Side Briefs

US GOVERNMENT TELLS COMPUTER USERS TO DISABLE JAVA: WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advising people to temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid potential hacking attacks.

Beauty contestant plans double mastectomy

Navy reviews fire safety of working uniforms

NY looks at 800 rape cases for possible DNA errors

Little expected from exam of school gunman's body

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut's chief medical examiner says he doubts toxicological tests and genetic analysis of the body of the gunman who fatally shot 20 children and six educators at an elementary school will explain his actions. The Hearst Connecticut Media Group reported Friday that Dr. H. Wayne Carver II, who autopsied the body of the gunman Adam Lanza, said an ...

Obama, Karzai: Time to wind down war

US-born Taliban fighter wins prison prayer lawsuit for himself & fellow Muslims

Odd News

HORSE ESCAPES MD. RACETRACK, GALLOPS ALONG ROAD: LAUREL, Md. (AP) - Racetrack officials say a horse escaped from Laurel Park in Maryland and galloped 1.6 miles on a road with traffic before being caught.

No charges for host over ammo magazine

Fed agency retracts reprimand to flatulent worker for ‘creating hostile’ workplace

School arming janitors with guns

Nation news briefs

LESSON FLAP: TEACHER ACCUSED OF STOMPING ON FLAG; CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) - An English teacher at a South Carolina high school is facing disciplinary action after officials say he stomped on an American flag in front of his students in a bid to spur discussion.

Colorado shooting suspect to face trial

Texas court asks: Is man's best friend priceless?

Flu season strikes early and, in some places, hard as 20 children die so far

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