US to drop shooting case against Blackwater guard
Prosecutors say they'll drop manslaughter charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide contractors charged in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting.

Terror plot ringleader gets 13-year prison term
The ringleader of a group of men convicted of plotting to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices has been sentenced to 13½ years in prison.

Lawyer: Ohio's lethal injection a human experiment
An attorney for a condemned killer says Ohio's new lethal-injection plan is so untested it would amount to human experimentation if used for the first time next month.

Atty: Hospital hearing set for Fort Hood suspect
An attorney for the Army psychiatrist charged in the mass shooting at Fort Hood says his client will have his first court hearing in his hospital room on Saturday.

More states add jobs, but many for temporary staff
In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

Miley Cyrus tour bus overturns in Va., killing one
The star herself was not on board, but one of Miley Cyrus' tour buses overturned on a highway in Virginia this morning.

CDC: Swine flu cases seem to be dropping in US
Health officials say swine flu cases appear to declining throughout most of the U.S., but the specter of Thanksgiving gatherings next week makes it hard to predict what will happen next.

FBI investigating use of stun gun on 10-year-old
The FBI has dispatched investigators to Arkansas to look into a police officer's use of a stun gun on a 10-year-old girl who refused to take a shower.

Emergency landing on tundra as smooth as runway
An air taxi with eight people aboard made an emergency landing on tundra when the engine failed near Alaska's Bering Sea coast.

Diocese: Pedophile priests should get benefits
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington says it is obligated to keep paying retirement benefits to six priests who church officials have confirmed are pedophiles.

Christian leaders issue 'call of conscience'
Conservative Christian and traditional Roman Catholic leaders have issued a declaration and warning today on what they're calling "moral issues of great concern."

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD
A military experiment is under way to try to predict who's most at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Former Marine sentenced to death in hammer murders
A former Marine has been sentenced to death in Florida for using a hammer to murder two people.

Jayson Williams plea hearing delayed indefinitely
Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will not be a New Jersey courtroom Friday to enter a plea in the 2002 shooting death of a driver.

Obama facing several showdowns
President Barack Obama will have scant time to rest up from his eight-day Asia trip.

Winfrey set to announce details Friday
Oprah Winfrey's production company says she'll end her daytime talk show in 2011, after 25 seasons on the air.

House panel votes to audit Federal Reserve
The House Financial Services Committee has voted to pull the curtain on the normally secretive Federal Reserve by subjecting the nation's central bank to a sweeping congressional audit.

Pentagon looking for Fort Hood management lapses
The Pentagon says it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage and lapses that might allow others to slip through bureaucratic cracks.

Protesters gather at UCLA to oppose UC fee hike
Hundreds of protesters chanted, marched and took over a building on the UCLA campus, where University of California regents voted to raise undergraduate tuition 32 percent.

Foreclosures hitting more people with prime loans
A rising proportion of fixed-rate home loans made to people with good credit are sinking into foreclosure, adding to concerns about the strength of the economic recovery.

Man charged with murder in missing girl case
Police in North Carolina say a man already accused of kidnapping a five-year-old girl also raped and asphyxiated her.

Stimulus watchdog: Job creation data flawed
The government watchdog overseeing economic stimulus spending says the White House was too quick to take credit for saving or creating 640,000 jobs.

Frustrations linger after FAA computer glitch
It's been a frustrating day for some air travelers.

Captain freed from pirates thanks Navy rescuers
A merchant sea captain who was captured and held by Somali pirates has thanked the U.S. Navy crew and captain who were part of his daring rescue.

Police seize more vids in sex abuse case
Missouri investigators say several family members who say they were sexually abused as children by adult relatives remember being taken to various locations and photographed with naked men.

Food banks burdened by high demand in sour economy
Soup kitchen workers are seeing new faces in line and charities are taking more calls for help as the recession makes for a less-than-bountiful Thanksgiving.

Illinois cemetery where graves dug up reopens
A suburban Chicago cemetery that was shut down after four former workers were accused of digging up graves in a scheme to resell burial plots is open again.

Obese man dies after eight months in home recliner
Authorities say a severely overweight South Carolina man stayed in his recliner without moving for eight months until shortly before his death.

Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril
The holidays may not be so sweet this year.

Astronauts step out on first spacewalk of mission
Two astronauts are continuing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

Hearing on Fort Hood shootings today
The first Capitol Hill hearing on the Fort Hood shootings is set for this morning.

Many parents inaccurately claim college tax credit
A government report says more than 314,000 taxpayers made inaccurate claims for a popular tax credit that helps pay college expenses, getting $532 million they weren't entitled to receive.

NJ airport guard in Obama threat case is sentenced
A New Jersey airport security guard overheard talking about shooting President Barack Obama will be released from jail.

TV ad seeks to recruit Arab-Americans to CIA
The CIA has a new commercial aimed at recruiting Arab-Americans for careers with the agency.

Police: Teens taped themselves stealing presents
A suburban Philadelphia police chief says two teenagers are being held after officers arrested them and found video recordings they made of themselves burglarizing homes.

FBI: Terror plot suspects had ties to Pakistan
Authorities in India say a Chicago man accused of plotting an armed attack on a Danish newspaper may have been involved in planning the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

Judge says corps' negligence caused Katrina flooding
A federal judge has ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a navigation channel led to massive flooding in Hurricane Katrina.

Reid unveils new health bill
Senate Democrats have rolled out health care reform legislation they say will save lives, save money and protect Medicare.

Obama and Holder predict conviction in 9/11 case
President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder are firmly rejecting criticism of the planned New York trial of professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Sebelius says mammograms still vital
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says federal policy on who should get breast cancer screening has not changed.

AAA says Thanksgiving travel to go up
The auto organization is projecting a 1.4 percent increase in Thanksgiving travel this year, although fewer people will travel by air.

Attorney General disturbed by shooting suspect's contacts
Eric Holder says he was disturbed to learn of contacts between Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan and a radical imam overseas.

Jobless benefits could end for many in January
A nonprofit group says more than one million people will run out of unemployment benefits in January unless Congress quickly extends federal emergency aid.

Obama warns of a 'double dip' recession
President Barack Obama says he's worried that spending too much money to help revive the economy could undermine a fragile U.S. recovery and throw the economy into a double-dip recession.

Police say no homicide in schools chief death
Chicago police say tests reveal gunshot residue on the hand of the city's school board president but the police superintendent still won't say Michael Scott committed suicide.

Maersk Alabama attacked again
Guards used guns and a sound blaster Wednesday to repel the second pirate attack on the U.S.-flagged ship in seven months.

Shuttle docks at space station
Space shuttle Atlantis has arrived at the International Space Station.

AP poll: Government health plan divides public
An Associated Press poll finds more people support creation of a new government-run health insurance plan to compete with the private insurance market.

Obama: No exact deadline for closing Gitmo
President Barack Obama says he won't set a new deadline for closing the Guantanamo Bay military prison, but does expect the facility to shut down sometime next year.

Police to add new charges in slain NC girl's case
Investigators piecing together why and where a 5-year-old North Carolina girl was killed plan to add new charges on top of counts including kidnapping and selling the girl for sexual slavery.

Ford one of three car companies to do well in car safety crash tests
The latest safety tests have Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen leading the pack of 2010 model cars.

SoCal wildfire 95 percent contained
Cold weather and calm winds are helping firefighters in their battle against a wildfire in Southern California.

Better watch out, better not cough: Santas lobby for swine flu vaccine
Never mind flying, steep roofs and shinnying down chimneys, some Santas are worried about catching swine flu from kids.

Senators blast Web sites for scamming shoppers
A Senate panel has condemned the confusing and aggressive sales tactics of three online companies.

Cleveland seeks survivors of 'house of horrors'
Now that most of the bodies found at the home of a suspected serial killer have been identified, Cleveland is turning attention to the living.

Woman pleads guilty to charges in Smart kidnapping
One of two people charged in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart has pleaded guilty to federal charges.

U.S. seeks max prison terms in Sears Tower plot
Federal prosecutors in Miami want the maximum prison sentences for five men convicted of plotting to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices.

Airlines boost peak-day surcharges
It could cost you even more to travel next spring and summer.

Toys described as safest ever
The chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commssion asserts that toys sold in the United States are safer than ever.

Chicago schools president's death ruled suicide
Officials are now trying to determine if the death of Michael Scott was prompted by a federal investigation into alleged politically influenced admissions and other problems.

Army suicides to top 2008 but progress reported
Army officials say they appear to be getting a handle on the problem, but they also admit that suicides among soldiers this year will likely top last year's pace.

Warrant says Missouri sex abuse case could include slayings
Detectives in Missouri are investigating whether members of a family already charged with sexually abusing children may have also killed several people.

Military planning policy review after shooting
The Army is preparing to do an internal investigation to examine whether it missed warning signs about the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood rampage, but top Pentagon officials may want a broader review of lessons from the tragedy.

Police to file more charges in NC girl's death
A North Carolina police department says additional charges are coming in the case of a five-year-old girl whose body was found dumped along a wooded road.

AP poll: Tax the rich to pay for health bill
A new Associated Press poll finds that Americans favor taxing the rich to pay for covering those without health insurance.

In-orbit inspection scheduled for space shuttle
It's inspection day for space shuttle Atlantis.

New mammogram advice raises questions, concerns
Women in their 40s are reacting with confusion and skepticism over the recommendations of a government task force concerning mammograms.

Tobacco execs quickly find tax loophole
Tobacco companies are avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars a year in taxes by exploiting a loophole in President Barack Obama's child health law. And they're doing it with a simple marketing twist.

FBI says hackers targeting law firms, PR companies
Hackers are increasingly targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients doing business overseas.

Watchdog: Gov't may have overpaid to bail out AIG
Officials managing the multibillion dollar bailout of insurance giant American International Group Inc. bungled the first rescue and may have overpaid other banks to wind down AIG's business relationships, a government watchdog says.

Collection of FDR papers soon to become public
The last great archives of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency may soon be available to researchers and the public — 14 boxes of handwritten notes, gifts and correspondence, including a letter from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini congratulating him on his 1933 inauguration.

Mortgage delinquencies hit another record in 3Q
Some mixed news on mortgage delinquencies.

Post office was $3.8 billion in the red last year
The Postal Service reported a net loss of $3.8 billion for 2008, about $1 billion more than the previous year.

Green card seekers won't have to get HPV vaccine
Immigrant girls and women will no longer have to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus to get their green cards.

Woman expected to enter guilty plea in Smart case
Court papers say the woman charged in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart has reached an agreement with prosecutors and is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Tuesday.

Troops hone artillery skills to cut Afghan deaths
Soldiers headed for Afghanistan are getting new training on when to use high-powered weapons as the U.S. looks to reduce civilian deaths.

USDA: Number of Americans going hungry increases
More than one in seven American households struggled to put enough food on the table in 2008, the highest number since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began tracking food security levels in 1995.

Soldier mom refuses deployment to care for baby
A Georgia-based Army cook and single mother could face criminal charges after she refused to deploy to Afghanistan, saying no one could care for her 10-month-old son.

FDA reviews update to Pfizer vaccine for kids
The Food and Drug Administration is weighing whether to approve an updated version of Pfizer's best-selling anti-infection vaccine for children, despite company studies that failed to meet certain goals.

FAA splitting Hudson airspace into local, distance
The Federal Aviation Administration says it will carve the crowded airspace over the Hudson River into separate areas for local and long-distance traffic.

Police: Family of four found dead in Michigan
Police say four people have been found dead in a home in rural Michigan.

Jackson MD due in Vegas court in child money case
A lawyer for the physician being investigated in Michael Jackson's death says he'll ask a judge in Las Vegas to let his client make minimum child support payments for now, because he can't get work.

Millions will have to repay part of tax credit
More than 15 million taxpayers could unexpectedly owe taxes when they file their federal returns next spring because the government was too generous with their new Making Work Pay tax credit.

Sexually spread diseases up, better testing cited
Health officials say sexually spread diseases continue to rise, with reported chlamydia cases setting yet another record in 2008.

Hot line for those who fled Ohio bodies suspect
The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is launching a special hot line in hopes of hearing from those who survived encounters at the house where remains of 11 women were found.

NC searchers find body of missing five-year-old girl
A missing five-year-old was found dead off a heavily wooded road in a rural area Monday, ending a weeklong search, police said.

Study raises new questions about Merck pill Zetia
Two cholesterol drugs still taken by millions of Americans are the subject of concern for a second time, according to a new study.

Blast off for space shuttle Atlantis
Space shuttle Atlantis has blasted off on a mission to deliver spare parts to the International Space Station.

Ex-Air Force nurse on trial for killing three patients
A former military nurse is on trial accused of killing three terminally ill patients at the Air Force's largest hospital last year.

Ill. governor discusses sale of prison to house Gitmo detainees
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says selling a prison in the state's rural northwest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create jobs in the struggling area.

Alaska fights to reverse polar bear listing
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell says he has the best interest of polar bears at heart, but he doesn't intend to let the federal government's expanded protection for bears get in the way of the state's continued prosperity.

Dozens of Gitmo detainees finally get day in court
In courtrooms barred to the public, dozens of terror suspects are pleading for their freedom from the Guantanamo Bay prison, sometimes even testifying on their own behalf by video from the U.S. naval base in Cuba.

Mass. immigrant tuition bill to get new push
Immigrant advocates are getting ready to push Massachusetts lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges.

Dobbs says his departure from CNN was 'amicable'
Lou Dobbs says he doesn't feel like he was pushed out of CNN, the news organization where he worked for all but two years of its existence until last Wednesday.

Ellis Island museum evacuated after powder found
A white powder that was found at Ellis Island and caused a brief evacuation at the immigration landmark in New York harbor has been deemed harmless.

Mother of missing NC girl charged
Authorities say the mother of a five-year-old girl who disappeared in central North Carolina has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses.

Dad, son on hunting trip die in NJ plane crash
A small plane has crashed in southern New Jersey, killing a father and son headed to Indiana for a hunting trip.

Soldiers killed in Fort Hood shooting are mourned
Across the country today, mourners have been standing in front of the flag-draped coffins during funeral services for several of the 13 people killed in the Fort Hood shootings.

Hawaii's famed white sandy beaches are shrinking
Geologists say more than 70 percent of Kauai's beaches are eroding while Oahu has lost a quarter of its sandy shoreline.

Eight rescued from capsized boat off Tijuana coast
Seven men and a pregnant woman clinging to a capsized boat have been rescued in Mexican waters off the coast of Tijuana.

NASA says a new movie is a blockbuster piece of fiction
NASA is trying to dispel some rumors that have been going around surrounding the new doomsday movie 2012.

Disney World takes steps to fight swine flu
How about some hand sanitizer before greeting Mickey Mouse?

FBI searching backyard of Ohio home with 11 bodies
FBI agents are digging through the backyard of a Cleveland home where the remains of 11 women have been found.

Madoff's personal belongings up for auction
As Bernard Madoff sits in a North Carolina prison serving a 150-year sentence, remnants of the fallen financier's once lavish lifestyle are going on the auction block at a Manhattan hotel.

Authorities: Three dead in helicopter crash near Reno
Authorities in Lassen County, Calif., say a medical helicopter has crashed near the Nevada-California state line north of Reno, killing three crew members aboard.

Nor'easter blows off, mess remains
Flooding and beach erosion are the aftermath of the nor'easter that battered the East Coast for three days before heading out to sea.

Lawyer's request stirs up speculation about talk show deals
There's speculation the balloon boy's parents could have talk show appearances or other deals in the works after a Colorado judge agreed to allow the couple to travel to New York and California to explore "employment opportunities."

9/11 suspects to be tried in New York
There's mixed reaction over the decision to take the self-proclaimed mastermind of the attacks and four others to New York and try them in a federal civilian court.

FDA backs off oyster ban after strong criticism
The Obama administration is backing off a plan to ban raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm weather.

NASA begins countdown for space shuttle launch
The countdown clocks at NASA are ticking toward a Monday launch of space shuttle Atlantis.

Lawmakers defy church pressure on D.C. gay marriage
The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is threatening to stop providing some social services unless lawmakers change a proposal to legalize same-sex marriages.

Another relative charged in child sex abuse case
A sixth member of a family facing child sex abuse charges in western Missouri has been charged with rape in connection with the case.

Hawaii planning to replenish sand at Waikiki Beach
Hawaii officials are appealing to the state's tourism authority for funds to restore part of world-famous Waikiki Beach.

FAA: Military to be alerted sooner of lost contact
Federal Aviation Administration officials say they are strengthening procedures for alerting the military when air traffic controllers lose contact with planes.

Water found in moon crater
NASA scientists say they "didn't find just a little bit" but "a significant amount" when they analyzed data from a spacecraft that intentionally crashed near the lunar south pole last month.

Defense lawyer says accused Fort Hood shooter may be paralyzed
An attorney for the Army psychiatrist accused in the fatal shootings at Fort Hood says his client may be paralyzed from the waist down.

Evangelist sentenced to 175 years for child six crimes
Tony Alamo has been sentenced to 175 years in prison for taking underage girls across state lines for sex.

Police say second suspect admitted kidnapping NC girl
Police in North Carolina say they have arrested a new suspect in the alleged kidnapping of a girl still missing after disappearing from a mobile home park three days ago.

Dugard kidnap suspect apologizes in jail letter
The man accused of kidnapping and raping Jaycee Dugard has issued an apology in a jailhouse letter that talks about "a sexual problem believed to be impossible."

Warrant: Bloody sock links Yale suspect to victim
An arrest warrant says DNA evidence on a bloody sock found in the ceiling and an ink pen found under the body of a Yale graduate student links an animal research technician to her killing.

US seeks to seize four mosques, tower linked to Iran
It's a case that could result in one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures in U.S. history.

Court appearance for suspect in Cleveland bodies
An accused serial killer returns to court in Cleveland, though not in connection with any of the 11 victims whose remains were found at his home.

Wind and rain hitting East Coast
Flood watches continue along the East Coast today, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida continue to hover.

Jury chooses life sentence in TV anchor killing
An Arkansas man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the beating death last year of a Little Rock TV anchor.

CDC says swine flu sickened 22 million in six months
Newly released federal estimates find that swine flu has sickened about 22 million Americans since April and killed nearly 4,000, including 540 children.

Lawyer says FBI asked suspect to be informant
The lawyer for a Massachusetts man accused of conspiring in an alleged terror plot says his client was charged only after he refused three attempts by the FBI to recruit him as an informant.

Bodies found inside homes in Arkansas
Authorities say they found four bodies in a burning mobile home in southwest Arkansas and another person was found dead inside a nearby house.

Lawyers want new location for abortion trial
Lawyers for Scott Roeder, who has publicly admitted killing a Kansas abortion provider, are seeking to move the trial out of Wichita.

Obama announces summit in December on finding jobs
President Barack Obama says he's organizing a wide-ranging White House jobs summit to "talk about how we can work together" to create jobs.

Court rules CIA didn't violate Plame's speech rights
A federal appeals court in New York says the CIA did not violate Valerie Plame's free speech rights.

Three missing after fishing boat sinks
Coast Guard boats, planes and helicopters continue to search the stormy ocean waters off Cape May, New Jersey.

LaHood to create panel to fix airline industry
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he will create a special panel to come up with a plan to restore health to the ailing airline industry.

Plea deal reached in Alzheimer's killing case
The lawyer for a South Florida man charged with murder for allegedly dragging his dementia-plagued father into the ocean says his client has reached a plea deal.

Animal house of horrors is uncovered outside NYC
Authorities are trying to determine whether any of the 20 dead dogs found buried in a New York woman's backyard might have been pets stolen from neighbors.

DC sniper's ex-wife, children cope with execution
One of sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad's ex-wives says it was "very difficult" to watch her children grieve as their father was executed.

U.S. envoy objects to troop increase
A senior official says the American envoy in Afghanistan is strongly objecting to possible plans to send tens of thousands of more U.S. troops to the country.

Jobless claims fall more than expected to 502K
New claims for unemployment insurance fall more than expected last week, evidence the job market is slowly healing as the economy recovers.

Lawyer: Parents to plead guilty in alleged balloon boy hoax
The attorney for "balloon boy" dad Richard Heene says his client is going to "fall on his sword" for the sake of his wife and children.

Ex-NY Gov. Spitzer speaks at Harvard ethics forum
Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is scheduled to speak at a Harvard University ethics forum.

Heavy rain prompts flood warnings from NC to NY
Relentless rain is swamping a long stretch of the Atlantic seaboard, triggering coastal flood warnings and watches from North Carolina to Long Island.

Remains of 10th person ID'd from Cleveland house
Authorities in Cleveland have identified a 10th woman whose remains were discovered at the home of an accused serial killer.

Obama embarks on his first presidential trip to the Far East
President Barack Obama launches his first presidential trip to the Far East today.

House fire in Dallas kills couple, five-year-old son
Authorities say an early morning blaze swept through a house in Dallas, killing a couple and their five-year-old son.

Facebook message frees NYC robbery suspect
A 19-year-old New York City man arrested on robbery charges has been exonerated thanks to his Facebook page.

Official says Obama wants his war options changed
It's apparently back to the drawing board for President Barack Obama's national security team, which has been developing options for the U.S. role in Afghanistan.

Man found guilty in death of TV anchorwoman
A jury has convicted a man of capital murder in the death of an Arkansas television anchorwoman beaten so badly her face was shattered.

Probers didn't pass on early Hasan info
A law enforcement official says a terrorism task force did not refer early information about the Fort Hood shooting suspect to superiors because they concluded he wasn't linked to terrorism.

Relentless rains lead Virginia governor to declare emergency
Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency Wednesday in Virginia as unrelenting rain from a tropical storm soaked the state.

Obama honors veterans at Arlington cemetery
President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the determination of the U.S. military this Veterans Day, from those who served generations ago to today's troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the world.

Death penalty rare, executions rarer in military
Though the suspect in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood could face the death penalty, he will be prosecuted in a military justice system where no one has been executed in nearly a half-century.

Crews search next door to Ohio home with 11 bodies
Cleveland police are planning to search next door to the house where 11 bodies have been found.

Men charged with murder in fatal Boston beating
Seven men have been indicted on second-degree murder charges in the fatal beating of a man in a fight outside a Boston nightclub in August.

Police officer remembers being shot at Fort Hood
An officer who has been hailed as a hero in the Fort Hood massacre says the scene was "confusing and chaotic" but she remembers getting shot.

Government says brown pelicans endangered no longer
After nearly 40 years on the brink of extinction, the brown pelican is coming off the endangered species list.

Five family members arrested in sex crimes case
Authorities in western Missouri say five family members have been arrested on sex crime charges against children.

Veterans Day bittersweet for many in uniform
As American troops mark Veterans Day, there is much to ponder about their situation.

Fort Hood to observe Veterans Day in shadow of rampage
It promises to be an especially somber Veterans Day at Fort Hood, Texas, the scene of last week's shooting rampage that claimed 13 lives.

United pilot charged with being over alcohol limit
British police say a United Airlines pilot who failed a breath test has been charged with having too much alcohol in his system.

Blame game erupts over probe of Fort Hood suspect
There are differences at the Pentagon about which officials had knowledge of contacts the Fort Hood massacre suspect made with a radical cleric months ago.

Remnants of Ida bring rain to NC, GA
The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warnings for most of North Carolina as the remnants of Hurricane Ida bring heavy rain across the state.

DC sniper execution carried out
Relatives of the victims of the sniper attacks in the Washington, D.C., area say they would have liked to hear John Allen Muhammad voice some remorse before he was executed last night.

Obama blames 'twisted logic' for Fort Hood killing
President Barack Obama is blaming "twisted logic" for the killing of 13 men and women at Fort Hood, and says there is no faith that justifies acts he describes as "murderous and craven."

Poll suggests Obama's approval rating holds, but doubts increase
An AP-GfK poll suggests Americans grew slightly more dispirited over the past month.

Two dead, others wounded at Oregon office park
Authorities in suburban Portland, Ore. say two people are dead and two others have been wounded in a shooting at drug-testing facility.

Pentagon: 300 doses of H1N1 vaccine at Guantanamo
The Pentagon says a small shipment of swine flu vaccine has arrived at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. It's unlikely any of the terror detainees held there will get any of the sought-after vaccine now.

Ex-astronaut agrees to plea deal
A former astronaut, accused of confronting a romantic rival in an airport parking lot, has reached a plea deal.

FBI reassessing past look at suspect
The FBI is looking into whether it mishandled early information about the Army major accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood last week.

Former Bush aide seeks to toss torture memos suit
A former Bush administration lawyer is asking a federal court to toss a lawsuit by a convicted terrorist who accuses him of drafting the legal theories that led to his alleged torture.

Official says gunman at NY school surrenders to police
A state government official says a former student has surrendered to police after taking a school administrator hostage at an upstate New York high school.

Ida weakens to a tropical depression, heads east
Forecasters say Ida has weakened to a tropical depression and is heading east toward the Florida Panhandle with winds near 35 mph.

Police surround office near Missouri governor's mansion
Police have surrounded an office building in Jefferson City, Mo., across from the governor's mansion after a report that a hostage situation is unfolding.

Obama narrows Afghan strategy to four options
The White House says President Barack Obama has narrowed down his decision for an Afghanistan strategy to four options.

Obamas to attend Fort Hood memorial service
President Barack Obama and the first lady will travel to Killeen, Texas, to meet with those most affected by the Fort Hood shootings.

Ex-Miss California admits to making sex tape
Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean calls a sex tape she made for an ex-boyfriend several years ago "the biggest mistake of my life."

EMS director says three killed, five hurt in SC shooting
South Carolina authorities say three people are dead and five more have been hurt in a shooting in a small town about 40 miles west of Charleston.

Cop: House fire where bodies found was intentional
Oklahoma City police say a fire that swept through a home where four people were found dead was intentionally set.

Man gets 14 years in immigrant smuggling case
A Texas man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for his role in what became the deadliest human smuggling attempt in U.S. history.

Attorney meets with Fort Hood shooting suspect
The attorney for the Army psychiatrist accused in the mass shooting at Fort Hood says he's met with his hospitalized client.

Madoff's personal effects go on the block
The U.S. Marshals service wants to auction hundreds of pieces of jewelry, clothing and other personal effects once owned by disgraced financier and vanquished Mets fan Bernard Madoff and his wife, Ruth.

Three Florida teens charged as adults in fire attack
Three Florida teenagers accused of setting another teen on fire will be charged as adults.

Obama to encourage federal hiring of veterans
The White House is launching a program it says will turn the government into the model employer of military veterans.

Preparations continue for Tuesday memorial
There will be a roll call of the names of the dead, and a 21-gun salute.

Judge decides to remove attorney in Calif. kidnap
A judge has decided to remove an attorney defending Nancy Garrido against charges of kidnapping and raping a girl who police say was held captive for 18 years.

Strings attached to stimulus dollars for schools
The Obama administration is ready to hand out more stimulus dollars for schools, but this time, strings are attached.

Airline group predicts four percent Thanksgiving drop
An airline industry trade group predicts that passenger traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday will drop 4 percent from last year.

Man confesses to shooting Kan. abortion provider
The man accused of shooting a Kansas abortion provider has confessed to the killing to The Associated Press, saying he has no regrets.

Eighth defendant guilty of passport file snooping
A veteran State Department worker pleaded guilty Monday to illegally viewing passport files of celebrities, the eighth current or former employee of the agency to admit to snooping.

Suspect awake, talking; praised as hero by radical imam
The man accused of killing 13 people and wounding 29 at Fort Hood is able to talk.

Case against Ohio bodies suspect widens worldwide
Authorities are investigating whether the Cleveland man who owned the home where several bodies were found is connected to any killings in places he lived while in the military.

Prosecutors say Chicago man had al-Qaida video
Federal prosecutors say a video produced by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network was found in the home of a Chicago man charged with plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper.

White House: Three Americans held in Iran are innocent
The White House is calling for the release of three Americans being held in Iran on accusations of espionage.

Hurricane Ida weakens to tropical storm
Ida has weakened to a tropical storm, but warnings remain along 200 miles of the Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Florida.

DC area relives terror as sniper's execution nears
Serial sniper John Allen Muhammad's upcoming execution has residents in the Washington area reliving the fear they felt during his three-week killing spree seven years ago.

NY man holds seven hostages at gunpoint overnight
A man who held seven people hostage overnight inside an apartment building in Syracuse, N.Y., has been found dead.

Oklahoma City house fire kills four
Authorities say an early morning fire tore through a home in Oklahoma City, killing all four people inside.

Witness: Florida office shooter stayed about a minute
A man who was in an Orlando office when a former employee came in and started shooting says the ordeal that left one dead and five injured lasted about a minute.

Four people found shot to death in rural Texas home
Authorities called to check on a family's well-being in a rural southeast Texas home found the bodies of four people who had been shot to death.

Army: Shooting suspect critical, stable condition
A U.S. Army spokesman says the man suspected in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood is in critical but stable condition at Texas hospital.

Philly transit strike over
Philadelphia commuters have a reason to be happy Monday morning.

Alleged shooter tied to mosque of 9/11 hijackers
The accused Fort Hood shooter apparently attended the same Virginia mosque as two Sept. 11 hijackers in 2001, at a time when a radical imam preached there.

La. Gov. declares emergency ahead of Hurricane Ida
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Ida makes its way north across the Gulf of Mexico.

Survey: Gas prices up 2.86 cents nationwide
The average price of regular gasoline in the United States has jumped 2.86 cents over a two-week period to $2.68.

Army investigators conducting bullet analysis
Army investigators are looking for anyone whose car may have been hit by gunfire in Thursday's attack at Fort Hood.

Churches to honor Fort Hood victims
Church services honoring the victims of the Fort Hood massacre are planned on the post and in neighboring Killeen, Texas.

Penn. Gov. walks away from transit talks
Pennsylvania's governor has walked away from the stalemated negotiations aimed at ending a days-old transit strike in Philadelphia.

Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Police are calling a man accused of shooting and killing a police officer on Halloween night a "lone domestic terrorist" and say he is also suspected of firebombing police cruisers and other property.

Army: Shooting suspect taken off ventilator
A U.S. Army spokesman says the man authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care at a military hospital.

Engine fire grounds Delta plane in Atlanta
A company spokesman says a Delta plane headed to Philadelphia had to return to the gate just before takeoff from Atlanta because of an engine fire.

Police report says wrong-way driver a pot smoker
New York State Police investigators said in a written report that a woman who killed seven people plus herself in a crash on the Taconic State Parkway was a regular marijuana user.

Officer describes gunfight that downed Hasan
One of two police officers who confronted the alleged Fort Hood killer says he shot the man before kicking his weapon away, cuffing him and thus ending the nation's worst killing spree on a military base.

Groundbreaking for Flight 93 National Memorial
With the word's "let's roll," U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and relatives of United Flight 93 victims have turned shovels of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for a permanent national memorial at the western Pennsylvania crash site.

Killings remain unsolved as sniper execution nears
Questions about how many people the D.C. snipers killed aren't expected to end with Tuesday's execution of mastermind John Allen Muhammad.

Obama arrival in Tokyo delayed by a day
President Barack Obama is attending a memorial service at Fort Hood on Tuesday and now won't get to his planned first stop in Asia next week until one day later than expected.

Police ID another victim in Cleveland killings
Police in Cleveland have identified another woman whose remains were discovered at the home of a suspected serial killer.

House makes its move, Senate up next
The House has acted. Now it's up to the Senate to hash out health care legislation.

Navy ship built with WTC steel to go into service
The Navy is commissioning its newest battleship with a bow forged from steel that once held up the World Trade Center.

Both sides set to vote on Philly transit contract
Members of Philadelphia's largest transit union and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority are set to vote on a contract to end the strike that has idled buses, subways and trolleys for five days.

Suspect in Fla. office shooting denied bond
A man charged with killing a worker and wounding five others in the Orlando engineering firm where he once worked has been denied bond.

Fort Hood suspect moved to San Antonio
An Army medical official says Nidal Malik Hasan has been transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio as details emerge about Hasan's background.

Some Fort Hood shooting victims still at risk
A doctor at a hospital where several of the wounded from the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas were taken says some patients are still at risk of dying.

Poll finds swine flu vaccine hard to find
A new national poll found that only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it.

Mosques step up security after Fort Hood rampage
U.S. mosques fearful of a backlash after the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas are stepping up security.

FDA warns Web companies not to sell flavored cigs
The Food and Drug Administration is warning several companies it says are still selling banned flavored cigarettes to U.S. consumers online.

Former NASA official sentenced to probation
A former top NASA official has been sentenced to three years probation, six months of electronic monitoring and a $2,500 fine for breaking ethics laws.

Obama says government working to ease pain of joblessness
For months he had warned it was coming, but that didn't ease the political shockwaves for President Barack Obama when unemployment topped 10 percent.

Moment of silence for Fort Hood victims
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates declared a moment of silence Friday for U.S. military forces worldwide as a show of respect for the Fort Hood victims.

NM boy tells 911 operator he shot father in anger
A recording of a 911 call obtained by The Associated Press details the moments after a New Mexico boy allegedly shot his father in the head with a shotgun last August.

Airplane part falls onto NY home's front lawn
An airplane part fell from the sky and landed on the front lawn of a home on Long Island, New York. Authorities are looking into how it happened.

Jobless rate tops 10 pct. for first time since '83
The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 -- and is likely to go higher.

Governor: New proposal in Philly transit strike
Gov. Ed Rendell says a new proposal has been sent to the union in an effort to end the strike by Philadelphia transit workers now entering its fourth day.

Salmonella victims upset no prosecutions yet
The victims of the nationwide salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds and was linked to nine deaths are infuriated prosecutors have yet to bring charges against the company at the center of the investigation.

Massachusetts man faces new charges in alleged terror plot
Tarek Mehanna has been indicted on new charges in an alleged terror plot to kill two prominent U.S. politicians and shoot people at American shopping malls.

Congress votes for more aid to jobless and homebuyers
Congress took further steps to right the staggering economy by expanding a popular tax credit for homebuyers and extending unemployment checks for the growing legions of people running out of benefits.

911 tape released in California gang rape
Police have released a 911 recording in which a young woman reports seeing a drunken, naked girl whom officers later said had been gang-raped on a high school campus.

House Dem health care bill gets big boost
President Barack Obama is trumpeting an endorsement from the AARP and support from the American Medical Association for House Democrats' health care legislation.

Gay partnership measure approved by voters
Washington state voters have approved the state's new "everything but marriage" law, marking a significant expansion of rights for gay couples who are registered as domestic partners.

Sullenberger to lead Rose Parade
Hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has been named grand marshal of the 121st Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena.

Northwest pilots appeal license revocation
The Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles are appealing the revocation of their licenses to fly.

New jobless claims drop to 512K, lowest since January
The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits falls to the lowest level in 10 months, evidence that job cuts are easing as the economy slowly heals.

Jurors start deliberating NJ 'fat defense' case
Jury deliberations got under way Thursday in New Jersey in the trial of a Florida man who claims he was too fat to have killed his former son-in-law.

NY Yankees fans celebrate World Series win
Hundreds of Yankees fans in New York City who hit the streets to revel in their team's 27th World Series championship have been greeted by an NYPD van, several patrol cars with lights flashing and officers standing on street corners.

Voters to pols: Give us jobs, results, not spats
Voters' memo to politicians: We're angry and fearful, mostly about jobs and the economy. We want tangible solutions, not partisan bickering or intraparty spats. And we'll vote either party out of office if we don't think you're listening.

Arizona medical helicopter crashes, two injured
Authorities say a medical helicopter has crashed on Arizona's San Carlos Indian reservation during a training flight and both people aboard are seriously injured. There were no patients on the flight.

At least 11 victims at Cleveland home
Authorities say they have confirmed a total of at least 11 victims whose remains were found in the home of Anthony Sowell.

Senate acts to extend aid for jobless and homebuyers
The Senate has voted to give the jobless up to 20 weeks of additional unemployment benefits and significantly expand a tax credit program aimed at getting buyers back into the dormant housing market.

AARP to endorse House health care bill
In a coup for House Democrats, officials say AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote.

Victims and relatives prepare for sniper execution
For those wounded by the D.C. snipers and for the relatives of those killed, the emotions leading up to the execution of the mastermind behind the 2002 attacks vary as widely as those who found themselves in the cross hairs.

Fed leaves rate alone
The Federal Reserve says the nation's economy continues "to pick up" but it plans to keep its key interest rate at a record low for an "extended period."

Fifth state to allow pot dispensaries
Maine has become the fifth state to allow dispensaries where marijuana can be distributed to medical patients.

Competency evaluation delayed in museum shooting
Officials at a prison hospital say chronic medical problems are complicating a psychiatric evaluation for the 89-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a guard at Washington's Holocaust museum.

White House: Tuesday's GOP wins not about Obama
The White House says that Republican wins in two governors' races were not referendums on the president.

FDA launches plan to curb accidental overdoses
The Food and Drug Administration is launching a program to try and prevent millions of accidental drug overdoses that occur each year due to medication errors, misuse and other problems.

Government agrees to pay $3 million in CIA lawsuit
The government has agreed to pay $3 million to a former agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration who sued CIA officers for illegal eavesdropping.

Sheriff: Three ND college students likely didn't see pond
Authorities say three North Dakota college students found dead in a Jeep submerged in a rural pond likely didn't see the water as they gazed at the stars.

Commercial pigs in Indiana test positive for H1N1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana have tested positive for the swine flu virus.

Obama notes anniversary of Iran embassy takeover
President Barack Obama late Tuesday noted the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, while insisting he wants the U.S. and Iran to move beyond the "path of sustained suspicion, mistrust and confrontation" that followed the subsequent hostage crisis.

Swine flu confirmed in Iowa cat
The swine flu virus has been confirmed in a cat treated at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Report examines California's watch of alleged kidnapper
California's inspector general plans to release the results of a two-month inquiry into the handling of the Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping case.

Judge: Michigan man can sue store he robbed
A Michigan judge says a man who claims he was chased, shot and beaten by workers at a store he'd just robbed can sue the men. But only if he comes up with $10,000 within two weeks.

Defeat in Maine a harsh blow to same-sex marriage drive
The stars seemed aligned for supporters of same-sex marriage. They had Maine's governor, legislative leaders and major newspapers on their side, plus a huge edge in campaign funding. So losing a landmark referendum was a devastating blow, for activists in Maine and nationwide.

With risks still swirling, Fed likely to keep key rate at record low
The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates at their already record low levels.

McDonnell elected Virginia governor
Republican Bob McDonnell wooed Virginia's independent voters to win a landslide election just a year after the state bucked tradition and voted for Barack Obama.

Softball players found dead
Police say three missing North Dakota college softball players have been found dead in their vehicle.

Christie wins New Jersey governor's race
Republican Chris Christie has been elected the state's next leader over Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine.

Reid indicates timetable for health care may slip
The Senate Democratic leader is indicating lawmakers may not complete health care legislation this year, missing President Barack Obama's deadline on his signature issue.

Ruling expected on release of Yale killing files
A Connecticut judge says he expects to rule later this week on whether to unseal documents detailing the case against a former Yale employee accused of murdering graduate student Annie Le.

Man made up knife attack to miss work
Police in a Denver suburb say a man stabbed himself, then said he was attacked by three men dressed in black who were either Hispanic or skinheads, in a ploy to miss work.

Justice quits after interracial wed flap
A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry a couple because the bride was white and groom was black has resigned.

Tax relief for small Madoff investors eyed
Tax relief for thousands of small, indirect investors in Bernard Madoff's swindle and other fraudulent schemes appears close to Senate adoption as part of a broader bill to extend unemployment benefits.

Seventh suspect arrested in California HS gang rape
A seventh suspect has been arrested in connection with the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a California high school homecoming dance.

Boy charged with murder in father's death
An 11-year-old New Mexico boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the August shooting death of his father.

Holder, Gates oppose restrictions on Gitmo trials
The defense secretary and attorney general are opposing an attempt to prohibit Guantanamo detainees from having civilian trials in the United States.

Rhode Island governor signs bill banning indoor prostitution
Gov. Don Carcieri has signed legislation closing a loophole that made indoor prostitution legal and allowed more than 30 suspected brothels to operate around the state.

Premature births worsen U.S. infant death rate
A government report says the United States ranks 30th in the world in infant mortality, mainly because of premature births.

NIH official vouches for safety of flu vaccine
A leading government health figure says tests on millions of people who have received the H1N1 flu vaccine shows that it's safe and effective.

Sniper attorneys plan to appeal to U.S. high court
Attorneys for sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad plan to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to stop next week's execution.

Police: NC father killed wife, two children, self
North Carolina police say a real estate developer known as an active member of his church shot and killed his wife and two teen children and then committed suicide in their Fayetteville home.

Philly transit workers striking as talks stall
Philadelphia mass transit survived three World Series games but a strike is now on that could cripple the morning commute.

Madoff auditor expected to plead guilty in NYC
Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's longtime auditor is expected to plead guilty to securities fraud and other charges that could leave him behind bars for years.

Airlines ratchet up holiday surcharges
No surprise here, holiday travel will cost more again this year.

Lawmakers seek ban on laptops in airliner cockpits
Lawmakers are moving to ban the use of computer laptops and other personal electronic devices in airline cockpits to prevent another incident like the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles.

Schools improve certification for school lunches
An Agriculture Department report says schools are generally doing a better job of identifying students who are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches.

Infant missing from home on Florida Panhandle
A 7-month-old infant has gone missing from her home in a small town in the Florida Panhandle.

Woman shot, killed at Christian camp in California
A 60-year-old woman has been shot and killed at a religious camp in California's San Bernardino Mountains.

343 pounds of sea cucumbers seized at border
Customs officials say they seized 343 pounds of sea cucumbers at a San Diego border crossing as smugglers tried to bring the Asian culinary delicacy into the U.S. from Mexico.

Woman hit with car by Iraqi father dies
Authorities say a 20-year-old woman from Iraq whose father allegedly hit her with his car in a Phoenix suburb has died from her injuries.

LAPD officer charged in attempt to export handguns
A Los Angeles police officer has been indicted for attempting to illegally export guns to his security firm in Belize.

First lady launches White House mentoring program
First lady Michelle Obama is launching a mentoring program for local high school girls to have access to women at the White House.

FBI investigates nun's death on Navajo reservation
Authorities believe that a 64-year-old nun found dead in her residence on the Navajo Nation may have been murdered.

Robert F. Kennedy's killer is transferred
The attorney for the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy says his client has been transferred to a new prison where his life could be in danger.

One dose of flu vaccine working in pregnant women
A single dose of the swine flu vaccine works well for almost all pregnant women, but young children will still need two doses for best results, federal health officials said Monday.

Obama: Private, public sectors must create jobs
President Barack Obama says the public and private sectors must find more ways to create jobs to continue the nation's climb out of an economic recession.

Imam pleads not guilty in NYC terror charges
An imam has pleaded not guilty charges he lied to FBI agents investigating an Afghan immigrant who was later charged with plotting a bomb attack in New York City.

Ground beef recalled over E. coli illnesses
A New York meat company has recalled almost 546,000 pounds of ground beef because, according to health officials, contaminated meat has caused illness and one death.

Inquiry of six bodies in Ohio focuses on eight to nine women
Investigators trying to identify six female bodies found in the home of a convicted rapist in Cleveland are focusing the inquiry on eight or nine missing women.

Ship built with WTC steel arrives in namesake city
The new Navy assault ship USS New York, built with World Trade Center steel, has arrived in its namesake city with a 21-gun salute near the site of the 2001 terrorist attack.

Bay Bridge to reopen Monday morning
State transportation officials say they plan to reopen the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Monday morning.

New group helps U.S. monitor swine flu shot safety
Independent health advisers will begin monitoring the safety of the swine flu vaccine Monday.

Four shot to death at NC TV store
A man suspected in the fatal shootings of four men at a North Carolina television shop has been captured in Virginia.

Four-year-old California boy's body found in dryer
Authorities say the body of a missing 4-year-old California boy was found in the clothes dryer of a neighbor's home and a 14-year-old boy from the house in Mendota has been arrested on suspicion of the killing.

Two hurt in chopper crash in Gulf off Galveston
Two people were injured when a helicopter crashed on takeoff from an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Jury selection to begin in anchorwoman murder trial
Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in the trial of a man accused of killing a popular Arkansas television personality.

Ohio coroner: Six bodies found were homicide victims
The coroner's office in Cleveland says six bodies found in the home of a convicted rapist were all females and all were homicide victims. At least four apparently had been strangled.

Rescue mission for Calif. crash survivors ends
The Coast Guard says hope is dwindling of finding nine people who went missing when a U.S. Coast Guard plane collided with a Marine Corps helicopter and the rescue mission is now classified as a recovery effort.

Govt says swine flu vaccine catching up to demand
A senior adviser to President Barack Obama says the government will catch up to the demand for swine flu vaccine within a week.

Northwest plane hits birds, lands safely in Minn.
A Northwest Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas has landed safely after hitting a flock of pigeons shortly after takeoff. No one was hurt.

No trick: 2,000 kids knock on White House door
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent the evening enjoying Halloween with thousands of Washington, D.C.-area kids.

Ariz. jails Iraqi driver after daughter run down
An Iraqi immigrant accused of running down his daughter with his car because she was becoming "too Westernized" has been returned to Arizona to face aggravated assault charges.