AP surges as tool for schools raising standards

WASHINGTON (AP) - Not long ago, Advanced Placement exams were mostly for top students looking to challenge themselves and get a head start on college credit. Not anymore.

National Christmas Tree has died near White House

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal officials say the National Christmas Tree planted near the White House a year ago has died and is being removed.

Doolittle's Raiders recall daring WW II mission

ALAMEDA (AP) - Three of Doolittle's Raiders who helped boost American morale during the early days of World War II recalled the dangers of their bold bombing attack on Japan mainland.

National News Briefs

GIRL, 14, HELD IN DEATH OF HER 4-YEAR-OLD COUSIN: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis police say a 14-year-old girl found covered in blood faces a preliminary murder charge in her 4-year-old cousin's stabbing death.

George Lindsey, known as TV's Goober Pyle, dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - George Lindsey, who made a TV career as a grinning service station attendant named Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," has died. He was 83.

Crab chips, fruity Oreos big overseas

NEW YORK (AP) - Russians prefer their Lay's potato chips dusted in caviar and crab flavors. The Chinese like their Oreos stuffed with mango and orange cream. And in Spain, Kellogg's All-Bran cereal is served floating in hot coffee instead of cold milk.

Feinstein along with intelligence heads counterpart in House say Taliban stronger

WASHINGTON (AP) - The leaders of the congressional committees said Sunday they believed that the Taliban had grown stronger since President Barack Obama sent 33,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in 2010.

Paul wins majority of delegates from Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - With Mitt Romney's GOP presidential nomination all but decided, Ron Paul supporters took control of the Maine Republican Convention and elected a majority slate supporting the Texas congressman to the GOP national convention, party officials said. The results gave the Texas congressman a late state victory.

Biden OK with equal rights for gay couples

WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden says he's "absolutely comfortable" with gay couples who marry getting the same civil rights and liberties as heterosexual couples, a stand that gay rights advocates interpreted as an endorsement of same-sex marriage.

Long fight predicted in Guantanamo Sept. 11 case

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) - The U.S. has finally started the prosecution of five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, but the trial won't be starting anytime soon, and both sides said Sunday that the case could continue for years.

Look! Up in the sky! It’s Supermoon! Due Saturday

NEW YORK (AP) - The biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual.

Nation news briefs

BREAST CANCER IS RARE IN MEN, BUT THEY FARE WORSE: CHICAGO (AP) - Men rarely get breast cancer, but those who do often don't survive as long as women, largely because they don't even realize they can get it and are slow to recognize the warning signs, researchers say.

Phoenix woman faked cancer to get implants

PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix woman has been charged with fraud and theft after authorities say she told people she had breast cancer and needed treatment so she could get money from them to buy breast implants. Police reports filed in Maricopa County Superior Court say 27-year-old Jami Lynn Toler told her former boss she needed a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction ...

WAR.

Romney says he wanted gay spokesman to stay

Possible 9/11 plane landing gear part found in New York

Fired Oregon officer: Alcoholism is disability

Controllers to return; flight delays sway Congress

\

Obama backs Planned Parenthood in political fight

Student's prom dress is one of a kind

Boston bomb suspect moved