Nation news briefs

DEMS: OBAMA COULD LOSE, DONORS BETTER GET MOVING: WASHINGTON (AP) - In growing numbers, once-confident Democrats now say President Barack Obama could lose the November election.

10,000 germ species live in and on healthy people

Bishops press religious-freedom fight with gov't

Most every day is Flag Day for Philly seamstresses

Nation news briefs

NJ YACHT HOAX RESPONSE COST MORE THAN $300,000: NEW YORK (AP) - Rescue officials say a search operation after a fake report of a yacht explosion off the New Jersey coast cost agencies including the Coast Guard more than $300,000 and took about five hours.

Smoke from wildfire 60 miles away blankets Denver ‘ 100 structures burned

Average price of 4-year university up 15 percent

Tanned NJ woman's salon is fined for overexposure

Face-chewing victim 'awake and alert'

KKK group aims to adopt highway in Georgia for litter control; state balking

Sheriff: Man writing book on kindness shot while hitchhiking across Montana

Nation news briefs

HAWAII TELESCOPE SEES WHAT COULD BE OLDEST GALAXY: HONOLULU (AP) - A team of Japanese astronomers using telescopes on Hawaii say they've seen the oldest galaxy, a discovery that's competing with other "earliest galaxy" claims.

Don’t cuss unless you can pay the fine: Town weighs $20 fines for public swearing

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Officials fed up with public swearing in one town say that forcing the potty-mouthed to pay up might be the right antidote. Residents attending town meeting in Middleborough on Monday night were scheduled to vote on whether to impose a $20 fine for public swearing. Officials insist the proposal, offered by the town's police chief, is not intended ...

New York City pension funds file Wal-Mart suit

No elegant technical fixes for distracted driving

NEW YORK (AP) - When does a smartphone make you dumb? When you're driving. Dialing or texting on a phone is a proven distraction when you're behind the wheel. And as "smart" as today's phones are, they can't compensate for human folly. Phone makers and software developers are making a valiant effort to create elegant technical solutions, but, try as they might, they've yet to solve the problem of distracted driving. A new survey, released ...

Woman faked marriage to dead racer

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Las Vegas woman has been accused of forging a marriage certificate so she could keep her racecar-driving boyfriend's possessions after he died three years ago when his Porsche veered off a mountain road in northern Nevada. Allison Lear was arrested on outstanding warrants May 25 at the Hakkasan nightclub at the MGM Grand. She faces charges of forgery and perjury in what family members characterize as a callous attempt at ...

Nation news briefs

TORNADO HITS OKLAHOMA CITY AREA IN PLAINS OUTBREAK: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Tornadoes rolled in from the prairie and slammed Oklahoma City and its suburbs on Friday, crumbling cars and tractor-trailers along a major interstate and leading to numerous injuries.

Big stink over Camel ads

Would-be Chicago backpack bomber gets 23-year term

Hagel to broach cyberthreats topic with Chinese

Notes to Obama, mayor had gun threats

2 in 5 women would consider parenting solo

Teens wary of social media after homicide

Nation news briefs

BOY, 10, FINDS $10,000 IN KANSAS CITY HOTEL ROOM: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A 10-year-old boy who found $10,000 in a drawer at a Kansas City hotel where he was staying with his dad turned the money over to police.

Soldier to admit Afghan massacre in plea bargain

Decontaminating patients cuts hospital infections

Neighbor sours on property sale to Vt. governor

Letters to NYC mayor test positive for ricin

Obama preparing to name Comey to FBI

Chance for sibling 1st at National Spelling Bee