US, Mexico close to water use pact

Colo., Wash. await federal response to pot measures

Final NJ schoolyard slayings defendant convicted

CIA Director David Petraeus quits over affair

Change coming to Obama's team, just not right away

'Next Bush' makes campaign filing in Texas

DALLAS (AP) - A Texas official says a nephew of former President George W. Bush has made a campaign filing that is required for someone to run for office in his home state. Tim Sorrells, general counsel for the Texas Ethics Commission, says George P. Bush filed a campaign treasurer appointment on Wednesday. Sorrells told The Associated Press on Thursday night the ...

Fast Facts

Breastfeeding baby doll: creepy or groundbreaking?

Odd News

MAN NAPPING IN FIELD RUN OVER BY COMBINE, SURVIVES: BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A man napping in a Montana cornfield was startled out of his snooze when he was run over by a large harvesting machine - and Yellowstone County deputies say he's lucky to be alive.

Judge halts part of human trafficking initiative

Gay-marriage backers end losing streak, look ahead to more change

NEW YORK (AP) - For years, foes of same-sex marriage had a potent talking point: They'd won every time the issue went to a popular vote. That winning streak has now been shattered in a multi-state electoral sweep by gay marriage supporters - a historic tipping point likely to influence other states and possibly even the Supreme Court.

Pot votes in 2 states challenge US drug war

DENVER (AP) - First came marijuana as medicine. Now comes legal pot for the people. Those who have argued for decades that legalizing and taxing weed would be better than a costly, failed U.S. drug war have their chance to prove it, as Colorado and Washington became the first states to allow pot for recreational use. While the measures earned support from broad swaths of the electorate in both states Tuesday, they are likely to ...

New storm bears down on battered NYC, NJ

Deer crashes through carpet store

CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. (AP) - This deer wasn't caught in the headlights. It was called on the carpet. A Pittsburgh-area carpeting store has been cleaning up after the wild animal smashed into the store and ran amok Tuesday. Jill Horvatic, an employee of Stout Carpeting in Castle Shannon, tells WPXI-TV that she hid while the animal ran around, ...

FBI help sought for finding 'Speed Freak' mass murder victims

STOCKTON (AP) - The sheriff of San Joaquin County plans to ask the FBI to take over the job of searching for and recovering the remains of victims linked to two serial murderers known as the Speed Freak Killers following criticism of his agency's handling of the delicate retrieval operation. Sheriff Steve Moore announced his intentions Tuesday after the mother of one ...

Treasury told of IRS probe in June 2012

Marine, dog reunited in surprise ceremony at Iowa State Capitol

Navy pilot earns degree in combat zone

Dark clouds hang over air shows after budget cuts hit military services

Colorado sheriffs sue over gun rules

Alaska volcano shoots ash 15,000 feet into the air

OJ's ex-lawyer contradicts his testimony on guns

Nearly 50 injured as commuter trains collide

Nation news briefs

TRAVIS SUES TO BLOCK DWI PATROL CAR VIDEO RELEASE: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Country music star Randy Travis has filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of patrol car video of his 2012 drunken-driving arrest in North Texas.

Feds propose overhaul for child care centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - Federal health officials proposed Thursday to overhaul 500,000 child care centers across the country, beefing up safety standards including background and fingerprint checks for employees and requiring states to better monitor the facilities.

Judge lets Ariz. license policy stand

Mom in NM chases down her child’s abductor; man arrested

Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend's embryo with a pill

‘Hatchet hitchhiker' arrested in murder

Georgia governor in Bible dispute