Calif. beach to be roped off year-round for seals

CHULA VISTA (AP) - California coastal regulators voted Wednesday to keep a rope barrier up year-round at a picturesque San Diego beach that's used by seals during breeding season. The seals' presence at Children's Pool has been the subject of a long-running fight, and emotions ran high at the California Coastal Commission meeting, with the public comment period lasting about two hours. ...

Electric rates not falling along with fuel costs

Home cooking expert Cunningham dies at 90

Arcing power lines caused Utah wildfire

Health care options for young, healthy & broke

WASHINGTON (AP) - They're young, healthy and flat broke - and now the government says they have to buy thousands of dollars' worth of medical insurance. What should tapped-out twentysomethings do?

Wildland firefighters win federal health benefits

Episcopal Church approves same-sex blessing

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TEXAS SWITCHES TO 1-DRUG EXECUTION DUE TO SHORTAGE: DALLAS (AP) - Texas, the nation's most active death penalty state, announced Tuesday that it would become the latest to switch to single-drug executions amid a drug shortage that has left states scrambling for acceptable alternatives.

Strip club sues 'Octomom' for cancelled shows

NYC rally: The Million Big Gulp March

New York may go smaller with 300-square-foot apartment units

Firefighters gain ground but struggle in Idaho

4 suspects linked to Fast and Furious

Obama: Tax cuts for families under $250K

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AT&T DROPS LEGAL FIGHT OVER MASS. MAN'S $1M BILL: IPSWICH, Mass. (AP) - AT&T Inc. says it's dropping its legal fight against a Massachusetts businessman whose company was on the hook for a fraudulent million-dollar phone bill.

‘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.

Portland airport stripper fights $1K federal fine

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Criminal probe into plant explosion

Man damages 4 homes with bulldozer

Suspect buried in Virginia cemetery

Theater apologizes for actor carrying fake gun in stunt

Spire installed on WTC tower

DNA: Kidnapping suspect fathered girl

Prince Harry opens weeklong US visit

Dead Boston bombing suspect buried

Woman, parents admit roles in ex's slaying

Minn. approves gay marriage; would be 12th

Nation news briefs

TICKETS ON SALE FOR LADY LIBERTY'S JULY 4 OPENING: NEW YORK (AP) - The Statue of Liberty is reopening July 4 after Superstorm Sandy flooded the island where it stands.