Judge: La. woman can flip finger in holiday lights

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• Judge: La. woman can flip finger in holiday lights
• Suzy Favor Hamilton says she has worked as escort
• Indiana stage collapse victims get $6M more in aid
• As U.S. grapples with Benghazi report, Clinton absent
• Booker won't run for NJ gov, eyes US Senate seat
• Teen gets 11 years prison in Fla. burning attack
• Cliff poses many risks to U.S. public sector, few severe: Moody's
• Mass. chemist pleads not guilty in drug lab case
• AP poll: Mass shootings voted top 2012 news story
• Rapper 'Fat Joe' admits tax evasion in NJ court
• Snow in Midwest leads to fatal 25-vehicle pileup
• AP source: Syria again using Scud missiles on foes
• Obama holding 2 inaugural balls, least in 60 years
• Hundreds honor Ravi Shankar in California
• Timeline: Growth of the IntercontinentalExchange
• In Mexico, New Agers hope Dec. 21 brings new era
• NJ Sen. Lautenberg deflects questions about future
• Pension fund reconsider investments in gun makers
• Newtown first responders carry heavy burdens
• For the New York Stock Exchange, a sell order
• Surveillance authority expiring unless Senate acts
• AP IMPACT: Steroids loom in major-college football
• Lawmakers, State officials tangle over Libya raid
• UN OKs military action to oust al-Qaida in Mali
• Dozens of Mich. schools close amid threats, rumors
• Republicans push own "fiscal cliff" plan; talks frozen
• French engineer kidnapped in north Nigeria
• UN OKs military action to oust al-Qaidi in Mali
• Discover Financial Services 4Q net income rises
• UN takes action to help reunify Mali
• Labor Dept. urges talks over Bahrain labor unrest
• Final Capitol tribute to late Hawaii Sen. Inouye
• More funerals, White House meeting follow school attack
• Oil prices drop as US 'fiscal cliff' talks stall
• Barring setback, Redskins' RG3 looks good to go
• Broadway's 'Newsies' recoups its investment
• "Smart guns" show promise, but not readily available on U.S. market
• Capsule reviews of new movie releases
• High or dry? Staying sober for New Year's Eve
• Judge won't set aside 'code of silence' verdict

Judge: La. woman can flip finger in holiday lights Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge says a Louisiana woman has the right to display holiday lights on her roof in the form of an extended middle finger.

Suzy Favor Hamilton says she has worked as escort Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Struggling in her marriage and mired in depression, three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton coped by turning to a life of prostitution, working for an escort service based in Las Vegas.

Indiana stage collapse victims get $6M more in aid Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:34 PM PST INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana attorney general's office sent out $6 million in checks Thursday to 59 victims of 2011's deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse.

As U.S. grapples with Benghazi report, Clinton absent Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:33 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is not known for avoiding controversy. But as Washington reviews an independent inquiry that slammed Clinton's State Department for failures related to the fatal September attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, Clinton herself remains sidelined by illness and out of the public eye. ...

Booker won't run for NJ gov, eyes US Senate seat Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:32 PM PST TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Newark Mayor Cory Booker, perhaps New Jersey's highest-profile Democrat, has ruled out a bid for governor next year and is eyeing a run for U.S. Senate in 2014.

Teen gets 11 years prison in Fla. burning attack Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:30 PM PST FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A teenager convicted of orchestrating an attack on a middle school classmate who was soaked in alcohol and lit ablaze was sentenced to 11 years in prison Thursday even as he continued to insist on his innocence.

Cliff poses many risks to U.S. public sector, few severe: Moody's Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:30 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The "fiscal cliff" of impending federal spending cuts and tax increases set for the beginning of the year poses a wide variety of risks to the public sector, but many of the threats hanging over state and local governments are not severe or direct, Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday. President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders are in the middle of tough negotiations to avert the cliff before the start of the new year. ...

Mass. chemist pleads not guilty in drug lab case Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST BOSTON (AP) — A former Massachusetts drug lab chemist at the center of a scandal that threatens to unravel thousands of criminal cases pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges including perjury and evidence tampering.

AP poll: Mass shootings voted top 2012 news story Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The horrific massacre of 26 children and staff at a Connecticut elementary school, along with other mass shootings, was the top news story of 2012, narrowly edging out the U.S. election, according to The Associated Press' annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.

Rapper 'Fat Joe' admits tax evasion in NJ court Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:26 PM PST NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The rap artist "Fat Joe" pleaded guilty Thursday to failing to pay taxes on nearly $3 million in income he earned over two years for performances and music royalties.

Snow in Midwest leads to fatal 25-vehicle pileup Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:24 PM PST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The first widespread snowstorm of the season crawled across the Midwest on Thursday, with whiteout conditions stranding holiday travelers and sending drivers sliding over slick roads — including into a fatal 25-vehicle pileup in Iowa.

AP source: Syria again using Scud missiles on foes Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:16 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says the Syrian government is continuing to fire Scud missiles at rebels and regime opponents as they make territorial gains.

Obama holding 2 inaugural balls, least in 60 years Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:14 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — With his nation under financial strain, President Barack Obama is restricting the inaugural balls to the lowest number in 60 years, with just two official parties plus a concert honoring military families.

Hundreds honor Ravi Shankar in California Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:08 PM PST ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of friends and family have paid tribute to sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar at a public memorial service near his San Diego-area home.

Timeline: Growth of the IntercontinentalExchange Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:05 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - IntercontinentalExchange Inc on Thursday said it would buy New York Stock Exchange owner NYSE Euronext for $8.2 billion. Atlanta-based ICE operates four regulated futures exchanges, two over-the-counter markets and five clearing houses globally. ...

In Mexico, New Agers hope Dec. 21 brings new era Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:04 PM PST MERIDA, Mexico (AP) — The crystal skulls have spoken: The world is not going to end.

NJ Sen. Lautenberg deflects questions about future Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:03 PM PST TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is deflecting questions about the New Jersey Democrat's political future after Newark Mayor Cory Booker said publicly that he's interested in the 88-year-old lawmaker's seat.

Pension fund reconsider investments in gun makers Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:03 PM PST ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — From California to New York, teacher and public-worker retirement funds are reconsidering their investments in gun makers and confronting an uncomfortable fact: Their pensions have supported the manufacture of deadly weapons, in some cases the same type of gun used in the Connecticut school shooting.

Newtown first responders carry heavy burdens Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:01 PM PST NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — While the people of Newtown do their best to cope with loss and preserve the memories of their loved ones, another class of residents is also finding it difficult to move on: the emergency responders who saw firsthand the terrible aftermath of last week's school shooting.

For the New York Stock Exchange, a sell order Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:59 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The Big Board just isn't so big anymore.

Surveillance authority expiring unless Senate acts Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:58 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The government's authority to intercept electronic communications of foreign spies and terrorist targets will expire at year's end, unless the Senate extends a key surveillance law. A bipartisan group of senators is demanding changes.

AP IMPACT: Steroids loom in major-college football Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — With steroids easy to buy, testing weak and punishments inconsistent, college football players are packing on significant weight — 30 pounds or more in a single year, sometimes — without drawing much attention from their schools or the NCAA in a sport that earns tens of billions of dollars for teams.

Lawmakers, State officials tangle over Libya raid Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Thursday acknowledged major weaknesses in security and errors in judgment exposed in a scathing independent report on the deadly Sept. 11 assault on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya. Two top State officials appealed to Congress to fully fund requests to ensure diplomats and embassies are safe.

UN OKs military action to oust al-Qaida in Mali Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:51 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Thursday approved an African-led military operation to oust al-Qaida-linked extremists from northern Mali, but not before the training of the country's security forces and progress on political reconciliation and elections.

Dozens of Mich. schools close amid threats, rumors Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:51 PM PST DETROIT (AP) — Dozens of Michigan schools canceled classes for thousands of students to cool off rumored threats of violence and problems related to doomsday scenarios based on the Mayan calendar, officials said Thursday.

Republicans push own "fiscal cliff" plan; talks frozen Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:50 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Congress pushed ahead on Thursday with a "fiscal cliff" plan that stands no chance of becoming law as time runs short to reach a deal with President Barack Obama to avert a Washington-induced economic recession. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" to limit income-tax increases to the wealthiest sliver of the population appeared likely to pass the House on Thursday evening after it narrowly cleared a procedural hurdle in the afternoon. ...

French engineer kidnapped in north Nigeria Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:47 PM PST LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — More than 30 assailants stormed a house in northern Nigeria, killing two people and kidnapping a French engineer, in the latest abduction to hit the West African nation, officials said Thursday.

UN OKs military action to oust al-Qaidi in Mali Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:45 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Thursday approved an African-led military operation to oust al-Qaida-linked extremists from northern Mali, but not before the training of the country's security forces and progress on political reconciliation and elections.

Discover Financial Services 4Q net income rises Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:42 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Discover Financial Services on Thursday reported higher earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter, as users of its namesake credit card stepped up purchases and the company wrote off fewer unpaid balances.

UN takes action to help reunify Mali Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:41 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has authorized military action to help reunify Mali but is demanding progress first on political reconciliation, elections and the training of African forces.

Labor Dept. urges talks over Bahrain labor unrest Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:41 PM PST The government of Bahrain has fallen short of commitments to recognize labor rights and prevent employment discrimination under a free trade agreement with the United States, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Final Capitol tribute to late Hawaii Sen. Inouye Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:36 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Daniel Inouye, the second-longest serving senator in U.S. history, was remembered Thursday as a man who gallantly defended his country on the battlefield and gracefully sought to better it during the 50-plus years he represented his beloved state of Hawaii.

More funerals, White House meeting follow school attack Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:30 PM PST NEWTOWN, Connecticut (Reuters) - Even as they buried more victims of the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history on Thursday, residents of Newtown, Connecticut, sought ways to pressure U.S. leaders to restrict access to guns and a White House task force on violence met. Funerals were scheduled for a half-dozen people, some as young as 6 years old, who were shot and killed on Friday by a heavily armed 20-year-old man who attacked an elementary school with an assault rifle. ...

Oil prices drop as US 'fiscal cliff' talks stall Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:29 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Oil closed above $90 a barrel for the first time in two months Thursday as it tracked an upward move in U.S. stock markets.

Barring setback, Redskins' RG3 looks good to go Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:28 PM PST ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Robert Griffin III looks good to go.

Broadway's 'Newsies' recoups its investment Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The boys from "Newsies" now have one more thing to dance about — they've made their money back.

"Smart guns" show promise, but not readily available on U.S. market Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST (Reuters) - When Irish gun entrepreneur Robert McNamara learned of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, his immediate reaction, like that of most people, was one of horror, shock and sadness. But there was something else, too. "I was literally pulling my hair out," McNamara said. "I thought, we have a technology that could have helped prevent that massacre." That technology places a radio chip in a gun handle and a corresponding chip on a ring or bracelet or even implanted in an authorized shooter's hand, McNamara said. ...

Capsule reviews of new movie releases Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST "Amour" — Michael Haneke takes a subject you don't often see in movies and probably don't even want to see — the slow, steady deterioration of an elderly woman — and handles it with great grace. The Austrian writer-director, who's achieved a reputation for a certain mercilessness over the years through films like "Cache" and "Funny Games," displays a surprising and consistent humanity here, and draws unadorned but lovely performances from his veteran stars, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva. Haneke focuses on the intimate moments of their changing lives as the longtime married couple remains holed up in their comfortable Paris apartment, coping day to day, waiting for eventual death. It will surely strike a chord with anyone who's watched a loved one slip away in this manner, whether it's a parent or a spouse. But Haneke's aesthetic can feel too stripped-down, too one-note in its dignified monotony. He will hold a shot, as we know, and once again he avoids the use of a score, so all that's left to focus on is the insular, dreary stillness of quiet descent. Certainly minimalism is preferable to melodrama in telling this kind of story, but Haneke takes this approach to such an extreme that it's often hard to maintain emotional engagement. PG-13 for mature thematic material including a disturbing act, and for brief language. In French with English subtitles. 125 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

High or dry? Staying sober for New Year's Eve Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:16 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Jennifer Perry isn't much of a drinker. Never has been, yet she's ready every New Year's Eve for the inevitable attention when she's out trying to have a good time.

Judge won't set aside 'code of silence' verdict Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:15 PM PST CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by the city of Chicago to set aside a landmark verdict that found Chicago police adhere to a code of silence when it comes to rogue officers.

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