SPIN METER: ‘War and Peace’ in 209 Pages? Republicans are using everything short of forklifts to show Americans that Democratic health care legislation is an unwieldy mountain of paper. They pile it high on desks, hoist it on a shoulder trussed in sturdy rope and tell people it’s longer than “War and Peace,” which it isn’t. Calvin Woodward and Douglass K. Daniel, AP NEWS - 2 minutes ago
Obama Promises to ‘Finish the Job’ in Afghanistan Signaling he’s decided on new troop levels for the Afghanistan war, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he intends to “finish the job” on his watch and destroy terrorist networks in the region. Anne Gearan and Jennifer Loven, AP NEWS - 2 minutes ago
Police: Ky. Census Worker Killed Himself A Kentucky census worker found naked, bound with duct tape and hanging from a tree with “fed” scrawled on his chest killed himself but staged his death to make it look like a homicide, authorities said Tuesday. Bruce Schreiner and Roger Alford, AP NEWS - 3 minutes ago
Roddick Says Knee Injury ‘Coming Along Well’ After missing the ATP World Tour Finals because of a left knee injury, Andy Roddick is already looking forward to the start of the 2010 season. Chris Lehourites, AP NEWS - 3 minutes ago
Ohio’s Zoo’s Lion Cubs Make Debut An Ohio zoo is ready to show off its newest additions — a trio of lion cubs. Staff, AP NEWS - 8 minutes ago
Mayor: Tesla to Build Model S in Downey, Calif. Tesla Motors is close to a deal to build an electric car factory at the site of a former NASA manufacturing plant in this blue-collar city south of Los Angeles, Mayor Mario Guerra said Tuesday. Daisy Nguyen, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Facebook Creates Dual-Class Stock Structure Facebook has created a dual-class stock structure designed to give founder Mark Zuckerberg and other existing shareholders control over the company. Staff, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Banks Earn $2.8B in 3Q; FDIC Says Dangers Persist The apparent end of the recession and stabilizing financial markets have not cured the banking industry, as souring and past-due loans have reached the highest levels in 26 years, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Tuesday. Daniel Wagner, AP NEWS - 11 minutes ago
Iran’s Leader Gets Backing in Friendly Bolivia Iran’s president inaugurated an Iranian-funded hospital and two milk-processing plants Tuesday in a goodwill visit in which his leftist host defended Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear aspirations. Carlos Valdez, AP NEWS - 11 minutes ago
Pa. Prosecutor Wants ‘No-Tip’ Charges Dropped An eastern Pennsylvania prosecutor wants charges dropped against a couple who refused to pay a tip at a restaurant where they said they got poor service. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said he’s recommending that Bethlehem police drop the theft of services charges. Staff, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
China Executes 2 for Role in Tainted Milk Scandal China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman Tuesday for their roles in the sale of contaminated baby formula — severe punishments that Beijing hopes will assuage public anger, reassure importers and put to rest one of the country’s worst food safety crises. Christopher Bodeen, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Saks Extends Maturity Date on Revolving Credit Saks Inc. said Tuesday it has extended the maturity date of its revolving credit facility, which has a borrowing capacity of $500 million, and changed certain terms of the loan. Staff, AP NEWS - 15 minutes ago
Top 2 Booksellers Report Losses, Their Shares Fall Barnes & Noble Inc. and Borders Group Inc., the nation’s two largest brick-and-mortar book sellers, both posted quarterly losses Thursday and forecast a difficult holiday season, saying competition from discount chains and online retailers is stiffening. Mae Anderson, AP NEWS - 15 minutes ago
Comatose for 23 Years Belgian Feels Reborn With a caretaker holding his hand, a Belgian man who was diagnosed as comatose for 23 years typed out a message Tuesday that he felt reborn after decades of loneliness and frustration. A leading bioethicist, however, expressed skepticism that the man was truly communicating on his own. Raf Casert, AP NEWS - 16 minutes ago
Google Documents Iraqi Museum Treasures Google is documenting Iraq’s national museum and will post photographs of its ancient treasures on the Internet early next year, Google chief Eric Schmidt announced Tuesday. Ryan Lucas, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Heinz 2Q Profit Falls 16 Percent H.J. Heinz Co.’s says its business is thriving in emerging markets but the recession continued to drag down its U.S. and European sales during the second quarter as shoppers limited spending or chose lower-priced products. Sarah Skidmore, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
No Jail Time for Figure in Abramoff Scandal A judge has sentenced a former Justice Department attorney caught in the influence peddling scandal involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff to a month at a halfway house and three years of probation. Staff, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Palin Heads to Fla. Town That Feted Her in 2008 Sarah Palin, who says the 2012 presidential election isn’t on her radar, took her “Going Rogue” book tour to the biggest of the battleground states Tuesday, including a stop in the retirement community where tens of thousands of people gave her star treatment in the 2008 presidential election. Brendan Farrington, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
Bill Kennard Leaves NY Times for EU Ambassadorship William Kennard, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has resigned from the board of the New York Times Co. to become the U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Staff, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
Obama: US-Indian Ties Help Define 21st Century President Barack Obama said Tuesday that U.S. ties with India will be “one of the defining relationships” of the 21st century as he welcomed India’s prime minister for the first state visit of his administration. Foster Klug, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
US Offers $5M Reward for ‘Bomb Man’ Terror Suspect The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday that it is now offering a reward of up to $5 million for a Palestinian bomb-maker suspected of once targeting commercial airliners and of aiding the Iraq insurgency. Adam Goldman and Randy Herschaft, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
NH Hopes Out-Of-Staters Will Stay and Shop New Hampshire hotels and inns hope out-of-staters will stay as well as shop this holiday season. Holly Ramer, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
Consumer Group Warns About Toy Hazards Holiday shoppers should look out for toy hazards such as small parts, loud sounds, soft plastics and lead contamination, consumer advocates warned Tuesday. Natasha T. Metzler, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
W.Va. Delays Power Line Decision Until Feb. 2011 The West Virginia Public Service Commission has denied a staff recommendation to dismiss an application for a multistate power line. Staff, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
Atwood Oceanics 4Q Profit Tumbles 35 Pct Offshore drilling contractor Atwood Oceanics Inc. reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 35 percent drop as its revenue tumbled and companies in its industry faced weak energy markets. Staff, AP NEWS - 25 minutes ago
Italian Group Asks MTV to Cancel ‘Jersey Shore’ A national Italian-American organization based in New Jersey says an MTV reality show that depicts Italian-American beachgoers as the “hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos” is offensive and should be scrapped before it airs. Staff, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
Furry Felons Rob SAfrican Tourists, Steal Food Visitors to South Africa’s premier holiday destination who are worried about becoming victims of the country’s high crime rate could find themselves instead robbed by a more furry kind of felon: baboons. Courtney Brooks, AP NEWS - 27 minutes ago
California Man Who Killed 2 Girlfriends Gets Death A judge has sentenced a California man to death for murdering a girlfriend who refused to help him dispose of another girlfriend’s body. Staff, AP NEWS - 28 minutes ago
ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ Cancels Lambert ABC’s “Good Morning America” canceled an appearance by Adam Lambert following his racy American Music Awards performance, and he was quickly snapped up by ABC’s morning rivals on CBS. David Bauder, AP NEWS - 29 minutes ago
Conn. Man Pleads Not Guilty to Burning Girlfriend A Connecticut man has pleaded not guilty to charges he set his girlfriend on fire and tried to set her 12-year-old daughter ablaze. Staff, AP NEWS - 30 minutes ago
Duke Energy Carolinas Seeks Rate Hike in SC Utility company Duke Energy Carolinas is seeking to raise utility rates in South Carolina, the company’s parent company Duke Energy Corp. said Tuesday. Staff, AP NEWS - 31 minutes ago
CAPITAL CULTURE: 60 Years of US Meals for India In the history of U.S.-India relations, there’s been plenty of broken bread and even a few crumbled Triscuits. Darlene Superville, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
Deputies Use Backhoe to Find Drugs in Septic Tank Flushed evidence doesn’t go far if your toilet’s on a septic system. DeSoto Parish sheriff’s Lt. Toni Joe Morris said Tuesday that deputies brought in a backhoe when drug agents raided a home and business and met the owner coming out of a bathroom. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Report: Iran Lifts Ban on Popular Newspaper An Iranian news agency reports that the judiciary has after just a day lifted its ban on a popular newspaper which ran a photo of a Baha'i temple. Staff, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Uncle Follows Nephew to NYC Court for Terror Trial Khalid Sheik Mohammed has acknowledged doing what his nephew Ramzi Yousef couldn't: toppling the World Trade Center towers. Larry Neumeister and Devlin Barrett, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
Reports on Consumer Confidence, GDP Tug at Stocks Stocks drifted below 13-month highs after a lackluster reading on consumer confidence and a report showing slower economic growth sapped some of the market’s optimism. Stephen Bernard and Sara Lepro, AP NEWS - 37 minutes ago
Utah Man Makes Wrong Turn, Sees Train Approaching A man whose car became stuck on a set of railroad tracks bailed out before a commuter train plowed into it. Danny Ray Olsen, 62, said he took a wrong turn in Ogden and got his 1998 Nissan Sentra high-centered between two sets of rails Monday evening. He said he saw lights approaching in his rearview mirror and decided to get out. Staff, AP NEWS - 37 minutes ago
Chicago Club Owners Get Prison in 2003 Stampede A judge says two owners of a Chicago nightclub where 21 people were killed in a stampede down a stairwell six years ago must go to prison. Staff, AP NEWS - 38 minutes ago
Sprint Completes Purchase of Virgin Mobile USA Sprint Nextel Corp. on Tuesday said it had completed its $483 million acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, boosting its presence in the market for customers who pay for cell phone service month-to-month. David Twiddy, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago
Majestic Star Casino Company Files for Chapter 11 Majestic Star Casino LLC is seeking bankruptcy protection after defaulting on debt obligations involving casinos and hotels in Indiana, Colorado and Mississippi. Staff, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
Brocade CEO Says Company Not for Sale, Shares Drop Shares of Brocade Communications Systems Inc. fell Tuesday after the company denied speculation that it’s looking for a buyer. Staff, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
1st SC Gov Impeachment Hearing Wraps in 1 Hour South Carolina legislators upset with Gov. Mark Sanford’s summer disappearance to see his lover in Argentina began a monthslong process on Tuesday that could ultimately remove the two-term Republican from office. Jim Davenport, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
King Kong Figurine Used in 1930s Movie Sold in UK The tiny King Kong figurine that helped launch the career of one of cinema’s biggest monsters has sold for about 121,000 pounds ($200,000) at a London auction. Staff, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Clergy Abuse Victims Criticize RI Bishop Clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters have protested outside the offices of a Roman Catholic bishop in Rhode Island, saying he isn’t doing enough to protect children even as he’s taken on Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy for his stance on abortion rights. Michelle R. Smith, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Body From Sunken NJ Fishing Boat Found on NC Beach A body that washed ashore at a North Carolina wildlife refuge over the weekend has been identified as the owner of a commercial fishing boat that sank off the New Jersey coast on Nov. 11. Wayne Parry, AP NEWS - 44 minutes ago
‘Genocide-Free’ Measure Rejected at American Funds Shareholders at American Funds have rejected a measure that seeks to screen out investments possibly linked to genocide in international hot spots like Sudan’s Darfur region. Staff, AP NEWS - 45 minutes ago
NY AG Sues Homeless Charity, Calls It a Sham One of New York City’s most visible homeless charities is a sham, according to the state’s attorney general. David B. Caruso, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Agent Showing House Finds Pile of Bones A real estate agent showing a house got to the basement and found about 100 human bones in a corner. James Kenny, a forensic investigator with the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office, says the bones found Saturday were so old that dirt had saturated the marrow inside them. He says they probably are remains of Native Americans buried long before the house was built. Staff, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
Icebergs Head From Antarctica for New Zealand A flotilla of hundreds of icebergs that split off Antarctic ice shelves is drifting toward New Zealand and could pose a risk to ships in the south Pacific Ocean, officials said Tuesday. Ray Lilley, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
Chef Paula Deen Accidentally Hit by Charity Ham Celebrity chef Paula Deen got an unexpected serving of ham — across her face. The Food Network star was helping unload 25,000 pounds of donated meat for an Atlanta food bank on Monday when someone threw one of the hams like a football and accidentally smacked her. Staff, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
NY Grocer Plans to Close 53 Stores, Lay off 4,000 The Penn Traffic Co. has told New York officials it will close dozens of supermarkets in upstate New York and lay off more than 4,000 employees. Staff, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
Crude Prices Sink to $76 Per Barrel Oil prices fell to around $76 a barrel Tuesday with new data showing a slow U.S. economic recovery and consumer confidence that remains lukewarm at best. Dirk Lammers, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
3 Airlines Fined in Minnesota Tarmac Stranding The government is imposing fines for the first time against airlines for stranding passengers on an airport tarmac, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday. Joan Lowy, AP NEWS - 52 minutes ago
Windstream to Buy Iowa Telecom for $1.1 Billion Phone company Windstream Corp. announced Tuesday it would buy Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc. for $1.1 billion in cash and stock, and pick up a quarter-million subscribers in Iowa and Minnesota. Chuck Bartels, AP NEWS - 52 minutes ago
Obama Boosts Climate Deal Hopes, Report Shows Crisis US President Barack Obama boosted hopes on Tuesday of striking a landmark climate deal in Copenhagen, as a new report showed a deeper crisis than previously thought. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Darwin First Edition Sells for 100,000 Pounds A first edition of Charles Darwin’s seminal “On the Origin of Species” found in a family’s toilet in southern Britain sold for more than 100,000 pounds Tuesday, Christie’s auction house said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Obama Upbeat on Climate, Report Shows Worse Crisis US President Barack Obama sought Tuesday to boost hopes of a landmark deal at the Copenhagen climate summit, as a new report showed the crisis facing the planet is deeper than previously thought. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
US Warns Against Iraq Election ‘Slippage’ The United States upped pressure on Iraqi politicians on Tuesday to reach a deal on holding elections as Washington sought to avoid delays on the pullout of thousands of troops from the country. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Iranian Leader Greeted With Military Honors in Bolivia Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Bolivia for a short visit Tuesday on the second leg of a Latin America tour of three leftist nations sympathetic to his administration. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
2.5 Million Muslim Pilgrims in Saudi for Hajj An estimated 2.5 million Muslims have converged on Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage, as workers toil round the clock to complete construction projects designed to avoid deadly stampedes. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
DR.Congo War Crimes Trial Starts at The Hague Two Congolese militiamen pleaded not guilty on Tuesday as they were accused in The Hague of plotting to wipe out a village where their forces killed civilians, raped women and enslaved child soldiers. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Obama Vows to ‘Finish the Job’ in Afghanistan President Barack Obama, vowing to “finish the job” in Afghanistan, promised Tuesday he would soon announce his decision on sending tens of thousands more US troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Obama Vows to ‘Finish the Job’ in Afghanistan President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to “finish the job” in Afghanistan and promised to unveil a decision soon on sending tens of thousands more US troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Leterme to Return as Belgian PM Wednesday Belgium’s ex-prime minister Yves Leterme -- who quit amid a bank bailout scandal last year -- will bounce back as government chief within 24 hours, incumbent Herman Van Rompuy said Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Google to Digitise Iraq Museum Archives: CEO US Internet giant Google will soon begin digitising artefacts and documents at Iraq’s National Museum, its chief executive said in Baghdad on Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
More Shoppers, Cautious Spending Seen for Black Friday Shoppers are expected to come out in force but cling a bit tighter to their wallets for the kickoff of the holiday gift-giving season this weekend, new surveys showed Tuesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Fed Lifts 2010 Growth Outlook, Sees Unemployment Easing The Federal Reserve on Tuesday raised its outlook for US economic growth in 2010 to a range of 2.5 to 3.5 percent, and said the troubles in unemployment appeared to be near a peak. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Trouser Woman Sneaks Out of Sudan Under Niqab Sudanese journalist Lubna Ahmed Hussein said Tuesday she had donned a full Islamic veil to sneak out of Sudan and travel to France, two months after she was freed from jail for wearing trousers. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Amnesty Urges Release of Tunisian Journalist Rights group Amnesty International appealed Tuesday for the immediate release of Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, who is facing jail on charges that he says are politically motivated. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Probe Reveals Lead-Up to Iraq War The first full-scale inquiry into Britain’s role in the Iraq war opened Tuesday with testimony suggesting Washington was gearing up for possible conflict two years before Tony Blair led London to war. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Big Ben Expects to Chime on Sunday Despite Concussion Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start on Sunday at Baltimore despite suffering a concussion in a 27-24 loss at Kansas City. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 55 minutes ago
Pujols Wins Third Most Valuable Player Award St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his third National League Most Valuable Player award in five seasons on Tuesday, becoming the first player since 2004 to capture the honour in consecutive years. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 55 minutes ago
US Energy Dept. Awards $89M to Study NW Power Grid The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded nearly $89 million to Battelle Memorial Institute in Richland, Wash., to study ways to improve the electricity grid in the Pacific Northwest. Staff, AP NEWS - 58 minutes ago
Despite Pact, Few Blacks at Coast Guard School Eight years after the U.S. Coast Guard and the NAACP signed a voluntary agreement to work together to boost the number of African-Americans at its 1,000-cadet service academy, the annual enrollment and graduation figures for blacks remain in single digits. Dennis Conrad, AP NEWS - 64 minutes ago
Senators Press EU to Speed Its Oracle-Sun Probe U.S. senators are pressuring European antitrust regulators to hurry their investigation of Oracle Corp.’s proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems Inc., citing Sun’s “precarious” financial condition and fears about more layoffs at the struggling computing company. Jordan Robertson, AP NEWS - 64 minutes ago
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