Cruise lawsuits: Carnival has advantage

Drought forecast to linger, spread in Plains, West as well as California

More tests needed in LA hotel water tank death

2 San Diego deputies wounded ending standoff, suspect kills self

Pink stripe on illegal immigrant licenses eyed

Women poured hot sauce in boy's eyes

Nation news briefs

OHIO LANDLORD WHIPPED TARDY-PAYING TENANT : WAYNESVILLE, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio landlord is accused of whipping a tenant with a belt on his bare buttocks for falling behind on his rent.

On a hunch, fishermen find crash site, 2 sisters

Hotel altercation sparked Vegas shooting

No. 1 deadbeat parent pleads guilty

New Mexico US Senator Domenici verifies having son outside marriage

Columbia prof strips, shows 9/11 tape during class

No time to eat breakfast? Drink it

Greek yogurt popular with adults, will kids bite?

Obama considers weighing in on gay marriage case

News from around the nation

2 HURT WHEN BALLOON HITS POWER LINE IN NEW MEXICO: RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) - A balloon flying in Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta hit a power line as it tried to land Wednesday, sending two men to the hospital with burns and injuries from a 40-foot fall, officials said.

Design blamed for health website woes

WASHINGTON (AP) - A decision by the Obama administration to require that consumers create online accounts before they can browse health overhaul insurance plans appears to have led to many of the glitches that have frustrated customers, independent experts say.

Parents accused of keeping 4 boys in filth

DENVER (AP) - A Denver couple accused of keeping four malnourished young children in a filthy apartment pleaded guilty to neglecting three other children under strikingly similar conditions in 2006, court records show.

Drug courier, 89, pleads guilty

Food bank helps furloughed workers

TUSAYAN, Ariz. (AP) - One hotel worker was called and told not to come to work. Another has seen a slowing pace of rooms needing to be cleaned. And a hotel manager has decided to shut down after renting out one room on what normally would be a busy October night.

Cop arrested in motorcycle-SUV assault case

NEW YORK (AP) - An undercover detective who investigators said was off duty when he was recorded on video pounding on an SUV as a biker rally spiraled into violence was arrested late Tuesday.

News from around the nation