Christmas Terror Suspect Pleads Not Guilty A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of a young Nigerian man on Friday during his first public court appearance to face charges of trying to ignite a chemical-laden explosive on a Detroit-bound U.S. airliner on Christmas Day. Ed White and David Runk, AP NEWS - 6 minutes ago
Frantic Brittany Murphy 911 Call Released A 911 call released Friday reveals the frantic efforts by Brittany Murphy’s mother and husband to save the actress' life on the morning she died. Anthony McCartney, AP NEWS - 7 minutes ago
Vice President Biden’s Mother, Jean, Dies at 92 Jean Biden, who raised her son Vice President Joe Biden to believe in what he called “America’s creed ... everyone is your equal,” died Friday after falling seriously ill in recent days. She was 92. Randall Chase, AP NEWS - 7 minutes ago
Obama Billboard Ad to Be Taken Down — in 2 Weeks Alison and Claire Egan gazed up at Barack Obama’s rugged, windswept image in Manhattan’s Times Square on Friday, snapping pictures of the giant billboard atop the Red Lobster restaurant. Jocelyn Noveck, AP NEWS - 11 minutes ago
Bill Proposes Consolidating Nebraska Counties A Nebraska state senator is reviving an old idea Friday that he says may gain new traction as lawmakers focus on saving tax money in tough economic times. Jean Ortiz, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
PRico Fires 2,400 Workers in New Round of Layoffs The government laid off more than 2,400 government workers Friday — and was expected to target other jobs for elimination — to try and pare down a $3.2 billion deficit and avoid a government shutdown. Danica Coto, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Mass. Parents Seek Dismissal of Overdose Case Lawyers for a Massachusetts couple accused in the prescription drug overdose of their 4-year-old daughter are asking a judge to dismiss murder charges, citing a prosecution medical report they say bolsters their claim that the girl died of pneumonia. Denise Lavoie, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Officer, Neighbor Shot by NY Man Firing Out Window Police say an upstate New York man firing shots from his second-floor window injured a neighbor and a responding police officer before surrendering. Staff, AP NEWS - 15 minutes ago
Disabled Victims in Ohio Bus Crash Were Tight-Knit Lonnie Acton loved playing video games. Kenny Fry, at age 61, liked to flirt. Alonso Ruffin would sometimes preach to his caretakers. Dan Sewell and John Seewer, AP NEWS - 15 minutes ago
Police Make Arrest in Canadian Pipeline Bombings Police arrested a man Friday in connection with a series of oil and gas pipeline bombings in northeastern British Columbia. Jeremy Hainsworth, AP NEWS - 17 minutes ago
Source: DA to Seek Indictment of Jackson Doctor Nearly seven months after Michael Jackson’s death stunned the world, the official investigation of his death is edging toward conclusion with prosecutors prepared to seek an indictment of Jackson’s doctor on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, The Associated Press has learned. Linda Deutsch, AP NEWS - 17 minutes ago
Policeman Critical After Bomb in Tense N.Ireland A police officer was critically ill in hospital on Friday after a bomb exploded under his car, in the latest upsurge of violence to hit Northern Ireland as it faces a looming political crisis. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 18 minutes ago
Mostly Black New Orleans Could Pick White Mayor New Orleans' black political base is one more victim of Hurricane Katrina. The storm decimated once-thriving black, middle-class neighborhoods, undercutting efforts by black candidates to raise money and build voter support. Kevin McGill, AP NEWS - 19 minutes ago
TSA Guard in Security Breach Called Model Employee A guard whose failure to see a man bypass Newark airport security led to major delays is being described by his union as a “model employee.” Samantha Henry and David Porter, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
Heartland Payment to Pay Visa Issuers Up to $60M Heartland Payment Systems, which processes credits card payments, said Friday it will pay up to $60 million to Visa credit and debit card issuers to settle claims over a 2008 data breach. Staff, AP NEWS - 25 minutes ago
Maine’s Snowe Hasn’t Deserted Health Care Debate Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe says she’s still willing to work with the Obama administration to try to improve the final version of the health care overhaul bill. Staff, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
NBC Stations Would Like to See Leno-O'Brien Shift NBC has instantly created TV’s hottest drama, a storyline with ego, pride and millions of dollars at stake: how to fix the problem it created by moving Jay Leno to prime time. Lynn Elber, AP NEWS - 27 minutes ago
Foot Locker to Cut 120 Jobs, Close 117 Stores Foot Locker Inc. said Friday it plans to cut about 120 jobs and to have closed 117 stores by the end of this month as it looks to become a more efficient and competitive business. Staff, AP NEWS - 27 minutes ago
Park Service Partly Faults Yosemite for Wildfire The National Park Service says Yosemite officials were overconfident in their ability to manage a controlled burn last summer that whipped into an explosive wildfire. Staff, AP NEWS - 29 minutes ago
Best Buy Posts Sales Gains for December Best Buy Co., the largest U.S. electronics retailer, saw a key sales figure rise sharply in December — compared with a plunge a year earlier — as consumers bought computers, TVs and phones for the holidays, the company said Friday. Mae Anderson, AP NEWS - 30 minutes ago
At Georgia Capitol, 2010 Looks Bleak Georgia lawmakers are facing a grim to-do list as they return to the Capitol Monday for the 2010 legislative session. Shannon McCaffrey, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
Authorities: Boy, 12, Robs Store With a Toy Gun A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after allegedly pointing what turned out to be a toy gun at a convenience store clerk in northern Florida. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said that the boy walked into the store Thursday. Authorities said the boy pointed a wood barreled, long gun at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. After handing him an undisclosed amount of money, the clerk told deputies the boy said thank you and left. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Integrated Silicon Forms New Business Unit Chip designer Integrated Silicon Solution Inc. said Friday it is forming a new business unit with a $3.8 million investment from a Chinese firm. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Obama Refocuses on Jobs After Weak Labor Report His agenda altered by the Christmas bombing attempt, President Barack Obama pivoted back to the domestic economy on Friday, promoting new U.S. spending to create tens of thousands of clean-technology jobs. Tom Raum, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
UPS Cutting 1,800 Jobs in US, Raising Outlook Shipping giant UPS Inc. will cut 1,800 management and administrative jobs, less than 1 percent of its global work force, as it repositions itself for a gradual economic recovery with improved technology and fewer employees. Harry R. Weber, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Feds to Make Decision on Jaguar Recovery Federal officials are close to issuing a decision on whether to develop a recovery plan and set aside critical habitat for the elusive endangered jaguar. Susan Montoya Bryan, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
US, Arabs Press for Shift in Mideast Peace Talks The Obama administration on Friday laid out a bold shift in its Mideast peace strategy, stepping up pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to resume stalled talks by moving immediately to negotiations on the toughest issues dividing them, like the borders of a Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem. Matthew Lee, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
UPS, Halliburton, Apollo Group Are Movers The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Friday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market: The Associated Press, AP NEWS - 37 minutes ago
Live Nation, Ticketmaster Shareholders OK Merger Concert promoter Live Nation Inc. and ticket-selling company Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. say shareholders have approved the two companies' merger, although the deal still awaits approval by U.S. antitrust authorities. Staff, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago
UBS Whistle-Blower Reports to Pa. Federal Prison A former banker who provided key assistance in the U.S. tax evasion probe of Swiss banking giant UBS reported to prison Friday and said his cooperation should have earned him the federal government’s gratitude, not time behind bars. Michael Rubinkam, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Icy Hazards Persist Through US, Deep Into South Snow and blustery winds blew into the already-frigid East on Friday and a deep freeze settled into the Deep South, making highways especially hazardous in a region unaccustomed to the chilly temperatures. Kate Brumback, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Attacks Show al-Qaida-Inspired Groups Target West From Detroit to Afghanistan, scattered terrorists inspired and equipped by al-Qaida have attacked recently with surprising speed and worldwide reach, challenging the U.S. strategy of slowly and deliberately targeting the terror group’s top leaders. Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
NY Man Pleads Not Guilty to Lying in Terror Plot A man linked to a terrorism suspect accused of plotting to attack New York City with homemade bombs has pleaded not guilty to lying to federal investigators. Tom Hays, AP NEWS - 45 minutes ago
Settlement Calls for 5-Year Watch of NYC Hospital A Brooklyn hospital where a patient died in a waiting room will undergo improvements mandated by a consent decree and five years of court monitoring to end years of neglect and overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, advocates for the mentally ill who had filed a lawsuit said Friday. Larry Neumeister, AP FEATURES - 46 minutes ago
Police: Conn. Mom Left Kids in Car While Tanning Police in Connecticut say a 28-year-old mother is charged with leaving her two young children in her car in freezing temperatures while she went tanning in a salon. Candy Ann Rock of Enfield was charged Monday with reckless endangerment and risk of injury to children. Staff, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Canwest’s Newspaper Division in Court Protection Canada’s insolvent media giant, Canwest Global Communications Corp., placed its newspaper division under bankruptcy protection Friday and will put it up for sale next week, with a group of lenders led by the country’s biggest banks ready to kick off the bidding. Charmaine Noronha, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Halle Berry and Boyfriend Bypass Airport Line Canadian police say it was wrong for one of their officers to whisk Halle Berry, her model boyfriend and baby through airport security. Staff, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
The IPhone: Now There’s a Helicopter for That A company that makes accessories for cell phones wants to add something else to the endless list of things you can do with an iPhone: flying a toy helicopter. Rachel Metz, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Schwarzenegger Proposes Budget for ‘Tough Times’ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed an austere budget plan Friday for the coming fiscal year that takes California back to its spending level of six years ago. Judy Lin, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Suspects in Egypt’s Christmas Slayings Surrender Three suspects in a drive-by shooting that killed six Christians in southern Egypt surrendered to police Friday, while authorities faced mounting pressure to resolve the sectarian dispute in the tense community reeling from a bloody Coptic Christmas Eve attack. Sarah El Deeb, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
SC Gov Asks Judge to OK Wife’s Divorce Request South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has asked a judge to approve his wife’s petition to end their 20-year-marriage, admitting he had an affair. Bruce Smith, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Thousands Celebrate the King’s 75th at Graceland About 3,000 fans joined Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley’s grandkids at Graceland to celebrate what would have been the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s 75th birthday. Caitlin King, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Former Astronaut Fullerton Treated for Stroke Retired astronaut and NASA test pilot C. Gordon Fullerton is being treated in a Southern California hospital after suffering a massive stroke. Staff, AP NEWS - 52 minutes ago
Analysis: Obama’s Buck-Stopping Goes Only So Far He says “the buck stops with me,” but nearly a year into office President Barack Obama is still blaming a lot of the nation’s troubles — the economy, terrorism, health care — on George W. Bush. Ben Feller, AP NEWS - 52 minutes ago
Judge Blocks Bid to Fire Argentine Bank Chief An Argentine judge has ordered the Central Bank chief restored to his post a day after President Cristina Fernandez fired him in a fight over control of bank reserves. Vicente L. Panetta, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Sector Wrap: Steel Producers Surge Shares of steel manufacturers surged Friday after a JPMorgan analyst forecast a continued rebound in steel prices fueled by higher materials costs and some improvement in demand. Staff, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Man Who Said He Was ‘Massaging’ Meat Gets 10 Years A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing an $80 slab of meat. The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reported Thursday that 51-year-old Mark Zachary of Orangeburg received the maximum sentence after jurors found him guilty Wednesday of shoplifting. Prosecutors said the sentence was justified because the Aug. 26 theft from Reid’s grocery store in Orangeburg was his ninth offense. Staff, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Bond Set for Man Who Allegedly Threatened Jews Bond has been set at $210,000 for a man who allegedly yelled “I want to kill all the Jews” on a Detroit-bound plane at Miami International Airport. Staff, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
VP Biden’s 92-Year-Old Mother Dies Vice President Joe Biden’s 92-year-old mother has died after becoming seriously ill in recent days. Staff, AP NEWS - 54 minutes ago
Stocks Gain as Traders Take Jobs Report in Stride Investors took a disappointing December jobs report in stride Friday and focused on signs that the overall employment picture is stabilizing. Stephen Bernard and Ieva M. Augstums, AP NEWS - 56 minutes ago
Amid Concussion Talk, Fans Want to Keep Big Hits Football fans hear about Congress grilling the NFL on head injuries and the league setting up new guidelines for handling concussions. Rachel Cohen, AP NEWS - 58 minutes ago
Del. Governor Wants Review in Pediatrician Case Gov. Jack Markell said he will order an independent review of Delaware’s handling of investigations involving a pediatrician accused of sexually abusing possibly more than 100 patients. Randall Chase, AP NEWS - 59 minutes ago
LA Doctor Gets 5 Years in Prison for Road Rage A former emergency room doctor who deliberately braked so that two bicyclists rammed into his car in a road rage assault was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison. Staff, AP NEWS - 62 minutes ago
NY Cops: Girl, Sitter Shot to Death, Dad Arrested A man shot and killed his 9-year-old daughter and her baby sitter in a home on a tidy suburban street, then walked out the front door and surrendered to arriving officers, the police chief said Friday. Jim Fitzgerald, AP NEWS - 62 minutes ago
Shots Fired at Leading Iranian Opposition Figure Pro-government demonstrators opened fire on the car of one of Iran’s opposition leaders and shattered his windows, but he escaped unharmed from the rare armed attack on a top reformist, his Web site reported on Friday. Nasser Karimi, AP NEWS - 66 minutes ago
Christmas Terror Suspect Says Little in Court A young Nigerian man, wearing a white T-shirt and tennis shoes, did not speak much Friday during his first public court hearing to face charges of trying to ignite a chemical-laden explosive on a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day. Ed White and David Runk, AP NEWS - 66 minutes ago
Arpaio Says He Isn’t Aware of a Grand Jury Probe Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Friday that he isn’t aware of a federal grand jury investigating him and his office, despite claims from two officials that such a panel is examining alleged abuses by the sheriff. Jacques Billeaud, AP NEWS - 67 minutes ago
W.Va. Experts Say Climate Change Debate Is Over There’s no point in debating the science of climate change, because it’s already a political and legal reality, energy industry experts said Friday. Tom Breen, AP NEWS - 67 minutes ago
Economy 101: Dropouts Hold Down Unemployment Rate Nearly 2 million Americans have dropped out of the work force since last May — and if they hadn’t, the unemployment rate would have risen a lot more dramatically over the last several months. Christopher S. Rugaber, AP NEWS - 67 minutes ago
Dollar Drops as Jobs Data Point to Bumpy Recovery The dollar tumbled Friday as the government’s report on employment showed big job losses in December, signaling a bumpy recovery from the recession. Staff, AP NEWS - 68 minutes ago
US, Arabs Press for Shift in Mideast Peace Talks The Obama administration on Friday laid out a bold shift in its Mideast peace strategy, stepping up pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to resume stalled talks by first taking on the tough issues of borders for a Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem. Matthew Lee, AP NEWS - 68 minutes ago
NY Nurses, Prosecuted for Quitting, File Lawsuit Ten nurses cleared last year of misdemeanors for quitting their jobs at a New York nursing home have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit. Staff, AP NEWS - 70 minutes ago
Egypt Declares UK Politician Persona Non Grata Egypt on Friday declared renegade British lawmaker George Galloway persona non grata, accusing him of incitement after his harsh criticism of Cairo over delays in an aid convoy’s entry into Gaza, the foreign ministry said. Salah Nasrawi, AP NEWS - 71 minutes ago
Giuliani: Obama ‘Turned the Corner’ on Terrorism Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday he believes President Barack Obama “turned the corner” on understanding the nature of terrorism when he publicly declared the U.S. at war. Staff, AP NEWS - 72 minutes ago
Crist Seeks ‘Pro-Life’ Label in Fla. Senate Race Gov. Charlie Crist is saying he’ll fight for “pro-life” legislation if he’s elected to the U.S. Senate after opposing changes to abortion laws during his run for governor. Staff, AP NEWS - 73 minutes ago
NJ Gay Couples: We’ll Fight for Same-Sex Marriage The ceremony was going to be at their home. Along with friends and family, Marty Finkle and Mike Plake were going to invite their state lawmakers who helped them win the right to be married Geoff Mulvihill, AP NEWS - 73 minutes ago
Democratic Mayor Corroon Running for Utah Governor Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon confirmed Friday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Utah governor and take on the difficult task of trying to get elected in one of the nation’s most conservative states. Brock Vergakis, AP NEWS - 74 minutes ago
Judges Deny Bail for Kosher Slaughterhouse Boss A panel of three judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a motion from a former Iowa kosher slaughterhouse manager to be released on bail while he awaits sentencing. Staff, AP NEWS - 75 minutes ago
Iranian Singer Nazeri Detained Overnight, Released Iranian classical singer Shahram Nazeri, dubbed “Iran’s Pavarotti,” was released early Friday after being held overnight for questioning by authorities in Tehran. Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, AP NEWS - 76 minutes ago
Probation for ‘Hills’ Stephanie Pratt Court records show Stephanie Pratt will serve three years of informal probation after pleading no contest to a lesser charge in a drunken driving case. Staff, AP NEWS - 77 minutes ago
Astronomers Spot ‘Super-Earth’ 80 Light Years Away US astronomers have detected the second smallest exoplanet ever discovered with a mass just four times heavier than the Earth, adding to a growing number of low-mass planets dubbed “super-Earths.” Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Obama Speech Won’t Bump ‘Lost’ Premiere: White House US fans of the show ‘Lost’ can breathe a sigh of relief Friday after the White House pledged a key speech by President Barack Obama won’t displace the premiere episode of the show’s final season. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Lebanon Detains Wanted Islamist Lebanese authorities have arrested a man suspected of being a key operative in an Al-Qaeda-inspired militant group, the army said on Friday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
More Egypt Clashes, Arrests Over Copt Christmas Killings Coptic Christians pelted Muslim shops with stones on Friday in a southern Egyptian town where Muslim gunmen killed six Copts after a Christmas Eve mass, a security official said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Tight Security as Nigerian Bomb Suspect Pleads Not Guilty Hobbled by leg irons, a young Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a US plane on Christmas Day pleaded not guilty Friday as he made his first court appearance amid heightened security. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
BlackBerry Presents PowerPoint for ‘Road Warriors’ Research In Motion (RIM) has rolled out a BlackBerry Presenter that business “road warriors” can use to give PowerPoint presentations from the Canadian company’s popular smartphones. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Spain Presents New Internet Anti-Piracy Law The Spanish government presented on Friday a proposed a new Internet anti-piracy law which will allow judges to shut down websites offering illegal downloads of music, movies and other entertainment. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Sanyo Rolls Electric Bicycles Into US Market Japanese electric bicycle titan Sanyo thinks that notoriously car-loving folks in the United States are prime for pedal power. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
US Sheds 85,000 Jobs, Highlighting Sluggish Recovery The US economy lost 85,000 jobs in December while the unemployment rate held at 10.0 percent, according to official data Friday highlighting a slow and painful recovery from recession. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
EU Chiefs Urge Stepped-Up Economic Coordination The European Union’s three chief representatives appealed Friday for greater economic coordination among member countries to revive growth in the bloc following the global crisis. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Jobs Data Shows ‘Road to Recovery Is Never Straight’: Obama President Barack Obama said Friday that a disappointing report showing 85,000 US job losses in December showed that “the road to recovery is never straight.” Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 78 minutes ago
US Envoy Says Afghanistan ‘More Than Karzai’ The US pointman on Afghanistan on Friday played down tensions with President Hamid Karzai, saying that the problems in the war-torn nation involved more than one man. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Canada’s Largest Newspaper Chain for Sale Media titan Canwest Global filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday for its Canadian publishing group as it tries to sell its websites, 10 dailies and 26 community newspapers. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Alleged Eco-Terrorist Arrested Over Canada Pipeline Bombings Canadian police made an arrest Friday in the case of a series of mysterious bombings with suspected links to eco-terrorism along a gas pipeline in western Canada. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 78 minutes ago
Geithner Called to Explain AIG Bailout Secrecy Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will face a congressional grilling later this month about the suppression of key details on deals that funneled billions to big investment banks while he was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Daniel Wagner, AP NEWS - 79 minutes ago
Police: Woman Shocked After Christmas Greeting A 29-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly using a stun gun on a woman who tried to hug her on Christmas night. Deborah Downing has been jailed $15,510 bond. She was charged with aggravated battery, petty theft and violation of pretrial release. It’s unclear if she already has an attorney. Staff, AP NEWS - 84 minutes ago
Iraq Sunni Leader Will Appeal March Election Ban Hopes of persuading Iraq’s minority Sunnis to take part in the March election were dealt a blow Friday after a prominent Sunni politician said he’d been barred from the polls because of alleged ties to Saddam Hussein’s regime. Katharine Houreld, AP NEWS - 85 minutes ago
EU to Pursue Climate Deal Through G-20 The EU said Friday it will pursue a new deal on global warming through the Group of 20, since last month’s U.N. climate conference of nearly 200 nations led to unwieldy negotiations that didn’t accomplish much. Robert Wielaard, AP NEWS - 85 minutes ago
La. Officials Submit Cost-Cutting Plans Due Friday Statewide elected officials are trimming museum hours, shutting recreation sites and limiting purchases and travel while largely avoiding layoffs, in cost-cutting plans submitted to the Louisiana governor’s office by a Friday deadline. Melinda Deslatte, AP NEWS - 87 minutes ago
Paris Airport to Try Scanners on US-Bound Flights Body scanners will be used on an experimental basis at France’s busiest airport later this month for flights headed to the United States, the deputy director of transportation at the General Direction for Civil Aviation said Friday. Julien Proult, AP NEWS - 87 minutes ago
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