National news briefs

ALASKA TOWN: FELINE MAYOR IS THE CAT'S PAJAMAS: TALKEETNA, Alaska (AP) - The mayor of a sleepy Alaska town is feline fine.

Weather stops tandem lawn chair balloon flight

BEND, Ore. (AP) - Hours into their lawn-chair balloon flight, two men made a hard landing after they were hit by hail and snow as thunderstorms swept into central Oregon. But their back-yard aircraft floated away.

Obama says no apology to Romney over Bain attacks

WOLFEBORO, N.H. (AP) - Mitt Romney's campaign said Sunday that President Barack Obama is willing to say anything to win a second term and should say he's sorry for attacks on the Republican's successful career at a private equity firm. "No, we will not apologize," the president responded, adding that if Romney wants credit for his business leadership, he also needs to take responsibility.

Space workers struggle a year after last shuttle costs them their jobs

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A year after NASA ended the three-decade-long U.S. space shuttle program, thousands of formerly well-paid engineers and other workers around the Kennedy Space Center are still struggling to find jobs to replace the careers that flourished when shuttles blasted off from the Florida "Space Coast."

Governors put off health care questions until after election

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) - Millions of uninsured people may have to wait until after Election Day to find out if and how they can get coverage through President Barack Obama's health care law.

Idaho farm hosts 'weed dating' for singles

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - For one night a year, a neighborhood farm in northwest Boise turns into a respite for singles who are tired of the same old dating scene.

Nation news briefs

SAN FERNANDO COUNCILWOMAN CHARGED IN BEATING OF EX: SAN FERNANDO (AP) - A San Fernando councilwoman has been charged with destroying a laptop computer and picture frame in a fight with a fellow councilman who resigned after their scandalous affair and an ugly breakup that resulted in mutual restraining orders.

Panel calls for annual PTSD screening

Four drug tunnels found along United States’Mexico border

DC chief: Reports differ on officer's 'threats'

NRA finds some GOP lawmakers resistant to gun laws

Judge upholds child support in Russian adoption

Senate rejects Dem, GOP business tax cut proposals

Dogs from NY, Virginia wed at charity extravaganza costing $158,187.26

Massive landslide in Alaska sweeps over glacier

Methane report further divides fracking camps

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency has dramatically lowered its estimate of how much of a potent heat-trapping gas leaks during natural gas production, in a shift with major implications for a debate that has divided environmentalists: Does the recent boom in fracking help or hurt the fight against climate change?

NYPD whistle-blowers testify at stop-frisk trial

NEW YORK (AP) - After Officer Pedro Serrano decided to testify in federal court about what he sees as wrongdoing within the New York Police Department, a rat sticker appeared on his locker.