Study: State pension shortfalls ballooned in 2010 across USA

Jury begins deliberating in burned Fla. teen case

New Asian immigrants now surpass Hispanics

Wildfires claim 189 homes in Colorado

Veterinarians may give NC zoo elephant contacts

Ohio police: Car into crowd appears accidental

LIMA, Ohio (AP) - A woman who suddenly drove her car into a crowded town square, injuring dozens, likely did so accidentally, authorities in northwest Ohio said Sunday.

Easing of pot laws poses challenge for parents

DENVER (AP) - Michael Jolton was a young father with a 5-year-old son when Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2000. Now he's got three boys, the oldest near adulthood, and finds himself repeatedly explaining green-leafed marijuana ads and "free joint" promotions endemic in his suburban hometown.

Chowchilla 'busnapper' wins release from prison

US reveals accusations against Secret Service

Texas teacher had kindergarten kids hit alleged bully on class

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A Texas teacher will lose her job after ordering more than 20 kindergartners to line up and hit a classmate accused of being a bully, a district spokesman said Friday. The teacher at a suburban San Antonio school is accused of orchestrating the slugfest after a younger teaching colleague went to her last month seeking suggestions on how ...

Catholic hospitals reject birth control compromise

Conn. man calls 911 over beef about sandwich order

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A man angry that a deli had fouled up his sandwich order decided to take his beef to police. The man, identified by police as Rother McLennon of East Hartford, called 911 on Wednesday and complained that he "specifically asked for little turkey and little ham, a lot of cheese and a lot of mayonnaise," and the ...

Pentagon to mark gay pride month

Senate panel boosts spending on IRS, Pell Grants

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate panel divided along party lines Thursday to approve legislation funding President Barack Obama's health care and financial services overhaul laws and boosting spending on the IRS and Pell Grants for low-income college students.

Man sentenced in Grand Canyon child abuse

Builders bulldoze big Mayan pyramid

Detroit is broke; is bankruptcy next?

Ex-yeshiva teacher admits sex assault of New Jersey boy

2nd volcano this month is heating up in Alaska

New York AG wants to prevent Apple picking

Man traveling with pressure cooker arrested

Nation news briefs

VERMONT HOUSE PASSES AID-IN-DYING BILL: MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont House has approved a bill that would make it state the first in the country to legislate allowing physicians to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it.

Is California realignment working?

SACRAMENTO (AP) - In response to a federal court order, Gov. Jerry Brown pushed a novel approach through the Legislature two years ago to dramatically reduce California's prison population.

Compassionate release buoys old inmates

NEW YORK (AP) - At age 88, John Rigas could be a poster child for inmates who might seek early release from prison because of the hazards of advanced aging.

50 years on, finding profit in ‘truth’ on JFK assassination

DALLAS (AP) - On the very day John F. Kennedy died, a cottage industry was born. Fifty years and hundreds of millions of dollars later, it's still thriving.

Drowsy driving kills 11,000 in 10 years

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) - It probably happens to most drivers.

Amtrak unveils new locomotives

SACRAMENTO (AP) - When Amtrak unveils the first of 70 new locomotives Monday at a plant in Sacramento, it will mark what the national passenger railroad service hopes will be a new era of better reliability, streamlined maintenance and better energy efficiency.

17 wounded in New Orleans parade shooting

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Gunmen opened fire on dozens of people marching in a Mother's Day second-line parade in New Orleans on Sunday, wounding at least 17 people, police said.

‘Idol’ judges drama upstaging singers

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The ratings are down. Randy Jackson is out. Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj are still at it.

Paramedic in West, Texas, facing charges

WEST, Texas (AP) - Three days after a massive explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant, Bryce Reed climbed onto a coffee table at a local hotel where displaced families picked over donated sweatshirts and pizza. Wearing a navy blue shirt emblazoned with "West EMS," he gathered the crowd close.