Nation news briefs

• SURVEY: NEXT PRESIDENT FACES HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT: WASHINGTON (AP) - A majority of economists in the latest Associated Press Economy Survey expect the national unemployment rate to stay above 6 percent - the upper bounds of what's considered healthy - for at least four more years.

Nation news briefs

JETBLUE PILOT NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY: AMARILLO, Texas (AP) - A federal judge in Texas found a JetBlue Airways pilot who left the cockpit during a flight and screamed about religion and terrorists not guilty by reason of insanity Tuesday.

Andy Griffith, creator of Mayberry, dies at 86

Guns blamed for starting wildfires

Ohio try at 'personhood' amendment to say start of life at fertilization falls short

At July lull, presidential race is close as ever

Evidence of 'God particle' found

Fatal crash grounds key part of firefighting

Sex offender accused of attacking boy

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man on parole for trying to infect children with HIV nearly twenty years ago pulled a boy into a Portland restaurant bathroom over the weekend, attempted to sexually assault him and then stabbed him several times, police said. The 10-year-old's injuries from the attack Sunday were severe enough to require surgery, and officers said he would have ...

Nation news briefs

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, MAYOR SWORN IN FROM HAWAII: ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage residents were met with overcast skies Monday as their mayor took the oath of office - not in Alaska - but in sunny Honolulu, where it was warm, with classic Hawaii temperatures of 80 degrees.

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PA. HIGH SCHOOL PUTS ITSELF UP FOR SALE ON EBAY: LANGHORNE, Pa. (AP) - Forget magazine drives and candy sales. A cash-strapped high school near Philadelphia hopes to raise money by auctioning itself on eBay.

At July lull, presidential race is close as ever

Paterno family: Release all emails, records

Research shows early full-term babies may face later school woes

CHICAGO (AP) - Even for infants born full-term, a little more time in the womb may matter.

Super Bowl: float, route change for Choctaw

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Super Bowl is costing a Mardi Gras parade krewe on New Orleans' west bank its usual floats and its usual route.

NJ town to restrict baggy pants

Nation news briefs

CLEVELAND PUNISHES 12 OFFICERS IN DEADLY CHASE: CLEVELAND (AP) - Cleveland police fired a sergeant and meted out demotions and suspensions Tuesday for a car chase last year that involved five dozen cruisers, 137 rounds of ammunition fired by 13 officers, and the death of two people who, it turned out, were probably unarmed.

AT&T launches push-to-talk service for iPhone

Deal reached in case against Pa. nude 'pope'

Big Apple’s future: A lot of water?

Jury selection begins in Zimmerman's trial

Transplant group rejects lung rule changes

Rear slap gets ex-NFL player 30 days jail

Spy programs raise ire both home, abroad

Odd News

Study: Even for drop-outs, college pays

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - It sounds like the worst of all worlds - borrowing money for college, then dropping out and facing the debt without a degree.

Nation news briefs

HOUSTON WOMAN CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE IN HEEL STABBING: HOUSTON (AP) - Officials say a Houston woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death with a stiletto high heel told police she was trying to protect herself.

Free gun initiative begins in Houston

HOUSTON (AP) - Houston resident Cheryl Strain's inexperience with guns was apparent as she struggled to load shells into a 20-gauge shotgun.

Obama, Xi signal new start with walk in the desert

PALM SPRINGS (AP) - It may not have been Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev's Cold War walk by a frozen lake in Switzerland.

Stripped-down Harley roaring back

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Some motorcycle enthusiasts feared Keith Wandell might be the outsider who drove Harley-Davidson into the ground. Instead, he may be remembered as the guy who kept the motorcycle maker on the road.