US Top Stories from Associated Press (AP)
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Oil prices drop below $94 a barrel in Europe trade
The price of oil continued falling and was below $94 a barrel Thursday on signs some Federal Reserve officials are uncomfortable with the current super easy monetary policy and ahead of the release of a report expected to show a rise in U.S. crude inventories.
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Stocks slip following homebuilding slowdown
NEW YORK (AP) , Caterpillar helped drag the stock market lower Wednesday after the industrial giant reported weaker worldwide sales. A mixed report on housing also weighed on the market. News that Apple's major supplier, Foxconn, stopped hiring at its largest plant in China helped push down Apple's stock.
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Stocks slip following homebuilding slowdown
NEW YORK (AP) , Caterpillar pulled the Dow Jones industrial average lower Wednesday after the industrial giant reported weaker worldwide sales. A mixed report on housing also weighed on the market. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 27 points to 14,008 shortly after noon EST. Caterpillar slid $2.26 to $93.34, a 2 percent drop.
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10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. POLICE CLAIM TO FIND TESTOSTERONE IN PISTORIUS HOME The suggestion that the Olympian double-amputee could have used performance-enhancing drugs came at his bail hearing for the killing of his girlfriend. 2. US TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS FOR CYBERESPIONAGE
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US futures mixed on housing, prices data
NEW YORK (AP) , U.S. stock futures were mixed with the government reporting Wednesday that homebuilding slowed during the first month of the year. Dow Jones industrial futures gained 3 points to 14,010. The broader S and P futures lost 0.50 points to trade 1,527.50. Nasdaq futures were flat at 2,780.75.
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10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. POLICE FIND TESTOSTERONE, NEEDLES AT PISTORIUS HOME The suggestion that the Olympian double-amputee could have used performance-enhancing drugs came at his bail hearing for the killing of his girlfriend. 2. US TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS FOR CYBERESPIONAGE
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10 Things to Know for Wednesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday: 1. US AIMS AT HACKING LINKED TO CHINA Obama's get-tough tactics could include fines, penalties and other trade restrictions. 2. HOW PISTORIUS SAYS HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS KILLED
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US homebuilder confidence dips from a 6 year high
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Confidence among U.S. homebuilders slipped this month from the 6 year high it reached in January, with many builders reporting less traffic by prospective customers before the critical spring home-buying season.
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Talk of more corporate deals sends stocks higher
NEW YORK (AP) , Talk of more deal-making sent the stock market higher Tuesday, putting the Dow Jones industrial average within close reach of its all-time high. Reports that retailers Office Depot and OfficeMax are discussing a merger came after big corporate deals for Heinz and Dell were announced in recent weeks.
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Oil follows stocks higher
The price of oil rose slightly Tuesday, following stocks and continuing a run-up that began two months ago. Benchmark crude for March delivery rose 80 cents to finish at $96.66 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Nymex floor trading was closed on Monday for the Presidents Day holiday in the U.S. The contract fell $1.45 on Friday.
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NBC hires former Obama strategist
NEW YORK (AP) , David Axelrod, former strategist and aide to President Barack Obama, has landed a new job at NBC News. The network said Tuesday that Axelrod is joining as a senior political analyst. He'll contribute to broadcasts on both NBC News and the cable network MSNBC.
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Court says police don't have to prove dog training
WASHINGTON (AP) , Police don't have to extensively document the work of drug-sniffing dogs in the field to be able to use the results of their work in court, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday. ...
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Peterson case returns with hearing for new trial
CHICAGO (AP) , Drew Peterson's defense lawyers were a united, wisecracking front during most of the former suburban Chicago police officer's 2012 murder trial, and rarely without their dark sunglasses. But by the time Peterson was found guilty of killing his third wife, the attorneys' bond was irreparably fractured.
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Authorities: 4 dead in California shooting spree
TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) , A young man shot a woman to death in a home early Tuesday then went on a spree of carjackings and random shootings across Orange County that left two more people dead and three others wounded before the gunman killed himself, authorities said. Many more victims were shot at but unhurt, Tustin Lt. Paul Garaven said.
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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) , Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S. The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.
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High court seems to favor Monsanto in patent case
WASHINGTON (AP) , The Supreme Court appeared likely Tuesday to side with Monsanto Co. in its claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company's patents on soybean seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer.
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John Kerry's first overseas trip skips over Israel
Secretary of State John Kerry heads off next week for his first overseas trip , a nine-nation journey, that nonetheless skips Israel. His travel itinerary includes stops in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, according to the Associated Press.
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N.Y. bill would force gun owners to buy at least $1M in...
A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, a Democrat, would require the state's residents to acquire liability insurance as a condition for gun ownership. "Any...
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NASA regains space station contact after outage
WASHINGTON (AP) , The International Space Station regained contact with NASA controllers in Houston after nearly three hours of accidental quiet, the space agency says. Officials say the six crew members and station are fine and had no problem during the brief outage.
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Gen. John Allen to retire, won't seek NATO post
Gen. John Allen is retiring from the military instead of enduring what likely would have been a messy Senate confirmation process to be NATO supreme commander. In a statement Tuesday, President Obama said Gen.
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Fla. imam takes stand, denies Taliban connection
MIAMI (AP) , An elderly Muslim cleric on trial for allegedly funneling tens of thousands of dollars to the Pakistani Taliban terrorist organization vehemently denied Tuesday any connection to Islamic extremists and insisted he does not harbor anti-U.S. views.
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Authorities: 4 dead in California shooting spree
TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) , A shooting spree early Tuesday left three people dead and two others injured in Orange County, and the search for the gunman ended when he shot himself to death in a stolen car as police closed in, authorities said. There were multiple crime scenes in Tustin and Orange and many more victims who were shot at but unhurt, said Tustin Lt. Paul Garaven.
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Supreme Court hears arguments over soybean patents
WASHINGTON (AP) , The Supreme Court appears likely to side with Monsanto Co. in its claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company's patents on soybean seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer. ...
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‘Celebrity Rehab' Mindy McCready's death casts dark...
Country star and Celebrity Rehab participant Mindy McCready's death has sparked outrage among show watchers, who count the singer's Sunday death the fifth for the production , and the third from Season 3 alone. Already, show watchers were wondering if the production was under some strange curse that pushed participants to death. But Ms.
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Florida imam takes stand, denies Taliban connection
MIAMI (AP) , Testifying in his own defense, an elderly Muslim cleric who lives in South Florida is denying any connection to the Pakistani Taliban terrorist organization. Seventy-seven-year-old Hafiz Khan took the witness stand Tuesday in a Miami federal courtroom. Mr. Khan declared he is innocent of U.S. charges that he sent at least $50,000 to help finance Taliban fighters. Mr.
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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) , Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S. The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.
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Obama presses GOP to halt automatic spending cuts
WASHINGTON (AP) , Staking out his ground ahead of a fiscal deadline, President Barack Obama lashed out against Republicans, saying they are unwilling to raise taxes to reduce deficits and warning that the jobs of essential government workers, from teachers to emergency responders, are on the line.
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Looming union strike hits hard at embattled Boeing
The hits just keep coming to Boeing Co. The company has emerged from the grounding of its 787 Dreamliner to face a possible union strike of roughly 23,000 of its engineers and technical workers. Bloomberg reports voting ends tonight to determine whether union members will walk off the job, in protest of their retirement benefits.
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Judge approves Transocean's $1B civil settlement in Gulf...
NEW ORLEANS (AP) , A federal judge on Tuesday approved Transocean Ltd.'s agreement with the Justice Department to pay $1 billion in civil penalties for its role in the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said in his ruling that he found "no just reason for delay" in approving the civil settlement.
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Iran agrees to nuclear talks in return for West's OK of...
Iran said it will open talks with the West about its nuclear program, as long as the United States publicly upholds Iran's right to enrich uranium, a spokesman for the nation's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The statements, from spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, come just before world powers are due to meet in Kazakhstan, along with Iran, the Associated Press reports.
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Court says police don't have to prove dog training
WASHINGTON (AP) , The Supreme Court says police don't have to extensively document a drug-sniffing dog's reliability in the field to uphold its work in court. The high court in a unanimous decision Tuesday overturned the Florida Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Aldo, a drug-sniffing police dog.
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Gun-free zone: Comcast cable blacklists gun-related ads
Comcast Spotlight, the advertising and sales division for Comcast Cable, has halted all ads having to do with guns on its nationwide network. "Comcast Spotlight has decided it will not accept new advertising for firearms or weapons moving forward," the company said in a statement. "This policy aligns us with the guidelines in place at many media organizations."
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Reports of toxic milk trigger scare in Balkans
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) , Reports that milk in the Balkans has been contaminated by a cancer-causing toxin have triggered a major health scare, with authorities on Tuesday appealing for calm before official tests are conclusive.
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High court reject's rapper C-Murder's appeal
WASHINGTON (AP) , The Supreme Court has passed up another chance to deal with an anomaly of constitutional law that requires federal juries to reach unanimous verdicts in criminal cases, but allows states to make different rules.
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Court will hear campaign donation limits appeal
WASHINGTON (AP) , The Supreme Court will hear a challenge to campaign finance laws limiting how much an individual can give to political campaigns. The justices on Tuesday decided to hear an appeal from Shaun McCutcheon of Alabama and the Republican National Committee.
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Ohio poll worker who admits voting twice for Obama may...
A Cincinnati poll worker admitted to an Ohio television station earlier this month she voted twice for President Obama in November. But now authorities think she voted more like six times in the election, and they've added her name to a list of 19 they're investigating for voter fraud.
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Alec Baldwin, NY Post photog file harass claims
NEW YORK (AP) , New York City police are investigating harassment complaints made by actor Alec Baldwin and a New York Post photographer after an altercation. Photographer G.N. Miller says the former "30 Rock" star yelled racial epithets and other insults when he was trying to take pictures of the actor outside his Manhattan apartment.
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Talk of more corporate deals sends stocks higher
NEW YORK (AP) , Talk of more merger and acquisitions is sending stock prices slightly higher in early trading, setting the market up to continue a seven-week rally. Reports that retailers Office Depot and OfficeMax are discussing a combination come shortly after several big corporate deals were announced in recent weeks. Both stocks were up sharply in early trading.
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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) , Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S. The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.
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High-stakes fight over soybeans at high court
WASHINGTON (AP) , Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the...
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Afghan civilian casualties rose in 2nd half of 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The number of Afghan civilians killed and wounded in the last half of 2012 rose sharply compared with the similar period in 2011 as insurgents took advantage of warmer weather to carry out more attacks, the United Nations said Tuesday.
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Israel's Shimon Peres to award Obama medal of distinction
Israeli President Shimon Peres said President Obama will be awarded one of Israel's highest honors, the Presidential Medal of Distinction, when Mr. Obama visits in March. The medal recognizes Mr. Obama's "unique and significant contribution to strengthening the state of Israel and the security of its citizens," according to a report in The Guardian.
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Obama to press GOP on averting sequester
WASHINGTON (AP) , Facing yet another fiscal deadline, President Barack Obama is urging congressional Republicans to accept more tax revenue in order to avert looming, across-the-board budget cuts due to take effect in less than two weeks.
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Reports of toxic milk trigger scare in Balkans
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) , Reports that milk in the Balkans has been contaminated by a cancer-causing toxin have triggered a major health scare throughout the region, with authorities appealing for calm before official tests are conclusive.
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USDA assures illegal immigrants that taking food stamps...
Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been quietly assuring illegal immigrants that taking food stamps and other government assistance won't slow their paths toward citizenship. The agency's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program addresses the point: The brochure asks, "If I get on SNAP benefits, will I be a 'public charge?' " The brochure then answers: "No.
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Coal regulations push Britain to 'near-crisis' of energy...
Britain is facing an energy shortage that will see household costs for heat and light rise by as much as 60 percent, according to one industry regulator. Alistair Buchanan, chief executive of Ofgem...
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Red-light camera backlash builds as drivers feel the...
Fifteen years ago, red-light cameras were a rarity. Now, 24 states and Washington, D.C., use them with regularity , and backlash is starting to build. "What the issue really comes down to is these companies...
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Nestle finds horse meat in beef pasta meals
BERLIN (AP) , The world's biggest food and drinks maker Nestle SA has become the latest company to pull some of its products off European shelves after they were found to contain undeclared horse meat.
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Chinese military unit to blame for 141 hackings,...
Recent cyberattacks of dozens of U.S. firms have been traced back to a small, nondescript Chinese military unit quietly working in a similarly unimpressive setting , a dull office building just outside Shanghai.
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10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (all times EST): 1. PISTORIUS CHARGED WITH PREMEDITATED MURDER South African prosecutors say the Olympian shot his girlfriend through his bathroom door after a shouting match. 2. OBAMA TO PRESS CONGRESS ON BUDGET CUTS
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SGT. SHAFT: Veteran's wife asks about TRICARE for Life...
Dear Sgt. Shaft: Once a person turns 65, their TRICARE Prime or Standard coverage stops by law as TRICARE Prime and Standard have to stop after age 64. That means to continue TRICARE coverage, a person has to enroll in TRICARE for Life (TFL). TFL is a partnership between Medicare and TRICARE with Medicare acting as the primary payer and TRICARE acting as a Medicare Supplement.
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Nestle finds horse meat in beef pasta meals
Nestle SA has withdrawn beef pasta meals from sale in Italy and Spain after tests found horse DNA. Horse meat has found its way into ready-to-eat meals sold across Europe in a meat mislabeling scandal that has shaken the food industry.
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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) , Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S. The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.
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AP: Bid discrepancies preceded La. town evacuation
The explosives recycling company blamed for the evacuation of a Louisiana town in December misstated its storage capacity for dangerous materials when it sought a multimillion dollar Army contract in 2010, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
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Coast Guard: Cause of cruise ship fire was a leak
ATLANTA (AP) , Now that investigators have determined the origins of the engine-room fire that paralyzed a Carnival cruise ship at sea for five days, they will try to learn more about the cause, the crew's response, and why the ship was disabled for so long.
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AP: Bid discrepancies preceded La. town evacuation
The explosives recycling company blamed for the evacuation of a Louisiana town in December misstated its storage capacity for dangerous materials when it sought a multimillion dollar Army contract in 2010, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
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Families look for relief from immigration bill
WASHINGTON (AP) , If America is a nation of immigrants, it's also a nation of immigrants' husbands, wives, parents and children , and their brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews too. That could begin to change under legislation being written in the Senate, where the nation's longstanding emphasis on family-based immigration is coming under scrutiny.
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Colo. House Dems lead passage of gun control bills
DENVER (AP) , Colorado's Democratic-controlled House has narrowly passed a handful of gun control bills, signaling a political shift in the wake of recent mass shootings and pressure from the White House. "Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of bloodshed," said Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields, who sponsored a bill limiting the size of ammunition magazines.
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Peterson case returns with hearing for new trial
CHICAGO (AP) , Drew Peterson's defense lawyers were a united, wisecracking front during most of the former suburban Chicago police officer's 2012 trial, and rarely without their dark sunglasses. But by the time Peterson was found guilty of killing his third wife, the counsel's bond was irreparably fractured.
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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) , Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S. The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.
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High-stakes fight over soybeans at high court
WASHINGTON (AP) , Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the...
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Burger King apologizes after Twitter hacking
Somebody hacked Burger King's Twitter account on Monday, posting obscene messages and changing its profile picture to a McDonald's logo. The tweets stopped after a little more than an hour, and Burger King said it had reached out to Twitter to suspend the account. A Twitter spokesman did not immediately respond to a phone message left on Monday.
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Burger King apologizes after Twitter hacking
Somebody hacked Burger King's Twitter account on Monday, posting obscene messages and changing its profile picture to a McDonald's logo. The tweets stopped after a little more than an hour, and Burger King said it had reached out to Twitter to suspend the account. A Twitter spokesman did not immediately respond to a phone message left on Monday.
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NY TV anchor accused of choking wife at Conn. home
DARIEN, Conn. (AP) , A New York television news anchor fought with his wife and then choked her at their home and threatened her even after he was arrested, police said. Officers received a call early Sunday morning from WCBS-TV anchor Rob Morrison's mother-in-law about what was going on at the couple's home in Darien, police said.
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Russians investigating adoptee's death in Texas
DALLAS (AP) , Russian authorities have blamed "inhuman treatment" for the death of a 3-year-old boy adopted by an American family, but Texas officials say they are still investigating claims that the child was abused before his death.
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Congress leaves town with layoffs in its wake
Defense-related companies large and small are preparing to lay off thousands of employees as Congress takes a recess this week, so far unable to agree on how to undo automatic military spending cuts set...
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Jerry Buss, Lakers' flamboyant owner, dies at 80
Jerry Buss built a glittering life at the intersection of sports and Hollywood. After growing up in poverty in Wyoming, he earned success in academia, aerospace and real estate before discovering his favorite vocation when he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.
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10 Things to Know for Tuesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday: 1. GUN RESTRICTIONS MOVE FORWARD IN COLORADO House lawmakers in the state approve new ammunition limits, universal background checks. The Senate still needs to consider the proposals. 2. "HE'S BACK!"
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Coast Guard: Cause of cruise ship fire was a leak
ATLANTA (AP) , A leak in a fuel oil return line caused the engine-room fire that disabled a Carnival cruise ship at sea, leaving 4,200 people without power or working toilets for five days, a Coast Guard official said Monday.
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Colo. House passes gun-control measures
DENVER (AP) , Limits on the size of ammunition magazines and universal background checks passed the Colorado House on Monday, during a second day of emotional debates that has drawn attention from the White House as lawmakers try to address recent mass shootings.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Coast Guard: Cause of cruise ship fire was a leak
ATLANTA (AP) , A leak in a fuel oil return line caused the engine-room fire that disabled a Carnival cruise ship at sea, leaving 4,200 people without power or working toilets for five days, a Coast Guard official said Monday.
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Jerry Buss, Lakers' flamboyant owner, dies at 80
Jerry Buss built a glittering life at the intersection of sports and Hollywood. After growing up in poverty in Wyoming, he earned success in academia, aerospace and real estate before discovering his favorite vocation when he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.
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Kids' suspensions renew debate over zero tolerance
Waiting in line for the bus, a Pennsylvania kindergartener tells her pals she's going to shoot them with a Hello Kitty toy that makes soap bubbles. In Maryland, a 6-year-old boy pretends his fingers are a gun during a playground game of cops and robbers.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Russians investigating adoptee's death in Texas
DALLAS (AP) , Russian authorities have blamed "inhuman treatment" for the death of a 3-year-old boy adopted by an American family, but Texas officials say they are still investigating claims that the child was abused before his death.
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Russians investigating adoptee's death in Texas
DALLAS (AP) , Russian authorities have blamed "inhuman treatment" for the death of a 3-year-old boy adopted by an American family, but Texas officials say they are still investigating claims that the child was abused before his death.
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Jerry Buss, Lakers' flamboyant owner, dies at 80
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers' playboy owner who shepherded the NBA team to 10 championships from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to the Kobe Bryant era, died Monday. He was 80. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Bob Steiner, his assistant.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Coast Guard: Cause of cruise ship fire was a leak
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) , A Coast Guard official said Monday that the cause of the engine-room fire on the Carnival cruise ship Triumph was a leak in a fuel oil return line. Cmdr. Teresa Hatfield gave the description in a conference call with reporters and estimated that the investigation of the disabled ship would take six months.
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First lady quips that midlife crisis led to bangs
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , Michelle Obama jokingly says a midlife crisis is what inspired her new haircut with bangs. The first lady revealed the new hairstyle last month on her 49th birthday, which came a few days before the festivities for President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Mrs. Obama was asked about the new haircut during an interview with talk-show host Rachael Ray.
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High-stakes fight over soybeans at high court
WASHINGTON (AP) , Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the...
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Letters from Lennon killer to NY cop on sale in LA
NEW YORK (AP) , Letters from John Lennon's killer detailing his obsession with the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" to the police officer who arrested him went on sale Monday through a Los Angeles auction house.
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U.S. lawmakers in Mali on fact-finding mission
TIMBUKTU, Mali (AP) , A delegation of U.S. lawmakers met with military officials in Mali's capital on Monday and urged caution as the French-led military intervention to wrest back control of the country's north from the al Qaeda fighters entered its fifth week.
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Philadelphia pays $7 million in unemployment benefits to...
Philadelphia prison inmates received an average of $344 a week over 18 weeks , totaling $7 million , in unemployment benefits, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday. A program put in place by Gov.
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McCready's ex: Anyone close could see it coming
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready threatened to kill herself after losing custody of her sons earlier this month, yet she was allowed to leave a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program days before she apparently killed herself, her ex-boyfriend said Monday.
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Nike: No plans for Oscar Pistorius in future ads
Nike said Monday that it has no plans to use Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius in future ad campaigns after the South African sports star was charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend. Nike Inc. spokesman KeJuan Wilkins confirmed the shoe company's plans to The Associated Press.
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Jerry Buss, Lakers' flamboyant owner, dies at 80
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers' playboy owner who shepherded the NBA team to 10 championships from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to the Kobe Bryant era, died Monday. He was 80. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Bob Steiner, his assistant.
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United Arab Emirates to buy U.S.-made drones in military...
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) , A defense official in the United Arab Emirates says the Gulf nation has signed $1.4 billion in military contracts that include purchases of U.S.-made drones. The drone deal, worth nearly $200 million, suggests that Gulf Arab states are looking to boost surveillance capabilities to match claims by rival Iran of growing drone technology.
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Mark Sanford mentions 'mistakes' in 1st TV ad as...
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) , Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford does not shy away from the scandal that consumed the end of his second term in his first television ad for the 1st Congressional District race. Mr. Sanford opens the 30-second advertisement talking about how he fought to cut government spending and reduce debt.
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Reader's Digest parent seeks bankruptcy protection
NEW YORK (AP) , The parent company of Reader's Digest has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than four years, saying it needs to cut its debt so it can keep restructuring. RDA Holding Co. says it will keep publishing the magazine during the bankruptcy, and aims to be out of Chapter 11 within six months.
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Nike: No plans for Oscar Pistorius in future ads
Nike said Monday that it has no plans to use Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius in future ad campaigns after the South African sports star was charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend. Nike Inc. spokesman KeJuan Wilkins confirmed the shoe company's plans to The Associated Press.
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McCready's ex: Anyone close could see it coming
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready's ex-boyfriend says she threatened to kill herself earlier this month after she lost custody of her sons, but was somehow released from rehab days before apparently following through on her threat.
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NYC taxpayers tapped for $20M in costs over union strike
New York City taxpayers spent an estimated $20.6 million to get tens of thousands of stranded students to school, during a monthlong strike by the bus workers' union that began Jan. 16 and ended Friday. Disabled students who required special transportation needs were especially hurt by the strikers, according to a report in The Associated Press.
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Burger King's Twitter profile hacked by McDonald's fan
Burger King's Twitter profile was hacked Monday afternoon by an apparent McDonald's enthusiast. The domain name remained @BurgerKing, but the display name said McDonald's with a profile picture of the Golden Arches. The profile also featured pictures of Chicken McNuggets, a McDonald's classic, and the restaurant's newest addition to their menu, Fish McBites.
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Russian lawmaker's body found stuffed in barrel of cement
Investigators have discovered the body of a 36-year-old Russian lawmaker stuffed into a barrel of cement and are working off the theory he was killed because of unpaid debts. Mikhail Pakhomov, who served in the Lipetsk city parliament as a member of the United Russia party, went missing last week, CNN reported.
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Nonprofit likens sugary soda to a 'ruthlessly efficient...
The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest issued a press release last week comparing sugary soda, such as Pepsi, to a "ruthlessly efficient bioweapon." The group claims that a typical 20-ounce bottle of soda contains about 16 teaspoons of sugar , twice the daily limit recommended by the American Heart Association.
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Vt. hopes syrup grade changes will sweeten sales
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) , Would fancy grade maple syrup by any other name taste as sweet? Vermont lawmakers are pondering that question as they consider whether to drop the state's traditional maple labeling system in favor of an international one.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Long-missing WWII medals awarded in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) , A Southern California woman who grew up knowing little of her father , a heroic casualty of World War II , is now the proud owner of his long-lost battle medals, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart.
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Jerry Buss, Los Angeles Lakers' owner, dies at 80
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers' playboy owner who shepherded the NBA franchise to 10 championships from the '80s Showtime dynasty to the Kobe Bryant era, died Monday, his assistant said. Buss died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Bob Steiner, his assistant. He was 80.
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Petition demands Obama rank Bronze Star above hero medal...
A petition is urging the White House to lower the ranking of a new medal for drone pilots and cyberwarfare specialists that has drawn criticism for its ranking above the Bronze Star. "Under no circumstance...
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High-stakes fight over soybeans at high court
WASHINGTON (AP) , Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the...
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Climate contradiction: Less snow, more blizzards
WASHINGTON (AP) , Scientists point to both scant recent snowfall in parts of the country and this month's whopper of a Northeast blizzard as potential global warming signs. How can that be? The answer lies in atmospheric physics. Experts say the warmer atmosphere can hold, and dump, more moisture.
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White House mind readers: Obama launches project to...
Hollywood could have a field day with a new Big Brother conspiracy theory. The White House has announced a 10-year study on the inner workings of the human brain, akin to the Human Genome Project's research into genetics.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life on Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, and left behind two young sons.
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Reader's Digest files for bankruptcy; iconic magazine...
The company that publishes Reader's Digest, one of America's most iconic magazines, has filed for bankruptcy. Citing the need to cut $465 million in debt, executives with RDA Holding Co., which puts out the monthly Reader's Digest, said the losses stem from readers' preference for electronic over print media, Bloomberg reports.
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Vt. hopes syrup grade changes will sweeten sales
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) , Would fancy grade maple syrup by any other name taste as sweet? Vermont lawmakers are pondering that question as they consider whether to drop the state's traditional maple labeling system in favor of an international one.
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NATO kills insurgent behind U.S. soldier's death
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , An Afghan soldier-turned-insurgent who was feted by the Taliban for killing an American soldier during an insider attack in eastern Afghanistan last year has been killed in a raid, the U.S.-led international coalition said on Monday.
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High-stakes fight over soybeans at high court
WASHINGTON (AP) , Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters. But the...
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Al Qaeda group lays claim to string of car bombings in...
An al Qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility Monday for a string of recent car bombings in Baghdad that targeted Shiite districts and left 28 dead. A statement posted on the group's website, the Islamic State of Iraq, said the bombings were revenge for the Iraqi government's repression of the Sunni minority.
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It's official: Mississippi finally ratifies 13th...
Life really does move slower in the South. One hundred forty-eight years after Congress sent the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery to the states for ratification, Mississippi officially has joined the ranks. The state's Legislature did vote to ratify it in 1995 , but the vote was never made official because lawmakers failed to inform the U.S.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, the mother of two young sons.
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Muslims attack Coptic Christians, church in Egypt
Muslims in Egypt set fire to a Christian church in Fayoum Province over the weekend, the second such assault against the village's Coptic Christian population in just more than a month. Attackers also tore down the church's cross and threw stones at the Christians, according to a report in Morning Star News. Four people, including the priest, were injured, the report said.
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Obama offering immigration plan as backup
WASHINGTON (AP) , The White House is downplaying its draft immigration proposal as merely a backup plan if lawmakers don't come up with an overhaul of their own. It won't be necessary, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike are telling the Obama administration.
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Oil hovers beneath $96 on US, Europe growth fears
The price of oil hovered below $96 a barrel Monday, weighed by data released late last week which showed that U.S. industrial production weakened and Europe remained mired in recession. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for March delivery was down 17 cents to $95.69 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.45 on Friday.
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Deadly RI fire remembered; memorial plans advance
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Ten years after a deadly nightclub fire, some survivors and relatives of the 100 who died in the blaze remember it with quiet pain. Huddled together in bitter cold, they brought flowers Sunday and paid their respects at handmade crosses that dot the site of the 2003 fire for each person who died.
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Bourbon distiller Maker's Mark to stay 90-proof
As President Obama and Congress head on vacation, America can rest easy that at least one crisis has been averted: Iconic bourbon distiller Maker's Mark will stay 90-proof. "We've been more than humbled by the overwhelming response," said Maker's Mark Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels, in a Louisville Courier-Journal report. And by "response," he means criticism.
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Steroids found in Oscar Pistorius' home: report
A source close to the murder investigation of Oscar Pistorius said police found evidence of steroid use in the Olympic track star's home. "Steroid drugs were found at Pistorius' home together with evidence of heavy drinking," according to the source, unnamed in a Sun report. "That's why police have specifically ordered that he be tested for steroids."
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star apparently took her own life Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, the mother of two young sons.
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10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday: 1. CHAVEZ RETURNS TO VENEZUELA The president announced his return on Twitter when he arrived early today after over two months of hospital treatment in Cuba. 2. TROUBLED COUNTRY SINGER'S SUICIDE
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Study: Better TV might improve kids' behavior
SEATTLE (AP) , Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers' behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found. The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star appears to have taken her own life Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, the mother of two young sons.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Perhaps there was one heartbreak too many for Mindy McCready. The former country star appears to have taken her own life Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark. Authorities say McCready died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head and an autopsy is planned. She was 37, the mother of two young sons.
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Hagel's GOP foes signal vote should go on
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) , Republican opponents are sending signals that Chuck Hagel's bid to become defense secretary will probably come to an up-or-down vote soon in the Senate. That's unless more information damaging to the nominee , and the Obama administration , surfaces in the coming week.
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Obama offering immigration plan as backup
WASHINGTON (AP) , The White House is downplaying its draft proposal as merely a backup plan if lawmakers don't come up with an immigration overhaul of their own. It won't be necessary, Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike are telling the Obama administration.
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In lurid Ariz case, woman describes victim as liar
PHOENIX (AP) , Jodi Arias has been on the witness stand for more than a week, recounting one intimate detail of her life after another. Salacious revelations of sexual antics. Tales of deviance, betrayal and bad decisions. An abusive childhood. Dead-end restaurant jobs, high school boyfriends, movies and cooking.
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Tiger Woods joins vacationing Obama for golf round
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , President Barack Obama teed it up with Tiger Woods on Sunday. The White House confirmed that the President and the world's most famous golfer played a round at a secluded, exclusive yacht and golf club on Florida's Treasure Coast.
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Long-missing WWII medals awarded in LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) , A Southern California woman who grew up knowing little of her father , a heroic casualty of World War II , is now the proud owner of his long-lost battle medals, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart.
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Study: Better TV might improve kids' behavior
SEATTLE (AP) , Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers' behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found. The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.
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Deadly RI fire remembered; memorial plans advance
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Ten years after a deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island, some survivors and relatives of the 100 who died in the blaze remember it with quiet pain. Huddled together in bitter cold, they brought flowers Sunday and paid their respects at handmade crosses that dot the site of the 2003 fire for each person who died.
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Mother Jones reporter wins Polk for Romney story
NEW YORK (AP) , The reporter for Mother Jones magazine who broke the story of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's remarks that 47 percent of Americans "believe they are victims" is among the winners of the 64th annual George Polk Awards in Journalism.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday in Arkansas in an apparent suicide. She was 37. The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that McCready was found dead at a residence in Heber Springs from what appears to be a single, self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
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Ill. woman killed same day sister sat behind Obama
CHICAGO (AP) , An 18-year-old Chicago woman was killed the same day her sister had sat on the stage behind President Barack Obama, listening to him push for gun control legislation. Janay Mcfarlane was shot once in the head around 11:30 p.m. Friday in North Chicago, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd told the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/12Uoh9b).
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Long-missing WWII medal awarded in LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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Study: Better TV might improve kids' behavior
SEATTLE (AP) , Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers' behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found. The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.
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Singer Mindy McCready dies in apparent suicide
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday in Arkansas in an apparent suicide. She was 37. The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that McCready was found dead at a residence in Heber Springs from what appears to be a single, self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
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Long-missing WWII medal awarded in LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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Tiger Woods joins vacationing Obama for golf round
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , President Barack Obama teed it up with Tiger Woods on Sunday. The White House confirmed that the President and the world's most famous golfer played a round at a secluded, exclusive yacht and golf club on Florida's Treasure Coast.
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Sheriff: Mindy McCready had apparently shot self
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday after she apparently shot herself. She was 37. A news release from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office says that McCready, 37, was found dead Sunday afternoon with what appears to be a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday: 1. WHEN HAGEL WILL GET HIS VOTE GOP opponents of the Defense Secretary nominee say they'll probably allow a confirmation vote in the coming week. 2. FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA
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Man charged with slapping toddler now out of a job
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) , A man charged with slapping a toddler on a Minneapolis-to-Atlanta flight is out of a job, his former employer said Sunday. Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, of Hayden, Idaho, is no longer an employee of AGC Aerospace and Defense, Composites Group, Daniel Keeney of DPK Public Relations confirmed Sunday night.
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Coroner: Country star Mindy McCready dies
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) , Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday. She was 37. Waren Olmstead, the coroner in Cleburne County, Ark., said McCready died Sunday in Heber Springs but couldn't immediately provide further details. He didn't have further information on who was taking care of her two sons.
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NAACP head: Even some in NYPD oppose street stops
NEW YORK (AP) , The head of the NAACP said Sunday that even some members of the New York Police Department oppose the city's policy of street stops, with mostly minorities being questioned. Benjamin...
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10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday: 1. WHEN HAGEL WILL GET HIS VOTE GOP opponents of the Defense Secretary nominee say they'll probably allow a confirmation vote in the coming week. 2. FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA
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Tiger Woods joins vacationing Obama for golf round
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , President Barack Obama played golf Sunday with Tiger Woods, the White House said. Once the sport's dominant player before his career was sidetracked by scandal, Woods joined Obama at the Floridian, a secluded and exclusive yacht and golf club on Florida's Treasure Coast where Obama is spending the long Presidents Day weekend.
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GOP foes of Hagel nomination say vote should go on
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) , Republican opponents of former Sen. Chuck Hagel's stalled bid to become defense secretary said Sunday that they'll probably allow his Senate confirmation vote to proceed unless material more damaging to the nominee , and, by extension, the Obama administration , surfaces in the coming week.
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100 RI fire victims remembered in outdoor ceremony
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Survivors of a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people and relatives of those killed huddled together in bitter cold Sunday at the site of the blaze to mark the 10th anniversary of it. Some brought flowers and paid their respects at the handmade crosses that dot the site for each person who died.
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NAACP head: Even some in NYPD oppose street stops
NEW YORK (AP) , The head of the NAACP said Sunday that even some members of the New York Police Department oppose the city's policy of street stops, with mostly minorities being questioned. Benjamin...
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Ill. woman killed same day sister sat behind Obama
CHICAGO (AP) , An 18-year-old Chicago woman was killed the same day her sister had sat on the stage behind President Barack Obama, listening to him push for gun control legislation. Janay Mcfarlane was shot once in the head around 11:30 p.m. Friday in North Chicago, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd told the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/12Uoh9b).
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Danica Patrick wins pole for NASCAR's Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) , Danica Patrick has made history before , as a woman and a racer, in Indianapolis and Japan. The spotlight is nothing new. But never has it been this bright before. Patrick won the Daytona 500 pole Sunday, becoming the first woman to secure the top spot for any race in NASCAR's premier circuit.
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100 RI fire victims remembered in outdoor ceremony
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Survivors of a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people and relatives of those killed huddled together in bitter cold Sunday at the site of the fire to mark the 10th anniversary of the fire. Some brought flowers and paid their respects at the handmade crosses that dot the site for each person who died.
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Danica Patrick wins pole for NASCAR's Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) , Danica Patrick has won the Daytona 500 pole, becoming the first woman to secure the top spot for any race in NASCAR's top circuit. It was the biggest achievement of her stock-car career. "We have a lot more history to make and we're eager to do it," Patrick said.
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Maker's Mark to restore alcohol content of whiskey
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) , After backlash from customers, the producer of Maker's Mark bourbon is reversing a decision to cut the amount of alcohol in bottles of its famous whiskey. Rob Samuels, Maker's Mark's chief operating officer, said Sunday that it is restoring the alcohol volume of its product to its historic level of 45 percent, or 90 proof.
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GOP foes of Hagel nomination say vote should go on
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) , Republican opponents of former Sen. Chuck Hagel's stalled bid to become defense secretary said Sunday that they'll probably allow his Senate confirmation vote to proceed unless material more damaging to the nominee , and, by extension, the Obama administration , surfaces in the coming week.
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Tiger Woods joins vacationing Obama for golf round
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , President Barack Obama played golf Sunday with Tiger Woods, once the sport's dominant player before his career was sidetracked by scandal. The White House said Woods joined Obama at the Floridian, a secluded and exclusive yacht and golf club on Florida's Treasure Coast, where Obama is spending the long Presidents Day weekend.
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Long-missing WWII medal awarded in LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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White House seeks 'balanced way' to budget fix
WASHINGTON (AP) , President Barack Obama is concerned about the effect that looming, drastic across-the-board budget cuts will have on the middle class, his new chief of staff said Sunday. Congressional Republicans predicted the cuts would start as scheduled next month and blamed Obama not only for doing little to stop them but for the idea itself.
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100 RI fire victims remembered in outdoor ceremony
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , The 100 people killed in a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire have been remembered in a memorial service as beloved family members and friends during a ceremony at the site of the fire ahead of Wednesday's 10th anniversary. The blaze happened when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable foam installed inside the club as soundproofing.
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Maker's Mark to restore alcohol content of whiskey
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) , After backlash from customers, the producer of Maker's Mark bourbon is reversing a decision to cut the amount of alcohol in bottles of its famous whiskey. Rob Samuels, Maker's Mark's chief operating officer, said Sunday that it is restoring the alcohol volume of its product to its historic level of 45 percent, or 90 proof.
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White House seeks 'balanced way' to budget fix
WASHINGTON (AP) , President Barack Obama is concerned about the effect that looming, drastic across-the-board budget cuts will have on the middle class, his new chief of staff said Sunday. Congressional Republicans predicted the cuts would start as scheduled next month and blamed Obama not only for doing little to stop them but for the idea itself.
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Danica Patrick wins pole for NASCAR's Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) , Danica Patrick has won the Daytona 500 pole, becoming the first woman to secure the top spot for any Sprint Cup race. It was the biggest achievement of her four-year NASCAR career. Patrick went out eighth in the qualifying session Sunday and covered the 2-mile superspeedway in 45.817 seconds, averaging 196.434 mph.
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Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win pole for...
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) , Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win pole for Daytona 500.
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Willis' new 'Die Hard' scores with $25M debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Bruce Willis remains a die-hard at the box office. Willis' action sequel "A Good Day to Die Hard" debuted as the weekend's top draw with a $25 million debut from Friday to Sunday. The 20th Century Fox release raised its domestic total to $33.2 million since opening Thursday for Valentine's Day to get a jump on the long President's Day weekend.
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White House calls draft immigration plan a backup
WASHINGTON (AP) , Republicans and Democrats alike on Sunday predicted President Barack Obama would fail if he pushed forward with his own effort to overhaul the nation's immigration system and urged the administration to hold off while lawmakers work on a bipartisan measure.
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RI fire remembered in snowy outdoor ceremony
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Survivors and victims' relatives, some in tears, others bearing flowers, gathered in bitter cold and snow Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people and spoke of missing their loved ones and the difficulty of moving past such trauma.
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Willis' new 'Die Hard' scores with $25M debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Bruce Willis remains a die-hard at the box office. Willis' action sequel "A Good Day to Die Hard" debuted as the weekend's top draw with a $25 million debut from Friday to Sunday. The 20th Century Fox release raised its domestic total to $33.2 million since opening Thursday for Valentine's Day to get a jump on the long President's Day weekend.
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Firearms maker pulls business from N.Y. after new gun law
A Washington-state-based firearms manufacturer has announced that it no longer will be doing business with New York law enforcement, in response to the state's sweeping new gun laws on private citizens.
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RI fire remembered in snowy outdoor ceremony
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , At least 100 survivors and family members of the 100 people killed in a Rhode Island nightclub fire have come to a memorial service to pay tribute on the 10th anniversary of the disaster. Many who arrived at an outdoor site in bitter cold and snow on Sunday brought flowers and balloons to decorate crosses representing each of the victims. Some cried.
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Willis' new 'Die Hard' scores with $25M debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Bruce Willis remains a die-hard at the box office. Willis' action sequel "A Good Day to Die Hard" debuted as the weekend's top draw with a $25 million debut from Friday to Sunday. The 20th Century Fox release raised its domestic total to $33.2 million since opening Thursday for Valentine's Day to get a jump on the long President's Day weekend.
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White House calls draft immigration plan a backup
WASHINGTON (AP) , Republicans and Democrats alike on Sunday predicted President Barack Obama would fail if he pushed forward with his own effort to overhaul the nation's immigration system and urged the administration to hold off while lawmakers work on a bipartisan measure.
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Kosovo celebrates 5 years of independence
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) , Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo celebrated the fifth anniversary of their declaration of independence from Serbia with a parade of police and armed forces in the main square of the capital Sunday. It's the first time such forces have been used in a parade since the end of the 1998-99 war with Serbia.
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Long-missing WWII medal to be awarded
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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Obama to speak at Morehouse College commencement
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) , A White House official says President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at all-male Morehouse College in Atlanta this spring. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is among the historically black institution's alumni. Commencement is scheduled for May 19.
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Top U.S. general in Afghanistan says he can work with...
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) , The top American commander in Afghanistan said on Sunday that he believes the U.S.-led NATO coalition can operate effectively despite the Afghan president's decision to ban Afghan security forces from requesting airstrikes in residential areas.
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Protesters in Los Angeles show support for Chris Dorner
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters Saturday in support of Christopher Dorner, a fired cop who is suspected of killing four people, including two policemen. The protestors said they were speaking out against police corruption and the way the massive manhunt for Mr. Dorner was conducted, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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No exams on Wiccan, pagan holidays at University of...
Students at the University of Missouri no longer will have to worry about cramming for exams on Wiccan or pagan holidays, as they've been included in the university's Guide to Religions. There are 42 holidays listed in the university's calendar, with Jewish holidays counting for eleven, Wiccan and pagan holidays for eight and Christian holidays for seven.
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White House presses ahead on immigration overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) , President Barack Obama's chief of staff says the White House hasn't proposed "anything to Capitol Hill yet" on immigration even as a leading Republican criticizes a reported draft proposal regarding illegal immigrants.
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Sen. Rand Paul: President Obama 'torpedoing' immigration...
Sen. Rand Paul, reacting to a new "amnesty"-based immigration plan being circulated by the White House, said Sunday that Democrats really don't want to solve the country's immigration problem because it's a politically valuable wedge issue for the party.
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Stanley Marsh 3 settles teenagers' lawsuits
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) , Stanley Marsh 3, an eccentric millionaire artist best known for his "Cadillac Ranch" art display along an interstate in the Texas Panhandle, has settled lawsuits from 10 teenagers who allege he paid them for sex acts, attorneys announced Saturday.
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Long-missing WWII medal to be awarded
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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Long-missing WWII medal to be awarded
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
-
Long-missing WWII medal to be awarded
LOS ANGELES (AP) , Hyla Merin grew up without a father and for a long time never knew why. Her mother never spoke about the Army officer who died before Hyla was born. The scraps of information she gathered from other relatives were hazy: 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel was a rabbi's son, brilliant at mathematics, the brave winner of a Purple Heart who died sometime in 1945.
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Deadly RI nightclub fire remembered 10 years later
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) , Survivors and family members of the 100 people killed in a Rhode Island nightclub fire are observing the 10th anniversary of the blaze, which broke out when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable packing foam that had been installed inside the club as soundproofing.
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Report: Bill would set an 8-year path to residency
WASHINGTON (AP) , The White House is circulating a draft immigration bill that would create a new visa for illegal immigrants living in the United States and allow them to become legal permanent residents within eight years, according to a report published online Saturday by USA Today.
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Man charged in killings of 2 women in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) , A Kansas City-area man was arrested Saturday in the killings of two prostitutes whose bodies were found posed on the sides of rural Missouri roads nearly a year apart. At a news conference Saturday night, authorities said Derek Richardson, 27, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abandonment of a corpse.
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Stanley Marsh 3 settles teenagers' lawsuits
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) , Stanley Marsh 3, an eccentric millionaire artist best known for his "Cadillac Ranch" art display along an interstate in the Texas Panhandle, has settled lawsuits from 10 teenagers who allege he paid them for sex acts, attorneys announced Saturday.
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Mother: Boy slapped on plane is now apprehensive
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) , A Minneapolis woman says her 2-year-old son was traumatized by a man accused of slapping the boy and calling him a racial slur during an Atlanta-bound flight. The boy's mother, Jessica Bennett, said in a statement Saturday that her son has become "apprehensive to strangers" since the Feb. 8 flight from Minneapolis.
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Stanley Marsh 3 settles teenagers' lawsuits
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) , Stanley Marsh 3, an eccentric millionaire artist best known for his "Cadillac Ranch" art display along an interstate in the Texas Panhandle, has settled lawsuits from 10 teenagers who allege he paid them for sex acts, attorneys announced Saturday.
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Mother: Boy slapped on plane is now apprehensive
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) , The Minneapolis mother of a boy allegedly slapped by a passenger aboard an Atlanta-bound flight says the toddler has now become apprehensive of strangers. Jessica Bennett told authorities that Joe Hundley slapped her 2-year-old boy in the face and called him a racial slur when the child was crying on a flight from Minneapolis on Feb. 8.
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Texas police fatally shoot fugitive Fla. prisoner
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) , The Florida prisoner who escaped in Texas after stabbing a detective with his eyeglasses was fatally shot early Saturday after refusing to cooperate with officers and lunging at them, police said. Alberto Morales was shot in a wooded area of Grapevine, a community near the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
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Obama heads to Florida for weekend with the boys
PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) , Faced with a long weekend in an empty White House, President Barack Obama figured he needed a getaway, too, so he put together a golf outing with some buddies. Not at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland or at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, two Washington-area military posts where he's a regular on their courses.
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How life on run ended for California police killer
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) , As soon as he heard officers were chasing the suspected cop killer in a stolen truck, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Roger Loftis was certain: His buddy Jeremiah MacKay would be there.
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Dorner was hiding in nearby condo during manhunt
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) , It didn't take ingenuity for Christopher Dorner to elude authorities for six days. He simply opened an unlocked door. As law enforcement swarmed a mountain neighborhood searching for the fugitive ex-cop, Dorner hid in a condominium 100 feet across the street from a command post and a short distance where he left his burned-out truck.
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Jackson Jr.'s downfall tied to objects, not power
CHICAGO (AP) , For all the talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. aspiring to be a U.S. senator or mayor of the nation's third-largest city, his career wasn't ended by attempts to amass political power. Instead, it was the former congressman's desire for flashy items , a gold-plated Rolex watch, furs and collectibles, such as Eddie Van Halen's guitar.
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Stanley Marsh 3 settles 10 civil lawsuits
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) , Texas millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, along with relatives and an associate, has settled 10 lawsuits filed by 10 unnamed teenagers who claim he paid them for sex acts. In a...
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Jackson Jr.'s downfall tied to objects, not power
CHICAGO (AP) , For all the talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. aspiring to be a U.S. senator or mayor of the nation's third-largest city, his career wasn't ended by attempts to amass political power. Instead, it was the former congressman's desire for flashy items , a gold-plated Rolex watch, furs and collectibles, such as Eddie Van Halen's guitar.
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Cop hospitalized after prisoner escape is released
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) , A Dallas hospital spokeswoman says a Florida detective wounded by a prisoner who was escaping has been released by doctors. April Foran with Parkland Memorial Hospital says Miami-Dade Detective Jaime Pardinas was released Saturday morning. She would not comment on Pardinas' health status.
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