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Thursday, January 31, 2013

3 dead after storms rake South, move to Northeast

3 dead after storms rake South, move to Northeast

3 dead after storms rake South, move to Northeast

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:25 PM PST

A vehicle lies on a road after a tornado moved through Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. A fierce storm system that roared across northwest Georgia has left at least one person dead and a trail of damage that included demolished buildings in downtown Adairsville and vehicles overturned on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A violent storm system that spawned deadly tornadoes in the South delivered torrential rain and dangerous winds to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, leaving at least three people dead and tens of thousands without electricity as swollen rivers threatened flooding.

Menendez says he reimbursed donor for 2 jaunts

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:24 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2013 file photo, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert Menendez's office says he reimbursed a prominent Florida political donor $58,500 on Jan. 4 of this year for the full cost of two of three trips Menendez took on the donor's plane to the Dominican Republic in 2010.

10 spots to look out for during Super Bowl Sunday

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:24 PM PST

This undated screenshot provided by Axe shows the Super Bowl advertisement for Axe. Axe's 30-second ad in the third quarter of the game shows a woman in the ocean getting rescued by a sexy lifeguard, but going for an astronaut instead. It promotes Axe's new cologne "Apollo" and its contest to send someone on the first suborbital space tour in 2014. (AP Photo/Axe)Celebrities, humor, babies and cute animals will once again rule the commercial breaks on Sunday during Super Bowl XLVII, advertising's biggest showcase, when more than 111 million people are expected to tune in. Marketers have spent millions and pulled out all the stops to 'wow' viewers this year.

Rubio stands up for fellow Spaniard Pau Gasol

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST

Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio of Spain, left, maintains his balance as he drives past Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Bledsoe in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ricky Rubio is standing up for his fellow Spaniard Pau Gasol, saying he doesn't think it's fair that the Los Angeles Lakers are bringing Gasol off the bench this season.

Phoenix gunman found dead of apparent suicide

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST

This image provided by the Phoenix Police Department shows an undated image of Arthur Douglas Harmon, 70 who authorities identified as the suspect, who they said opened fire at the end of a mediation session at a Phoenix office complex Wednesday Jan. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Phoenix Police Department)PHOENIX (AP) — A man who shot and killed a call-center CEO and critically wounded a lawyer at a Phoenix office building where they were meeting to discuss a contract dispute was found dead early Thursday, ending a nearly 24-hour manhunt that had area residents on edge.

Mickelson shoots 60 at Phoenix Open

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST

Phil Mickelson tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Phil Mickelson missed out on a 59 by a fraction of an inch Thursday in the Phoenix Open.

Republicans hammer defense nominee Chuck Hagel

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST

Republican Chuck Hagel, President Obama's choice for defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senators hammered former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday on issues ranging from Israel and Iran to his support for a group that advocates the elimination of nuclear weapons. But with most Democrats in his corner, an unflustered Hagel seemed headed for approval as defense secretary.

Just try to imagine a Super Bowl without guacamole

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:19 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2007 photo, California grown avocados are seen on display at a market in Mountain View, Calif. So why the avocado and why the Super Bowl? It helped that the avocado season happens to hit its prime right around kickoff. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)Imagine for a moment a Super Bowl without the avocado.

Israel may feel need to strike Syria again

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:17 PM PST

FILE - In this May 22, 2010 file photo, a Hezbollah fighter, stands behind an empty rocket launcher while explaining to the group various tactics and weapons used against Israeli soldiers on the battlefield, during a trip to Hezbollah strongholds, in Sojod village, southern Lebanon. U.S. officials said Israel launched a rare airstrike inside Syria on Wednesday. The target was a convoy believed to be carrying anti-aircraft weapons bound for Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group allied with Syria and Iran. The Israeli airstrike comes at a particularly sensitive and vulnerable time for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite its formidable weapons arsenal and political clout in the country, the group's credibility and maneuvering space has been significantly reduced in the past few years, largely because of the war in neighboring Syria but also because of unprecedented challenges at home. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli air attack staged in Syria this week may be a sign of things to come.

Stocks drift lower, paring January gains

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:14 PM PST

A trader laughs while working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The Dow edged higher Thursday, keeping the index on track for its best start to the year in more than two decades. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)*NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks drifted lower Thursday, but the Standard & Poor's 500 still logged its best January since 1997.

Congress sends Obama bill to raise debt ceiling

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:14 PM PST

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, file photo, the dome of the Capitol is reflected in a skylight of the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington. The Senate Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, took up must-do legislation to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, putting off one Washington showdown even as others loom in coming weeks. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed must-do legislation Thursday to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, averting a first-ever government default that had loomed as early as mid-February.

Diplomats: Iran prepared to up nuclear program

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:13 PM PST

FILE - In this Sept. 2007 file picture an anti-aircraft gun position is seen at Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, Iran. Iran is poised for a major technological update of its uranium enrichment program, allowing it to vastly increase production of the material that can be used for both reactor fuel and nuclear warheads, diplomats told The Associated Press Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The diplomats said that Iran last week told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it wants to install thousands of high-technology machines at its main enriching site at Natanz, in central Iran. The machines are estimated to be able to enrich up to five times faster than the present equipment. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian, File)VIENNA (AP) — In a defiant move ahead of nuclear talks, Iran has announced plans to vastly increase its pace of uranium enrichment, which can make both reactor fuel and the fissile core of warheads. Eager to avoid scuttling those negotiations, world powers are keeping their response low-key.

Oil falls on US unemployment claims data

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:12 PM PST

The price of oil fell Thursday as U.S. unemployment claims rose more than expected.

Authorities: Teen wounded in Ga. school shooting

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:12 PM PST

In this image made from video and released by WSB-TV, authorities investigate the scene of a school shooting, Thursday, Jan 31, 2013 in Atlanta. Authorities say a 14-year-old has been wounded in a shooting at an Atlanta middle school and a suspect has been taken into custody. Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos says the wounded student has been taken "alert, conscious and breathing" to Grady Hospital. (AP Photo/WSB-TV)ATLANTA (AP) — A 14-year-old student was wounded in a shooting at a middle school Thursday, and a suspect was taken into custody, authorities said. No other students were hurt.

Space shuttle Columbia: What happened 10 years ago

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:11 PM PST

FILE - This photo provided by NASA in June 2003 shows STS-107 crew members,from the left (bottom row), wearing red shirts to signify their shift's color, are astronauts Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; Rick D. Husband, mission commander; Laurel B. Clark, mission specialist; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist. From the left (top row), wearing blue shirts, are astronauts David M. Brown, mission specialist; William C. McCool, pilot; and Michael P. Anderson, payload commander. The astronauts were killed on Feb. 1, 2003, in the final minutes of their 16-day scientific research mission aboard Columbia. Altogether, 12 children lost a parent aboard Columbia. The youngest is now 15, the oldest 32. (AP Photo/NASA, File)Ten years ago Friday, the space shuttle Columbia was destroyed and its seven astronauts killed during the final minutes of its flight.

Latvia takes big step to joining euro

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:09 PM PST

Demonstrators hold posters during a protest at the Latvian parliament in Riga, Latvia, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. A small group of protesters gathered outside Latvia's Parliament to heckle lawmakers on their way to vote for changes in a law that will allow the Baltic country to adopt the euro, possibly in January 2014. Recent polls suggest a majority of Latvians are against adopting the euro in light of the debt crisis that has afflicted the eurozone for over three years and fears that the Baltic country will have to help bail out struggling countries. (AP Photo/Roman Koksarov)RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Unemployment, recession, debt, crisis and bailouts: These have been the sort of words that have been associated with the euro currency over the past few years.

Congress passes bill to extend borrowing authority

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:09 PM PST

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, file photo, the dome of the Capitol is reflected in a skylight of the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington. The Senate Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, took up must-do legislation to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, putting off one Washington showdown even as others loom in coming weeks. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved must-do legislation to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, averting a first-ever government default that had loomed as early as mid-February.

NJ Gov. Christie appearing Monday with Letterman

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:06 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will soon be crossing the Hudson River to appear on "Late Show with David Letterman."

Say yes to the mess: marriage proposals gone wrong

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:06 PM PST

This Sept. 20, 2009 photo provided by Valerie Beerbower shows her and her husband Mike at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio. Beerbower was a hot, bothered mess the night her husband, Mike, proposed during what he envisioned as a special evening taking in the sights of Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Everlasting Images)NEW YORK (AP) — Proposing marriage has become an industry of its own with professional planners, flash mobs for hire and elaborate, homegrown surprises to make the moment memorable. And let's not forget YouTube, and our steadfast resolve to share.

2 children, 1 adult die in Detroit freeway pileups

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:04 PM PST

DETROIT (AP) — Police say two children killed in a massive chain-reaction crash on a Detroit freeway are believed to be siblings whose parents were injured in the accident.

NFL expects to have neurologists at games in 2013

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:04 PM PST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — NFL general counsel Jeff Pash says he expects independent neurological consultants to be on sidelines during games next season to help diagnose and treat concussions.

Beyonce admits Inauguration Day lip sync

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:03 PM PST

Beyonce kicks off the NFL football Super Bowl XLVII press conference at the New Orleans Convention Center by singing the National Anthem, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. in New Orleans. The singer says she did lip sync when she performed the national anthem on Inauguration Day. She said she's a "perfectionist" and wanted her performance for President Barack Obama to be a memorable one. She called the day "emotional." (AP Photo/J. David Ake)NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Beyonce faced the music at a press conference Thursday before the Super Bowl, admitting that she did lip sync when she performed the national anthem on Inauguration Day.

IDC: Apple dominates in tablets, but share shrinks

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:01 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple continues to dominate in tablet computers, although its market share is shrinking because of growing competition from Samsung and others, research firm IDC said Thursday.

APNewsBreak: Afghan massacre trial set for Sept.

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:57 PM PST

SEATTLE (AP) — A military judge has scheduled a Sept. 3 court martial for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the U.S. soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan villagers during nighttime raids last year, his lawyer said Thursday.

Egypt's police regain Mubarak-era notoriety

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:57 PM PST

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 file photo, Egyptian riot police arrest a man during clashes with protesters near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. With near impunity and the backing of the Islamist president, Egyptian police have over the past week used excessive and often deadly force against protesters across much of the country, regaining their Mubarak-era notoriety as a tool of repression. With nearly 60 people dead and hundreds injured, police have re-emerged as a significant political player after spending the past two years on the sidelines. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)CAIRO (AP) — With near impunity and the backing of the Islamist president, Egyptian police have been accused of firing wildly at protesters, beating them and lashing out with deadly force in clashes across much of the country the past week, regaining their Hosni Mubarak-era notoriety as a tool of repression.

Syria threatens retaliation for Israeli airstrike

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:55 PM PST

This graphic shows the location of a Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 Israeli airstrike on a military target in Jamraya, Syria, about 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the border with Lebanon. (AP Graphic)BEIRUT (AP) — Syria threatened Thursday to retaliate for an Israeli airstrike and its ally Iran said the Jewish state will regret the attack.

Ready to rumble: Super Bowl fans get in the game

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:52 PM PST

This frame grab provided by Coca Cola, shows a moment in the Super Bowl 2013 Coca Cola campaign. You don't have to be a football player to be a part of the action on Super Bowl Sunday. Coca-Cola is asking people to vote for an online match between three groups competing for a Coke on Game Day. (AP Photo/Coca Cola)NEW YORK (AP) — You don't have to be a football player to be a part of the action on Super Bowl Sunday.

Beyonce admits she lip synced at Inauguration

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:50 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama as Beyonce sings the national anthem at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. Whether Beyonce actually sang at the inauguration is a tempest in a teapot, but dig deeper and it reveals something about American society at this moment. In small ways, we seem to be constantly learning that the things we see and experience aren't exactly what they're billed to be _ and that we may not care all that much. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, file)NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Beyonce says she did lip sync when she performed the national anthem on Inauguration Day.

Haiti 'snake artist' uses Carnival to get by

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:46 PM PST

In this Jan. 25, 2013 photo, snake handler Saintilus Resilus holds a snake in front of his lips as he trains the snake to recognize his smell as he prepares for his street performances during the pre-Lenten Carnival season, at his home in Petionville, Haiti. Resilus sees himself as something of a performance artist, showing off with snakes and other animals that Haitians don't see every day, earning tips from impromptu audiences. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Saintilus Resilus' day job this time of year is walking the streets of Haiti's capital with snakes on his head.

Lender Processing paying $121M to resolve claims

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:45 PM PST

One of the biggest U.S. mortgage processing companies has agreed to pay $121 million to resolve states' claims that it wrongfully foreclosed on homeowners who should have been allowed to stay in their homes.

Sept. 11 judge rules on censor but little else

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:43 PM PST

In this pool photo of a sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin and reviewed by the U.S. Department of Defense, three of the five Sept. 11 defendants, from left, Ramzi Binalshibh, Walid bin Attash and the self-proclaimed terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, attend a hearing on pretrial motions in their death penalty case at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Two of the defendants delayed the start of the hearing Monday when they refused to respond to questions from military judge U.S. Army Col. James Pohl, second from right. (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin, Pool)GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — The second round of pretrial hearings in the Sept. 11 case sputtered to a close Thursday with the judge ordering the government to remove censorship equipment from the courtroom at the U.S. base in Cuba but little progress on some fundamental legal issues that must be resolved before the long-stalled case can go to trial.

FACT CHECK: Gun-control claims miss target

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:43 PM PST

National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. Supporters and opponents of stricter gun control measures face off at a hearing on what lawmakers should do to curb gun violence in the wake of last month's shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn. that killed 20 schoolchildren. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON (AP) — The intensifying gun-control debate has given rise to sloppy claims on both sides.

Feds: $13.6M in phony sports goods confiscated

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:39 PM PST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Investigators have confiscated more than $13.6 million worth of phony sports merchandise over the past five months and expect to seize more in New Orleans during Super Bowl week, a federal law-enforcement official said Thursday.

Beckham joins PSG and pledges to play for free

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:32 PM PST

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 file photo Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham, of England, acknowledges the fans as he leaves the field after the team's 3-1 win in the MLS Cup championship soccer match against the Houston Dynamo in Carson, Calif. According to reports Thursday Jan. 31, 2013, David Beckham is to join Paris Saint-Germain. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)PARIS (AP) — In a lucrative career that has seen him earn millions around the world, David Beckham has joined Paris Saint-Germain pledging to play for free and donate his salary to a children's charity.

Sacrificial skull mound in Mexico puzzles experts

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:27 PM PST

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Archaeologists say they have turned up about 150 skulls of human sacrifice victims in a field in central Mexico, one of the first times that such a large accumulation of severed heads has been found outside of a major pyramid or temple complex in Mexico.

Senators assail Obama's Pentagon nominee, question judgment

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:23 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers harshly attacked Chuck Hagel on Thursday at a contentious hearing over his nomination to become the next U.S. defense secretary, questioning his judgment on war strategy and putting him broadly on the defensive. In one of the most heated exchanges, influential Senator John McCain aggressively questioned Hagel, interrupting him and talking over him at times. He openly voiced frustration at Hagel's failure to say plainly whether he was right or wrong to oppose the 2007 surge of U.S. troops in Iraq. ...

A map for including disabled students in sports

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:20 PM PST

In this Jan. 29, 2013 photo, high school students participate in a floor hockey game between the home team Humboldt High School Hawk, in black, and the Rochester Raiders in St. Paul, Minn. Floor hockey is one of the "adapted athletics" programs the state high school league has run since 1992. Minnesota has become a model state as the federal government pushes schools to include more disabled students in sports. Coaching the Hawks is Mary Bohland, background left. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — After a tough 5-1 loss, Jordan Anderson was sweaty, short of breath and sorry he hadn't played stronger defense during the floor hockey game at Humboldt High. He resolved to improve next time.

Obama decides not to extend term of jobs council

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:17 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2012, file photo, General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt listens at right as President Barack Obama meets with the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Obama's jobs council is expiring, and there are no signs he plans to renew it. Obama created the council in 2011 and filled it with prominent business leaders and economists. The panel offered advice on accelerating job creation, but the president only met with the council a handful of times. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is letting his jobs council expire, cutting off one source of input from business leaders while unemployment remains stubbornly high.

Colombia judge nixes ban on film on hostage's baby

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:17 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2008 file photo, kidnapped in 2002 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, freed hostage Clara Rojas prepares to speak upon her arrival in Bogota, Colombia. Rojas, who gave birth to a son in 2004 while a hostage of the rebel group, has asked a court to prevent the film, BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A judge has spurned a prominent Colombian's attempt to prevent the release of a feature film about the odyssey of the child born to her while she was a rebel hostage.

Jennifer Hudson to sing with Sandy Hook chorus

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:17 PM PST

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, file photo, Jennifer Hudson sings at the Inaugural Ball, in Washington, during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. The NFL announced Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, that Jennifer Hudson will join the chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jennifer Hudson will join the chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing "America the Beautiful" before Sunday's Super Bowl game.
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Victim's ex testifies in Arizona slaying trial

Victim's ex testifies in Arizona slaying trial

Victim's ex testifies in Arizona slaying trial

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:22 PM PST

Defendant Jodi Arias appears in court for her murder trial at the Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Phoenix. Arias is charged with murder in the death of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, and prosecution is seeking the death penalty.(AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Charlie Leight)PHOENIX (AP) — Attorneys for a woman charged with killing her lover worked Wednesday at her trial to portray the victim as a liar and cheat who repeatedly deceived his girlfriends in the months before his death.

GOP lawmakers see automatic cuts as leverage

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:22 PM PST

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., meets with reporters following a weekly Democratic strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON (AP) — There's a growing sense of resignation that the county's political leaders will be unable or unwilling to find a way around looming automatic spending cuts despite fresh signs the trims would threaten the recovering economy.

Standoff: Ala. gunman kills bus driver, seizes boy

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST

Law enforcement personnel work at check point Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Midland City, Ala., near the home where the Tuesday's school bus shooting suspect is barricaded in a bunker with a young child as hostage. Police, SWAT teams and negotiators were at a rural property where a man was believed to be holed up in a homemade bunker Wednesday after fatally shooting the driver of a school bus and fleeing with a 6-year-old child passenger, authorities said. (AP Photo/The Dothan Eagle, Jay Hare)MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — Police hostage negotiators were locked in a standoff Wednesday with a gunman authorities say intercepted a school bus, killed the driver, snatched a 6-year-old boy and retreated with the kindergartener into a bunker at his home.

Three retailers drop Irish beef baron's firm over horsemeat row

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST

A shopper passes a Tesco supermarket in LondonLONDON/DUBLIN (Reuters) - Tesco, the Co-operative Group and Aldi fired a supplier controlled by Ireland's most powerful beef baron on Wednesday for selling them burgers shown to contain horsemeat. The three retailers said they would no longer use Irish supplier Silvercrest Foods because of trust issues relating to where products were sourced, following a similar move by Burger King last week. The world's No. ...

Fed says growth pause temporary, keeps up stimulus

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. The Federal Reserve says growth "paused" in recent months and reaffirmed its commitment to boost a sluggish U.S. economy by keeping borrowing cheap for the foreseeable future. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the U.S. economy "paused" in recent months because of temporary factors and reaffirmed its commitment to try to stimulate growth by keeping borrowing costs low for the foreseeable future.

Nabors on marrying partner: 'Just wanted it legal'

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:14 PM PST

FILE - Jim Nabors is seen in character for his role of Gomer Pyle in this 1966 file photo. Hawaii News Now reports Jim Nabors and his partner, Stan Cadwallader, traveled from their Honolulu home to Seattle to be married Jan. 15, 2013. The couple met in 1975 when Cadwallader was a Honolulu firefighter. The 82-year-old Nabors says you've got to solidify something when you've been together as long as they have. (AP Photo)HONOLULU (AP) — Actor Jim Nabors says marrying his longtime male partner doesn't change anything about their relationship — he just wanted it to be formally acknowledged.

Priest, teacher convicted in Pa. church abuse case

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:14 PM PST

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A jury on Wednesday convicted a priest and teacher in a pivotal church-abuse case that rocked the Philadelphia archdiocese and sent a church official to prison for child endangerment.

Stocks close lower after economy report

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:13 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed lower after a report that showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, putting the brakes on a January rally that has pushed stocks toward record levels.

Emerson, wife Preston 'giggly' over on-screen kiss

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:07 PM PST

This undated image released by CBS shows Michael Emerson, left, and Carrie Preston in a scene from "Person of Interest." Emerson has played a serial killer, a mysterious, villainous Island leader and currently stars as a billionaire computer genius on NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Emerson has played a serial killer, a mysterious, villainous Island leader and currently stars as a billionaire computer genius on "Person of Interest." But he says playing the romantic interest for his real life wife has been his most unsettling role.

'How I Met Your Mother' to end run, mystery

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:02 PM PST

This undated image released by CBS shows, from left, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders in a scene from "How I Met Your Mother." The sitcom will air its ninth and final season next fall and will at last answer the question about who the mom is, the network said Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. That would be the mystery woman with whom Ted, played by Josh Radnor, ultimately has a family. (AP Photo/CBS, Cliff Lipson)LOS ANGELES (AP) — CBS says the big reveal is coming for "How I Met Your Mother."

Green thumb? Wash. state looks for pot consultant

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Wanted: A green thumb with extensive knowledge of the black, or at least gray, market.

Week of unrest weakens Egypt's Islamist leader

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:57 PM PST

An Egyptian protester throws stones at riot police, not seen, during clashes near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Egypt's liberal opposition leader called for a broad national dialogue with the Islamist government, all political factions and the powerful military on Wednesday, aimed at stopping the country's eruption of political violence that has left scores dead in the past week. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's Islamist president has been significantly weakened by a week of violent protests across much of the country, with his popularity eroding, the powerful military implicitly criticizing him and some of his ultraconservative Islamist backers distancing themselves from him.

Investors give cool reception to new BlackBerrys

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:57 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — The long-awaited debut of new BlackBerry smartphones flopped on Wall Street.

Israel hits Syria arms convoy to Lebanon: sources

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:54 PM PST

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli jets bombed a convoy near Syria's border with Lebanon early on Wednesday, sources told Reuters, apparently targeting weapons destined for Hezbollah in what some called a warning to Damascus not to arm Israel's Lebanese enemy. Syrian state television accused Israel of bombing a military research center, at Jamraya between the capital and the nearby border, but Syrian rebels disputed that, saying their forces had attacked the site. No source spoke of a second Israeli strike. ...

Brazil nightclub owner blames country for fire

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:51 PM PST

A man cries during a protest near the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The blaze began at around 2:30 am local time on Sunday, during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)SANTA MARIA, Brazil (AP) — The owner of a nightclub in southern Brazil where more than 230 people died in a fire last weekend deflected blame to "the whole country," as well as to architects and inspectors charged with making sure the building was safe, his lawyer said Wednesday.

In Senate farewell, Kerry speaks of need to listen

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:50 PM PST

This handout frame grab image provided by C-SPAN2 shows Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. giving his last speech as senator, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington. Kerry's last day as senator is Friday as he prepares to become the nation's next secretary of state. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. is at right. (AP Photo/CSPAN2)WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State-designate John Kerry is saying farewell to the Senate.

GDP unexpectedly shrinks, decline seen temporary

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:50 PM PST

Containers await departure as crews load and unload consumer products at the Port of New Orleans along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, LouisianaWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, but analysts said there was no reason for panic given that consumer spending and business investment picked up. Gross domestic product fell at a 0.1 percent annual rate, its weakest performance since it emerged from recession in 2009, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. If it were not for the hit from slower inventory growth and the deepest plunge in defense spending in 40 years, the economy would have grown at a respectable 2.5 percent rate. ...

'Entourage' crew to make leap to big-screen

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:49 PM PST

FILE - In this July 28, 2011 file photo, actor Kevin Connolly, left, and actor Adrian Grenier speak during The Television Critics Association 2011 Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Grenier and Connolly star in the series "Entourage" on HBO. Warner Bros. confirmed Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, that a film version of HBO's hit series LOS ANGELES (AP) — Vincent Chase and his entourage are jumping from the small screen to the big-screen.

Jury convicts priest, teacher in church-abuse case that has rocked Philadelphia Archdiocese

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:49 PM PST

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jury convicts priest, teacher in church-abuse case that has rocked Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Nicki Minaj isn't sweating lack of Grammy nods

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:49 PM PST

FILE- In this Nov. 18, 2012 file photo, Nicki Minaj arrives at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards, in Los Angeles. Despite having a big year in music, Nicki Minaj didn't receive any Grammy nominations. The 30-year-old had one of last year's biggest hits with the multiplatinum dance-pop anthem NEW YORK (AP) — Despite having a big year in music, Nicki Minaj didn't receive any Grammy nominations. Not a problem, she says.

Powerful storm flips cars, decimates homes; 2 dead

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:48 PM PST

A vehicle lies on a road after a tornado moved through Adairsville, Ga. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. A fierce storm system that roared across northwest Georgia has left at least one person dead and a trail of damage that included demolished buildings in downtown Adairsville and vehicles overturned on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A massive storm system raked the Southeast on Wednesday, spawning tornadoes and dangerous winds that overturned cars on a Georgia interstate and demolished homes and businesses, killing at least two people.

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake shakes northern Chile

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:47 PM PST

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A magnitude-6.7 earthquake has shaken northern Chile but authorities say there are no reports of injuries or damage.

Giffords seeks "bold" action as Congress takes up gun control

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:46 PM PST

Former US Rep. Gifford delivers her statement during gun control hearing in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, grievously wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, made an emotional plea on Wednesday for Congress to take action to curb gun violence, but a National Rifle Association executive said new gun laws "have failed in the past and they'll fail again." Speaking haltingly, Giffords urged lawmakers to be bold and courageous as she opened testimony at the first congressional hearing on gun violence since the December 14 massacre in which a gunman shot dead 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. ...

Syria opposition leader would talk to Assad regime

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:44 PM PST

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's top opposition leader declared on Wednesday that he is willing to negotiate with members of President Bashar Assad's regime to bring a peaceful end to the country's civil war, provoking an outcry from opposition groups that insist Assad must step down first.

Dr. Phil: Te'o was victim of girlfriend hoax

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:43 PM PST

In this Jan. 24, 2013, photo provided by CBS Television Distribution/Peteski Productions, talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw, left, interviews Ronaiah Tuiasosopo during taping for the "Dr. Phil Show" in Los Angeles. The program, scheduled to air Thursday, Jan. 31, and Friday, Feb. 1, will show the first on-air interview of Tuiasosopo, the man who allegedly concocted the girlfriend hoax that ensnared Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o. (AP Photo/CBS Television Distribution/Peteski Productions)SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Dr. Phil McGraw says Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who masterminded the dead girlfriend hoax involving Manti Te'o, told him the Notre Dame linebacker was not involved in the scheme and that he ended up falling "deeply, romantically" in love with the football player.

Israel conducts rare airstrike on Syria

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:43 PM PST

Map locates Jamraya, SyriaBEIRUT (AP) — Israel conducted a rare airstrike on a military target inside Syria near the border with Lebanon, foreign officials and Syrian state TV said Wednesday, amid fears President Bashar Assad's regime could provide powerful weapons to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

Lewis says he's 'agitated,' not angry about story

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:40 PM PST

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. Lewis denied a report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Smiling, even laughing, at questions about a report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said Wednesday he "never, ever took" the stuff.

Transfers providing a boost in college basketball

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:39 PM PST

Missouri's Alex Oriakhi, right, pulls down a rebound in front of Vanderbilt's Shelby Moats, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)College basketball coaches all around the country are using experienced transfers to restock their rosters.

Police: DNA ties dead man to Mo. prof's '05 murder

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:37 PM PST

This combination of undated photos provided by the University of Missouri Police Department shows Timothy Hoag, left, and University of Missouri scientist Jeong H. Im who was killed in 2005. University officials said Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 that Im was killed by Hoag who took his own life five months ago. (AP Photo/University of Missouri Police Department)COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Authorities announced Wednesday that they know who killed a University of Missouri professor in a campus parking garage eight years ago, but that they may never be able to explain the vicious attack because the suspect committed suicide last summer.

Review: Microsoft Office pricey, but good value

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:37 PM PST

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's new version of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company's key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)NEW YORK (AP) — As much as I like Google Docs for word processing and spreadsheets, I find the online software clunky at times. So I was skeptical when I heard Microsoft is trying to sell its new version of Office as an online subscription.

APNewsBreak: Operator cited in NYC crane collapse

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:36 PM PST

FILE- In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, a mangled crane lies at the construction site in the Queens borough of New York where it collapsed behind a big neon "Pepsi Cola" sign, a local landmark. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, the New York City Buildings Department cited Paul Greer, the crane operator, and the contractor, Cross Country Construction LLC with safety violations that could cost each of them $64 thousand in fines. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)NEW YORK (AP) — A crane operator and a contractor didn't inspect equipment, failed to take proper precautions and ran the rig unsafely before it collapsed while building a New York City apartment tower and injured seven construction workers, officials said Wednesday.

Boeing sticks to production plans, battery for 787

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:34 PM PST

Boeing is sticking with plans to speed up production of its 787 and sees no reason to change the lithium-ion battery design at the center of the troubled plane's problems, its CEO said Wednesday.

Mixed decision in phony Scrolls email appeal

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:33 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — Evidence in a rare Internet impersonation case showed that a highly educated defendant broke the law by trying to "damage the careers and livelihoods" of scholars caught up in an academic debate about the Dead Sea Scrolls, a New York appeals court ruled in a mixed decision made public Wednesday.

New Orleans' challenge: policing 2 huge parties

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:31 PM PST

FILE -In this Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 file photo, National Guardsmen patrol the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. It's an unprecedented security challenge for New Orleans: the city's increasingly raucous buildup to Mardi Gras gets suspended for a week as 150,000 visitors flood the town for Super Bowl. Joining the police department's 1,200-plus officers for Super Bowl week are more than 200 state troopers and about 100 officers from surrounding local jurisdictions. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans police force famed for its crowd control prowess is getting help from state and federal authorities as the city hosts an estimated 150,000 Super Bowl fans while preparing for the raucous buildup to Mardi Gras, which also draws thousands to the historic French Quarter and its restaurants, bars and strip clubs.

Menendez denies he was with Dominican prostitutes

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:29 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2013 file photo, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.

Gulf leads UN appeal for major boost in Syrian aid

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:25 PM PST

Representatives from member states, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations pose for a group photo at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. The U.N. chief made a dramatic appeal Wednesday for a major boost in relief aid for Syria, calling for an end to the fighting "in the name of humanity" as an international conference opened in Kuwait with both foes and backers of President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)KUWAIT CITY (AP) — An emergency U.N. appeal to raise $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for Syria exceeded its goal Wednesday at a conference with dire predictions of rising civilian costs and Jordan's king saying the refugee crunch has pushed his nation's resources to the breaking point.

Lawmaker: Ala. child held in bunker got medicine

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:24 PM PST

Law enforcement personnel work at check point Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Midland City, Ala., near the home where the Tuesday's school bus shooting suspect is barricaded in a bunker with a young child as hostage. Police, SWAT teams and negotiators were at a rural property where a man was believed to be holed up in a homemade bunker Wednesday after fatally shooting the driver of a school bus and fleeing with a 6-year-old child passenger, authorities said. (AP Photo/The Dothan Eagle, Jay Hare)MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama legislator says a 6-year-old boy who is being held hostage has been able to receive medicine and watch TV.

Ravens-49ers: Which brother wins?

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:24 PM PST

Graphic shows Ravens and 49ers team matchups and how they’ll fare in Super Bowl actionNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers never have tasted defeat in a Super Bowl, going 5-0. It's the most impressive mark for any franchise in the big game.

Menendez denies he was with prostitutes in Dom Rep

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:24 PM PST

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2013 file photo, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.

Ala. legislator: Child hostage being held by gunman in bunker got medicine, able to watch TV

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:22 PM PST

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — Ala. legislator: Child hostage being held by gunman in bunker got medicine, able to watch TV.
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