Iraqi military performed superbly on Sunday's mostly peaceful election day and that President Barack Obama's plan to remove American combat troops from that country by Sept. 1 is proceeding on schedule.

Court to rule in military funeral protest case
The Supreme Court is getting involved in the legal fight over the anti-gay protesters who show up at military funerals with inflammatory messages like "Thank God for dead soldiers."

'The Hurt Locker' wins Academy Award
Iraq War thriller The Hurt Locker has won the best picture Oscar.

Education officials to step up civil rights enforcement
Civil rights in the nation's schools will take on new importance at the federal Department of Education.

Company owner indicted in deadly NYC crane collapse
A crane company owner has been indicted on manslaughter and other charges after one of his 200-foot rigs collapsed and killed two workers in New York City in 2008.

Woman believed oldest in America dies in NH at 114
A New Hampshire woman certified as the oldest person living in the United States has died.

Calif. police: 14-year-old girl's remains found
Authorities in Southern California say the skeletal remains of a 14-year-old girl who disappeared a year ago while walking to school have been found in a remote area of the Pala Indian Reservation.

No bond for pair charged in three Chicago-area deaths
Two men charged in the shooting deaths of three members of a suburban Chicago family have been denied bond.

Officer kills gunman outside Walmart in east Texas
Authorities say a gunman has been killed and an off-duty officer injured in a shootout outside a Walmart store in the east Texas city of Commerce.

Obama congratulates Iraqis on national vote
President Barack Obama praised Iraqis who turned out to vote in national elections Sunday despite "acts of violence" to discourage participation.

Database can crack missing person cases, if used
A new public database promises to crack some of the nation's 100,000 missing persons cases, but only a fraction of law enforcement agencies are using it.

Judge orders bus firm to stop interstate service
A federal judge has ordered a bus company involved in a crash that killed six people in Arizona to cease interstate operations.

Gas prices up 9.58 cents nationwide over two weeks
The average price of regular gasoline in the United States is up 9.58 cents over a two-week period to $2.73.

Obama sets conference on future of space program
President Barack Obama plans to host a conference in Florida next month on his administration's approach to the next step in space exploration.

'Avatar,' 'Hurt Locker' lead expanded Oscar parade
Oscar voters are expected to go very big or very small on their best-picture winner at Sunday's Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Police: Eight teens shot while leaving Indiana concert
Authorities say eight teenage boys were shot while leaving a Gary, Ind., skating rink where they were attending a concert.

American al-Qaida spokesman lauds Fort Hood killer
Al-Qaida's American-born spokesman has called on Muslims serving in the U.S. armed forces to emulate the Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood.

Military: US troop withdrawal in Iraq on track
The military says it's on track to decrease troop numbers in Iraq as planned in the months after today's elections.

Fire kills five in Ala. mobile home
Authorities are saying five people, including three children, have been killed in a mobile home fire in central Alabama.

E-mail compares first lady to Tarzan's Cheeta
The CEO of Tennessee's hospitality association is apologizing for sending an e-mail to a group of public figures that compares first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.

Lawyers ask judge to toss statement about Pa. fire
Attorneys for a man accused of setting a fire that killed an elderly woman in an arson-plagued Pennsylvania town are asking a judge to toss out a videotaped statement he made.

Danny Glover asking Hollywood to shun Hugo Boss
Actor Danny Glover is calling on Oscar nominees and others in the film industry to not wear Hugo Boss suits to the Sunday event.

Feds look at worker fatigue in Conn. blast
A federal agency investigating a power plant explosion in Connecticut that killed six workers last month says some workers were putting in long hours and they're looking into whether fatigue played a role.

Gas odor leads to prescription drug bust in NJ
Police investigating the source of a gas odor at a northern New Jersey home instead found thousands of pills and other prescription medications worth $5 million.

Girl killed after wandering onto Minn. freeway
The Minnesota State Patrol says a 6-year-old girl wandered into freeway traffic near Minneapolis, where she was struck and killed by an SUV.

911 call reveals Mich. girl's pleas to help mother
An 8-year-old girl's desperate pleas for her shot and dying mother can be heard in a Detroit 911 recording.

Woman bitten by bear at Wis. zoo, fingers severed
Police say a bear bit off a woman's fingers at a Wisconsin zoo after she ignored barriers and warning signs to try to feed the animal.

Police to investigate complaint from Muslim group
Police in Henderson, Nev., say they'll be looking into a complaint from the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group.

Police resume search for missing SoCal teen
Police in Escondido have resumed a search for missing teen Amber Dubois after a woman reported her children found what looked like human hair in a park.

Upper Midwest braces for severe spring flooding
Warnings from the National Weather Service have prompted people in the Upper Midwest to begin early preparations for what could be severe spring floods.

Missionaries get another weekend in Haiti jail
A judge did not publicly explain the delay in releasing Idaho residents Laura Silsby and Charisa Coulter.

GM to reinstate 600 dealerships slated to be cut
General Motors Co. says it will reinstate about 600 dealerships that were slated to be cut from the automaker's network.

FDA should strengthen ingredient oversight
Congressional investigators say the Food and Drug Administration should pay more attention to the safety of some food ingredients, including one involved in a widespread recall this week.

Witness heard 'pop' as Pentagon shooting began
A witness to a shooting outside the Pentagon says he heard a "pop" and hit the ground as a gunman exchanged fire with guards.

No injuries after worker fires shotgun into office
Police say a state Department of Workforce Development auditor who had just received a poor job review shot at co-workers at an agency office in the northwest Indiana city of Portage.

Pa. school tech workers on leave amid webcam probe
Two information-technology employees of a suburban Philadelphia school district that secretly activated webcams on school-issued laptops are on paid leave amid an FBI probe.

Trial in NY decapitation killing now likely Sept.
The founder of an Islam-oriented television station who's accused of beheading his wife will likely be tried in September after a change of lawyers added to delays.

Judge says death penalty unconstitutional
A judge in the Texas county that sends more inmates to death row than any other in the nation is answering a torrent of high-profile criticism after he declared the death penalty unconstitutional.

Six people killed in bus crash near Phoenix
Officials say six people were killed and nine of the 16 injured in a bus accident south of Phoenix are in critical condition.

Ex-Detroit mayor loses appeal over restitution
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has failed to persuade a Michigan appeals court to overturn a decision requiring special restitution payments to the city.

House panel wants more Toyota acceleration details
Toyota says it will cooperate with a House committee's request for more records on safety issues that have led to the automaker's recent massive recalls.

Donations from Americans for Haiti top $1 billion
Experts who track charitable giving say donations from Americans for earthquake relief in Haiti have passed the $1 billion mark.

Teacher accused of sending nude photo to teen
A New Hampshire high school English teacher is facing a charge she sent a 15-year-old male student nude photos of herself that were then circulated around the school.

Principal apologizes for choice of black heroes
The principal of a South Los Angeles elementary school has apologized after some children carried photos of O.J. Simpson, RuPaul and Dennis Rodman in a parade celebrating Black History Month.

15 injured in pileup on foggy Wisconsin road
Fifteen people have been injured in a pileup involving nearly 40 vehicles on a foggy Wisconsin highway.

Obama calls jobs report better than expected
President Barack Obama says the new jobs report "is actually better than expected."

Mrs. Obama to donate inaugural gown to Smithsonian
The one-shoulder, white chiffon gown first lady Michelle Obama wore to the inaugural balls is going on display.

US upgrading airline security with more scanners
The Transportation Security Administration is fielding a second, more widespread wave of full-body scanners at U.S. airports.

White House considering military trials for 9/11 suspects
There could be a reversal in the works on the handling of the 9/11 terror case.

Police: $800 robbery preceded Wis. slayings, fire
Two felons are charged with homicide and arson in the deaths of two women and two children in a case that allegedly began with an $800 robbery.

Pentagon police: gunman showed no emotion
The Pentagon police chief says a California man killed in a shootout with police was "very cool" as he walked up to the military headquarters' subway entrance.

Rowdy protests target funding cuts at US campuses
More than 150 people have been jailed in Oakland, Calif. for forcing a downtown freeway to close.

Army chief sees 'anxiety' on lifting ban on gays
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey says he sees anxiety in the armed forces over how possible changes in the law that bans openly gay servicemen and women would be implemented.

Ingredient used in many processed foods recalled
The FDA is recalling a flavoring ingredient used in hundreds of processed foods because it may contain salmonella.

Police probe handling of suspect in girl's killing
Police in California have launched an internal inquiry into a detective's handling of the investigation into the killing of an eight-year-old girl whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase.

911 calls released in SeaWorld trainer death
Officials have released recordings of the 911 calls made after a SeaWorld Orlando trainer was pulled into water by a killer whale last week.

More drivers file complaints after Toyota fix
More Toyota drivers say their cars have sped up by themselves even after being fixed to correct the problem.

Colorado marijuana bill up for vote
Medical marijuana activists are fighting a proposal to regulate Colorado's medical marijuana dispensaries.

Marine pleads not guilty to arranging rape online
A California Marine accused of using Craigslist to arrange the rape of an ex-girlfriend in Wyoming has pleaded not guilty to five felonies.

UW-Milwaukee protesters detained after scuffles
A spokesman for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee says at least 16 people have been detained by campus and city police following a tuition protest that turned violent.

Jobless claims drop after rising for two weeks
New claims for jobless benefits fell last week in a sign that layoffs may be easing as the economy slowly recovers.

Imam to face judge in NYC terrorism plot case
An imam is facing a judge on charges that he lied to FBI agents investigating a foiled suicide bomb plot against New York City.

Commander says Marines to stay in Marjah for now
A U.S. Marine commander says there are no immediate plans to pull back the 4,000 Marines and Afghan troops in the Afghan town of Marjah until the local government has a chance to get up and running.

Chelsea King suspect investigated for other crimes
The convicted sex offender charged in San Diego with killing Chelsea King is under investigation in last year's disappearance of a 14-year-old girl and an attack on another teen.

Controller complacency could jeopardize air safety
For the third time in seven months, the judgment of those who operate the nation's air traffic control system has been called into question and raised concerns that the system may not be as safe as officials claim.

Government slow to force safer designs for window blinds
Shopping for her nursery, Kelly Horvath bought a new window shade because its label advertised its child safety features. She later found her 16-month-old son dead in his crib, the shade's cord wrapped around his neck, another young victim of what U.S. government records show are some of the deadliest recalled consumer products.

No is no: More men file sexual harassment claims
From 1990 to 2009, the percentage of sexual harassment claims filed by men has doubled from 8 percent to 16 percent of all claims, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Arizona man to be sentenced in terror-funding case
An Arizona man who admitted lying to the FBI as they investigated a Muslim charity group that raised funds to aid the terrorist group Hamas is set to be sentenced in Phoenix on Thursday.

Joint Chiefs chair says 'readjustment' brings victory
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says victory in Iraq and Afghanistan won't come in one glorious battle.

Explosive device goes off inside Detroit school, no injuries
Authorities say a homemade bomb was detonated in the hallway of a Detroit school and that a student has been taken into custody.

Audio indicates kid directed planes at NY airport
The Federal Aviation Administration says it's "not acceptable." And the union representing air traffic controllers agrees.

Gov't still hearing complaints about fixed Toyotas
The Transportation Department is hearing from some Toyota owners who say they're still having trouble with unintended acceleration after their recalled cars were repaired.

Janitor pleads not guilty to killing priest
A janitor has pleaded not guilty to fatally stabbing a popular Roman Catholic priest in New Jersey.

Detained missionary expects to leave Haiti soon
The last two Idaho missionaries jailed at a Haitian police station expect to head home soon.

FDA cracks down on misleading food labeling
The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on baby food manufacturers and other companies for misleading nutrition labeling on their products, the beginning of a larger effort to set stricter standards for the labels.

Space shuttle Discovery transported to launch pad
Space shuttle Discovery is at its launch pad for an Easter Monday flight to the International Space Station.

Scientists wowed by Mars orbiter performance
Scientists are impressed with the flood of data beamed back by NASA's most advanced Mars orbiter.

Senate rejects Social Security bonus payment
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal by President Barack Obama to give people on Social Security a $250 bonus check.

PBS host calls meeting to urge black agenda
Two months after ending his annual State of the Black Union conference, Tavis Smiley is gathering African-American advocates to press the case for a "black agenda."

Captain Sully retiring from US Airways
The pilot who landed a US Airways plane safely on the Hudson River last January said Wednesday he is retiring after 30 years and plans to spend some of his time pressing for more flight safety.

NC congressman wants Ronald Reagan put on $50 bill
A U.S. congressman from North Carolina wants the $50 bill redrawn to feature the face of former President Ronald Reagan.

Toyota hearings may lead to new auto safety rules
After skewering top Toyota executives in three congressional hearings, lawmakers and federal safety officials will now decide if the auto industry needs new regulations to ensure that the company's huge safety recalls aren't repeated.

Couples line up for same-sex marriage licenses
There's a rush for marriage licenses in the nation's capital on the first day same-sex unions are legal.

Sex offender to be charged in Chelsea King case
Prosecutors say criminal charges will be filed against a convicted sex offender suspected of murdering a 17-year-old San Diego County girl.

Three kids die, two critically injured in Detroit fire
Authorities say three children are dead after a house fire in Detroit. Four children managed to escape out the window, but two suffered critical injuries.

LAPD removes Kennedy death items from display
The Los Angeles Police Department has apologized to the family of Robert F. Kennedy for exhibiting the shirt, tie and jacket the senator wore when he was assassinated in 1968.

GOP dismisses military study on gays as biased
Some Republicans are dismissing a planned nine-month Pentagon study on gays in the military as biased because it assumes Congress will eventually repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Senate votes to extend jobless benefits
The Senate has approved extended unemployment benefits and stopgap highway finding that had been held up by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning.

Recalls to fix Nissan brake pedals and gas gauges
Nissan Motor Co. says it will recall about 260,000 pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans in the U.S. to fix problems with brake pedals and fuel gauges.

Haiti judge not ready to release U.S. missionaries
Two Americans still jailed on kidnapping charges in Haiti will have to wait for their freedom.

Postal Service's emerging model: Never on Saturday
The U.S. Postal Service is increasing the pressure for dropping Saturday home delivery as it seeks to fend off massive financial losses.

Official says body of missing San Diego teen found
The San Diego County sheriff says a body found in a shallow grave is believed to be that of a teen who disappeared last week.

Ex-Cherokee chief Mankiller diagnosed with cancer
The husband of former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller says his wife has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Court refuses to stop D.C. gay marriage law
The Supreme Court has refused to stop the District of Columbia's gay marriage law.

Arizona may criminalize presence of illegal immigrants
Arizona could become the only state to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants through an expansion of its trespassing law under a bill likely to pass this year.

Two employees killed in New Mexico oil refinery fire
Authorities say two employees at an oil refinery in southeast New Mexico are dead and two others are critically injured after a storage tank exploded into flames.

Man wounds grocery cashier then kills self
Police say a man shot and wounded a cashier at a crowded Florida supermarket and then fatally shot himself in the parking lot.

Gov't eyes brake safety measures for all new cars
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said his agency may recommend that all new vehicles come equipped with brakes that can override the gas pedal.

Appeals court refuses to rehear Moussaoui's case
A federal appeals court has denied a rehearing for convicted Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.

Smithsonian refuses OJ Simpson Suit
The Smithsonian Institution has rejected a donation of the suit O.J. Simpson wore when he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend.

Woods back from therapy
Tiger Woods is back at home after a week of family counseling in Arizona and is trying to get back into a routine that includes golf and fitness, according to a person with knowledge of his schedule.

Chile earthquake may have shortened Earth's day
Earth's days may have gotten a little bit shorter since the earthquake in Chile. But don't feel bad if you haven't noticed.

High court looks at reach of Second Amendment
The right to bear arms is back before the Supreme Court. This time the focus is on handgun bans in Chicago and one of its suburbs.

Alcohol, pot use up among teenagers
After a decade of decline, a new report says teenage use of alcohol and marijuana is on the rise again.

Hello again to Jay Leno, back as 'Tonight' host
Jay Leno is comparing his last nine months to Dorothy's wild dream in The Wizard of Oz.

Ohio woman gets married, has baby on same day
An Ohio woman taken to a maternity ward in her wedding dress became a newlywed and a new mom on the same day.

GM to recall 1.3M compacts for steering problem
General Motors says it is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail.

Five arrests in connection with Wis. slayings, fire
Police say five people have been arrested in connection with the slayings of a mother and two children whose bodies were found after an intentional fire at their Milwaukee duplex.

NY lawsuits seek damages from Iran for terror acts
Families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and a 1983 bombing of U.S. Marines in Lebanon are seeking to hold Iran accountable in separate legal actions.

DC gay marriage opponents appeal to high court
Opponents of gay marriage are asking the Supreme Court to put a hold on the District of Columbia's new law allowing same-sex couples to wed.

ACORN workers cleared in NYC prostitute video
A New York prosecutor's office says it has found no criminal wrongdoing on the part of three ACORN employees caught on video advising a couple posing as a prostitute and her boyfriend.

Social media helped with Hawaii tsunami evacuation
Tweets and other forms of social networking helped create a relatively smooth evacuation of as many as 50,000 people on Oahu as a tsunami raced toward Hawaii.

Hazmat crews called to Utah IRS building
Hazardous materials crews have been called to an Internal Revenue Service building in Ogden, Utah.

Payback formula for Bernard Madoff victims upheld
A New York bankruptcy judge has rejected a legal challenge by Bernard Madoff's victims over how they should be compensated.

Suspect in Elizabeth Smart case deemed competent
Eight years after Elizabeth Smart was taken from the bedroom of her family's Utah home, the man accused in the kidnapping has been cleared for trial.

Fort Hood suspect moving from hospital to jail
An attorney says the Army psychiatrist charged in the worst mass shooting on a U.S. military base will soon be moved to a county jail near Fort Hood after four months in a military hospital.

Obama seeks money, interventions to stem dropouts
President Barack Obama has announced a set of incentives aimed at improving schools and reducing dropout rates.

Four charged with hacking into concert ticket sites
Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say four California men made more than $25 million reselling tickets to concerts and sporting events they acquired by hacking into Ticketmaster.com and other Web sites.

Power restored in much of storm-battered Northeast
The lights are back on for many of the million-plus customers in the Northeast affected by a storm last week that dealt the region snow, rain and hurricane-force winds.

January spending increases but income growth slows
Personal spending jumped by a larger amount than expected in January but Americans' incomes barely budged. The weak income growth could depress spending in the months ahead, acting as a further drag on the fragile economic recovery.

Teen dies after highway jump from SC ambulance
A teenager has died after jumping out of a moving ambulance on an interstate highway in South Carolina.

Ownership of O.J. Simpson suit still undecided
Attorneys will try to settle a lawsuit that demands O.J. Simpson hand over the suit he was wearing when he was acquitted of murder.

Classes resume at Colo. school where gunman shot two
School is back in session at a suburban Denver school for the first time since a gunman wounded two students in the parking lot last week.

Fewer shark attacks reported in the U.S.
University of Florida researchers say the number of shark attacks in the United States sharply declined last year.

JFK runway closure to rattle nerves, wallets
One runway is causing a whole lot of problems at one of the nation's most delay-plagued airports.

1 in 4 parents buys unproven vaccine-autism link
A new study finds that one in four U.S. parents believes some vaccines cause autism in healthy children. But most parents continue to follow the advice of their children's doctors despite their own concerns about the shots.

Drug gangs taking over U.S. public lands
Law enforcement officials say Mexican drug gangs are quietly commandeering U.S. public land to grow huge marijuana crops and using smuggled immigrants to cultivate them.

Striking number of obesity risks hit minority kids
New research suggests that the odds of obesity are stacked against black and Hispanic kids even before they are born.

Unattended toddlers die in NC fire; mother charged
Authorities in North Carolina say two toddlers left without adult supervision have died in a house fire, and their mother has been charged with murder.

Survey: One in four Americans gets news via cell phone
Like your cell phone? You're not alone. One in four adults under age 50 in America likes the technology well enough to read news events from the Internet on it.