With an asterisk, World Trade Center is back on top in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) - One World Trade Center, the giant monolith being built to replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks, will lay claim to the title of New York City's tallest skyscraper on Monday. Workers will erect steel columns that will make its unfinished skeleton a little over 1,250 feet high, just enough to peak over the roof of the observation deck on the Empire State Building.

Edwards’ fate hinges on ex-right-hand man and wife in corruption trial

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Andrew Young first saw John Edwards speak at an oceanfront hotel in 1998. He was captivated by the U.S. Senate candidate's speech and told his future wife Edwards was going to be president someday - and he was going to work for him.

Obama aide mum on whether US protecting escaped Chinese activist

WASHINGTON (AP) - A top White House aide on Sunday said President Barack Obama wants to strike an "appropriate balance" between advancing human rights and maintaining U.S. relations with China, the first public comments by the administration on its potential involvement in harboring a Chinese activist on the eve of diplomatic talks between the two world powers.

Maine convents recruiting via Internet

BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) - When Sister Elaine Lachance devoted herself to a religious life straight out of high school in 1959, her religious order had more than a dozen convents in the U.S. with nearly 260 sisters.

SUV plunges into Bronx Zoo grounds; 7 killed

NEW YORK (AP) - Authorities say an out-of-control SUV plunged off a highway into a ravine on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo in New York City, killing seven people aboard, including three children.

Nation news briefs

• VT. HOUSE IN RESOLUTION: THANKS FOR THE M&MS: MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont House has passed a resolution thanking one of its members for the peanut M&Ms.

Nation news briefs

Immigration eases up on minor traffic cases WASHINGTON (AP) - Immigration officials say they will no longer immediately detain suspected illegal immigrants who are arrested only on minor traffic violations and have no criminal history. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said Friday that immigration agents will now consider detaining people arrested on minor traffic offenses - provided they have no criminal ...

Nation news briefs

US TO REMOVE 9,000 MARINES FROM OKINAWA: WASHINGTON (AP) - About 9,000 U.S. Marines stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa will be moved to the U.S. territory of Guam and other locations in the Asia-Pacific, including Hawaii, under a U.S.-Japan agreement announced Thursday.

Report: Rebates from health care law will top $1billion for individual policy holders

Secret Service investigating misconduct on 2nd overseas trip

Mexico seized 68,000 guns from US since 2006

Elaborate high school prom invites receive new name: Prom-posals

NEW YORK (AP) - Never mind a text that meekly asks "will u go 2 prom w/me?"

Nation news briefs

3 FIGHT EXPLOSION OVER FACEBOOK THREATS: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Three eighth-graders from northwest Indiana who say they were expelled after joking on Facebook about which of their classmates they would like to kill asked a federal judge Wednesday to order the district to allow them to return to school.

Obama to kick off his first campaign rallies next week in Ohio & Virginia

Add kidneys to list of things that can be recycled

Man convicted of starving son, dumping body

Charges dropped in ricin letters sent to Obama

School district gets bulletproof whiteboards

New York City proposes raising age for cigarette purchases to age 21

Odd News

VIETNAM POLICE SEIZE 53 KING COBRAS FROM CAR: HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnamese police say they have seized 53 king cobras from a car in Hanoi and arrested the driver.

Bill jeopardizes tax-free online shopping

Teen arrested in T-shirt flap back in class

Campbell ends touring career, to release new album

Flight delays pile up amid FAA cuts

Boston bombing suspect charged

Bomb suspect had 2 outbursts at mosque

Nation news briefs

NH KILLER APOLOGIZES TO MACHETE VICTIM'S FAMILY : MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - A man convicted of hacking a woman to death with a machete and maiming her daughter during a home invasion has ordered his lawyers not to argue for a reduced sentence, and said in a statement Monday that he doesn't deserve or expect forgiveness.