Tabloid Archives

Thursday, March 18

Do You Want to Pay a 'National Broadband Fee'?

The recently released national broadband plan has grand ideas for hooking people up to high-speed Internet, and are looking at a "national broadband fee" to pay for it. [More]

PepsiCo cuts sugary drinks from schools worldwide

PepsiCo plans to remove sugary drinks from schools worldwide, following the success of programs in the U.S. aimed at cutting down on childhood obesity. [More]

Former CEO of Circuit City nabs $350,000 in bonuses

The ex-CEO of Circuit City (you know, the guy who has that "ex" distinction because his company went bankrupt) has gotten approval for a $350,000 bonus and will also be paid hundreds of dollars an hour for consulting work he provided in the retail chain's final days. [More]

Report: Arrest Made in Drug Ring Tied to Corey Haim

An arrest was made Wednesday in an ongoing investigation of an illegal prescription drug ring tied to Corey Haim, People magazine reported. [More]

‘Candy man’ gives sweet solution to ex-workers

Bob Dotson revisits Bud Kolbrener, who came out of retirement and started a new candy company just to provide work for ex-employees who had lost their jobs — and reveals the surprising outcome of Kolbrener’s offer to let them run the company. [More]

Sandra Bullock's husband pleads "forgive me"

The celebrity husband of actress Sandra Bullock on Thursday broke his silence on reports that he cheated on his Oscar-winning wife, telling People magazine he used "poor judgment" and asking his family to "forgive me." [More]

Lawyer: ABC News Paid Casey Anthony $200,000

New evidence was released Thursday in the Casey Anthony murder case, including the amount of money she received from a television network, as well as conversations she had with other inmates. [More]

Man accused of pimping wife on Craigslist

A Minnesota man forced his wife to work as a prostitute in Chicago and across the country, threatening to harm their child if she tried to quit, authorities said Wednesday. [More]

Jeep towed while woman slept in back

Florida authorities said a woman who fell asleep in the back seat of her vehicle had to use bolt cutters to escape from a tow yard upon waking. [More]

Injured dog walks into medical center's emergency room

An unlikely patient walked into the emergency room at San Juan Regional Medical Center on Saturday night. [More]

Martial arts teacher takes down burglar

Florida police said a martial arts instructor with a second-degree black belt used his fighting skills to foil a burglar who attempted to enter his home. [More]

Winfrey due in Philadelphia for defamation trial

Talk show host and media magnate Oprah Winfrey is expected to spend two weeks defending herself at trial in a defamation case linked to the sex-abuse scandal at her girls school in South Africa. [More]

Teacher Suspended After Writing 'Loser' on Girl's School Work

A North Carolina teacher reportedly has been suspended after being accused of writing "loser" on a sixth-grade student's school work. [More]

Biden mistakenly blesses Irish leader's mother

Vice President Joe Biden asked for God's blessing for the late mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen during a White House celebration of St. Patrick's Day — except the elderly lady is very much alive. [More]

Man accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet

A man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday. [More]

Obama argues for health care effort on Fox News

President Barack Obama on Wednesday took to the Fox News Channel, derided by his White House as a wing of the Republican Party, to sell his embattled health care overhaul in an interview punctuated with interruptions from the host and chiding from the guest. [More]

Idaho first to sign law against health care reform

Idaho took the lead in a growing, nationwide fight against health care overhaul today when its governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state attorney general to sue the federal government if residents are forced to buy health insurance. [More]

AZ man convicted of pulling over off-duty officer

An Arizona man accused admonishing motorists of traffic laws while posing as a police officer apparently picked the wrong driver to pull over. [More]

Madoff reportedly assaulted by another inmate

Bernard Madoff, the swindler who orchestrated a multibillion dollar fraud, was attacked by another inmate at the federal prison where he is serving a 150-year sentence. [More]

Wednesday, March 17

Man arrested for shooting own fence

Police in Louisiana said a man was arrested on a firearms charge for shooting his shotgun at his own fence to "blow off steam" following an argument. [More]

Sandra Bullock blindsided by husband Jesse James' affair?

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock was blindsided Wednesday by reports her bad boy husband, Jesse James, is cheating on her with a tattoo model. [More]

Sweat lodge deaths ruled accidental

The October deaths of three people who participated in a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona have been ruled accidental, according to autopsy results released Wednesday. [More]

Beach jogger killed by plane likely never heard it

The kit-built single-engine plane was gliding quietly as it came down for an emergency landing on a beach. Pharmaceutical salesman Robert Gary Jones, listening to his iPod while jogging, likely never saw or heard it before the aircraft hit him from behind Monday evening and killed him. [More]

New Jersey Walmart Probes 'All Black People' Announcement

Company officials are reviewing security tapes after an announcement was made for "all black people" to leave a southern New Jersey Walmart store. [More]

Drunk, high dad leaves baby in oven overnight

A Kentucky man high on marijuana and drunk on whiskey put his 5-week-old son in the oven Sunday and left him there overnight, police said. [More]

Injured dog walks into medical center's emergency room

An unlikely patient walked into the emergency room at San Juan Regional Medical Center on Saturday night. Hospital staff and patients were surprised when the automatic doors opened and a dog with blood on its nose and paw and a puncture hole in its rear leg walked inside. [More]

Lonely Classmates.com Users Get $3.00 each in Lawsuit

Classmates.com is offering to settle a lawsuit that accused the site of falsely leading people to believe their old schoolmates wanted to contact them. The $10 million proposed settlement would give $3 each to customers, and the defendants’ lawyers get $1.3 million plus costs for their trouble. [More]

Tennessee city may settle after grill ripped from inmate's teeth

When a Tennessee jailer ripped the gold grill from a new inmate's teeth two days before Thanksgiving last year, it left the 31-year-old man in excruciating pain and left taxpayers on the hook for nearly $100,000 in damages. [More]

Montana man spends 4 days stuck in car in snowbank

A 67-year-old country musician from Montana who spent four days in his car stuck on a remote mountain road said he wrote a goodbye letter and was preparing himself for death when he was rescued. [More]

FACT CHECK: Premiums would rise under Obama plan

President Obama said yesterday in Ohio that "Your employer, it's estimated, would see premiums fall by as much as 3,000 percent," said the president, "which means they could give you a raise." But while Obama says his health care overhaul will lower premiums by double digits, check the fine print. [More]

Irish at home, worldwide cheer St. Patrick's Day

Much of the world is turning green Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day, the annual celebration of all hues of Irishness. [More]

ACLU pushes to save prom so lesbians can attend

The American Civil Liberties Union is pushing for a quick legal decision, hoping to save a high school prom that was allegedly canceled because two lesbians wanted to attend it together. [More]

Bulldog attacks cars, owner cited

Police in Tennessee said a woman whose bulldog attacked four cars, including two police vehicles, was issued a citation and her pets were taken away. [More]

State prison numbers drop for 1st time since 1972

Spurred by budget crises, California and Michigan together reduced their prison populations by more than 7,500 last year, contributing to what a new report says is the first nationwide decline in the number of state inmates since 1972. [More]

Recent cases show challenge of US terrorists

One was a drywall contractor and father, another a petite woman who cared for the elderly, another a U.S. military officer. The most alarming thing about a string of recently arrested terror suspects is that they are all Americans. [More]

Thief replaces stolen car wheels with worn tires

Police said a central Pennsylvania thief who stole the wheels off a car was nice enough to replace them — albeit with worn tires. [More]

Tuesday, March 16

Police sued over bathroom video

A Philadelphia woman arrested on drunken-driving charges said Cherry Hill police went too far when they secretly videotaped her using the bathroom last year. [More]

Dog swallows $20,000 diamond

A hungry pooch gobbled up the 3-carat gem when a diamond dealer was showing it to a store owner in Potomac, Md. After a few days of waiting, the owner was able to retrieve the jewel. [More]

Time Warner Sorry for Airing Playboy on Kids' Channels

Officials at Time Warner Cable were forced to apologize Tuesday after airing adult programming on two children’s television channels. [More]

Couple dies while having sex in car

A Russian couple having sex in a car parked in a tiny garage have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. [More]

IRS Comes to Car Wash for 4-Cent Debt

A California car wash owner says he’s rather amused after two Internal Revenue Service agents visited his business to demand he pay a debt – of four cents. [More]

Tiger Woods returns to golf at Masters

Tiger Woods, who had withdrawn from competitive golf after details of his adulterous affairs surfaced late last year, will return to professional golf at the U.S. Masters in early April, he said in a statement. [More]

Passing Health Care — Without Voting?

Under this scheme, the House could simultaneously approve the Senate version of the bill while voting on the package of changes. This would deem the Senate bill passed, though not directly show members voting in favor of passage that could later hurt them in the November elections. [More]

Woman aspires to be the world's fattest female

Most women strive to have an hourglass figure but Donna Simpson is clearly an exception. Simpson, who is from New Jersey, tells Daily Mail that she aspires to be the fattest woman in the world. [More]

Plane making emergency landing kills jogger on beach

A plane made an emergency landing on the beach at Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island yesterday, hitting a man on the beach and killing him, according to an official with the Hilton Head fire department. [More]

World's shortest man dies

The world's shortest man has died in Italy, where he was to take part in a TV show, the program's production company said Tuesday. He Pingping, of China, who was 2 feet, 5.37 inches tall, had become a recognized figure across the world. [More]

Rielle Hunter 'repulsed' by GQ photos

Rielle Hunter, the mistress of former presidential candidate John Edwards, made headlines across the globe Monday when her revealing interview with GQ magazine hit the Web. In the interview, Hunter said she and Edwards - who are the parents of a 2-year-old daughter - are still very much in love. [More]

Cash-strapped states go all in on gambling

Faced with a drop in gambling revenue, states are adding games, considering new casinos and increasing lottery options — anything to keep their cut of the profits rolling in. [More]

Sony in $250 million deal with Jackson's estate

Sony Corp has reached a deal with Michael Jackson's estate that could be worth as much as $250 million, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation. [More]

Monday, March 15

ESPN reporter's stalker gets 2 1/2 years in prison

An Illinois insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison after giving a tearful apology that was harshly rebuked by his victim. [More]

ACORN affiliates rebrand after video scandal

Affiliates of the once mighty liberal activist group ACORN are remaking themselves in a desperate bid to ditch the tarnished name of their parent organization and restore federal grants and other revenue streams that ran dry in the wake of a video scandal. While their names are different, most groups have kept the same offices and staff. [More]

Police: Woman hit sister with toilet lid

Police arrested an Iowa City woman after she allegedly struck her sister with the lid of a toilet tank. [More]

Female Prison Guards Often Behind Sex Misconduct

Inmate Michael Murphy usually started by seeking a small favor. That would often lead to a kiss or love letters. And in at least five cases, he convinced female prison employees to have sex with him or do other illegal favors. [More]

Edwards mistress didn't want him to run for president

John Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter didn't want him to run for president and considered it "reckless" for him to stay in the race after his wife's cancer returned, she said in an interview released Monday. [More]

Detroit clamping down on employee scents

City officials in Detroit say workers at three city buildings will soon have to monitor their scents or face possible warnings. [More]

Amazon picks Colorado to stage tax fight

Law requires retailer to pay money to state based on sales from affiliates. [More]

Woman Steals Wi-Fi, Calls Tech Show When it Goes Offline

The Tech Guy Leo Laporte tells Jennifer exactly what went wrong when her neighbor realized someone was leeching off their Wi-Fi access point. [More]

Cashier, 91, finishes shift after being punched

A 91-year-old New York pharmacy cashier refused medical attention and went back to work after a thief punched her. [More]

Strong ratings for Leno's return to late-night

After a smashing return, Jay Leno appears headed to a battle with David Letterman for late-night television supremacy. [More]

Indiana Business Apologizes for 'No Burmese' Sign

A Fort Wayne business that posted a sign barring Burmese immigrants from entering could face a civil rights complaint. The sign attempted to bar Burmese people "for sanitary reasons." [More]

2 Americans killed during bloody weekend in Mexico

Three people with ties to the American consulate were killed in a drug-plagued Mexican city, including a U.S. couple shot to death within sight of the border with their baby in their back seat, officials said today. [More]

D.C. handing out 500,000 female condoms to fight HIV

On a Saturday at the Lamar Edward Salon, a small cluster of women watch a demonstration of a new product. [More]

Woman accused of stealing plane and ditching it

A Santa Rosa woman was arrested for allegedly stealing her landlord's airplane, then abandoning it in a field after it ran out of gas. [More]

Sunday, March 14

'Mission: Impossible' actor Peter Graves found dead

Actor Peter Graves, best known for his starring role on TV's "Mission: Impossible," was found dead Sunday at his home, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 83. [More]

Man, 77, ate hidden pot stash in squad car

Police in Iowa City accused a 77-year-old man they arrested on traffic charges earlier this year of swallowing his hidden marijuana stash while seated in a squad car. [More]

Pentagon gun was from Tenn. police

Two guns used in high-profile shootings this year at the Pentagon and a Las Vegas courthouse both came from the same unlikely place: the police and court system of Memphis, Tenn. [More]

Fla. woman dies during weeks-long religious fast

Authorities say a 55-year-old woman died alone in a bedroom of her central Florida home after locking herself in the room for several weeks for a lengthy religious fast. [More]

24 die in gang violence near Acapulco

Thirteen people are killed in and around Acapulco, with four victims found beheaded, security officials say. Another gun battle in the state leaves 11 people dead. [More]

Woman in bust hid nearly $26,000 in bra

A fraud bust, indeed: Spokane County sheriff's deputies said a woman was hiding nearly $26,000 in her bra when she was booked into jail for investigation of theft. Lukeisha A. Harris was one of three Seattle-area residents arrested Friday as part of an alleged fraud ring. Deputies said they used phony Oregon driver's licenses and counterfeit credit cards to obtain cash advances from Spokane banks. [More]

Lesbian sgt. discharged after police tell military

Jene Newsome played by the rules as an Air Force sergeant: She never told anyone in the military she was a lesbian. The 28-year-old's honorable discharge under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy came only after police officers in Rapid City, S.D., saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home and told the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base. [More]

Israel to investigate timing of settlement announcement

Israel's prime minister has set up a team to investigate why officials announced new settlements in disputed territory while Vice President Joe Biden was visiting. [More]

4 family members found dead in upscale Calif. home

A woman killed herself and three other family members, including two young children, in what may have started as a child custody dispute in an upscale, gated Orange County community, authorities said Tuesday. [More]

Saturday, March 13

Pope Benedict backed sex abuse priest transfer

Pope Benedict was involved in a decision to move a priest suspected of child abuse to his diocese for therapy, but was moved to the diocese of Munich and Freising in January 1980, and still works in the southern district. [More]

NYC funeral home van towed with body inside

A police tow truck removed a minivan parked outside a New York City funeral home, giving its dearly departed passenger an unexpected side trip. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said there was "nothing to indicate it was more than just an illegally parked car." [More]

N.Y. Woman Killed by Subway After Jumping on Tracks to Retrieve Gym Bag

A woman dropped her gym bag on the tracks of a crowded Upper East Side subway station yesterday — then made the fatal decision to jump after it as screaming straphangers watched in horror. [More]

Tips pour in after release of serial killer's photos

Dozens of tips have poured in after California authorities released more than 100 photos of women and children on Thursday that are believed to have been taken by a serial killer who appeared on the "Dating Game." [More]

California Woman Jumps Off Cliff to Flee Attacker

Authorities say a man tried to sexually assault a Malibu jogger who escaped by jumping off a cliff and sliding about 100 feet down a steep hillside. [More]

Landfill search ends, no sign of missing Ariz. boy

San Antonio police have called off a landfill search after finding no evidence in the disappearance of an 8-month-old Arizona boy. [More]

NYC cabbies ripped off passengers, agency says

Thousands of New York City taxi drivers overcharged passengers by more than $8.3 million over the past two years by setting their meters at a rate that was supposed to be used for trips to the suburbs, the Taxi and Limousine Commission said Friday. [More]

Man sues TV show over segment about his genital blemishes

A 22-year-old Lakeville newlywed is contending that a "Dr. Phil" spinoff national TV show tricked him into appearing and discussing the blemishes on his genitals, then airing a rerun of the episode over his protests. [More]

Seattle Cops Stop Man With Device Taped to Body

A man wrapped in duct tape alarmed people in downtown Seattle Friday morning by making threats and walking around with a pipe taped to his arm before surrendering. [More]

Custom-designed Jackson furniture up for auction

22 pieces of elaborate furniture custom-made for Michael Jackson, including a leather armchair embellished with crystals and gold leaf, will be auctioned off in June, organizers said on Friday. [More]

Women on the pill may live longer

Women who took the birth control pill beginning in the late 1960s lived longer than those never on the pill, a new study says. [More]

Woman, 92, kills 98-year-old husband

A 92-year-old woman has been charged with murder following the discovery of her 98-year-old husband's body at their home in Australia, police said. [More]

Man at Wheel of 'Out-of-Control' Prius Has Troubled Financial Past

The man who became the face of the Toyota gas pedal scandal this week has a troubled financial past that is leading some to question whether he was wholly truthful in his story. [More]

Fury over sex offender's freedom

In the movie "Law Abiding Citizen," Gerard Butler plays a man who loses his family when his wife and daughter are raped and murdered. After the main culprit receives a light sentence as part of a plea bargain and gets released from prison much sooner than he should have, our hero goes all "Death Wish" on the creep. He kidnaps him, drugs him and surgically dissects him into two-dozen pieces. [More]

Thousands expected to mourn death of SoCal teen

Students have wrapped ribbons around 8,000 sunflowers to hand out at a memorial service for Chelsea King, the 17-year-old girl whose murder has shaken her community and spurred calls for legal changes in how child sex offenders are treated. [More]

Friday, March 12

Long-term smoking helps reduce Parkinson's risk

A new study published in this week's issue of "Neurology" finds those who smoke for a long period of time have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. [More]

Nebraska man too drunk for DUI sentencing

Authorities said a 30-year-old-man showed up so drunk for his sentencing for drunken driving that he missed his hearing and now faces even more time behind bars. [More]

Alaska teacher found dead; wolves to blame?

Villagers in a remote Alaska region are blaming the death of a 32-year-old schoolteacher on wolves after her body was found along on isolated road, though an autopsy completed Thursday was inconclusive. [More]

Senators question $1 million pay for charity's CEO

A group of Republican senators is questioning high salaries and expensive travel bills for executives at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, raising issues that could jeopardize millions in federal funding for the national charity. [More]

Lesbian teen sues to force school to hold prom

A lesbian student who wanted to take her girlfriend to her senior prom is asking a federal judge to force her Mississippi school district to reinstate the dance it canceled. The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi on Thursday filed the lawsuit. [More]

Nurses' union: Care does not include sex

A union representing Dutch nurses will launch a national campaign Friday against demands for sexual services by patients who claim it should be part of their standard care. [More]

Ohio State University Shooter Left Apology Note

Authorities have released notes written by the Ohio State University janitor who shot two supervisors before killing himself, and he appears to tell a woman named Donna "sorry I let you down." [More]

Chavez thanks Sean Penn for slamming his critics

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is grateful that actor Sean Penn has defended him against his critics within the U.S. media. Penn slammed Chavez critics who refer to the socialist leader as a dictator, and said people should be sent to prison for these kinds of biases. [More]

Hustler can't have pics of hiker's body

Gruesome photos of the nude and decapitated body of a murdered hiker, sought by a writer on assignment for Hustler magazine, will not be released, a judge in Georgia ordered Wednesday. [More]

Head of German Church apologizes to abuse victims

The head of Germany's Catholic Church apologized to victims of child abuse by priests and said after meeting Pope Benedict Friday the pontiff encouraged him to press ahead with tackling the problem. [More]

Man steals truck after making copy of key during test drive

A man who test drove a pickup Tuesday evening made a copy of the key - and then stole the truck overnight, police say. [More]

Ex-police officer admits role in cover-up of Louisiana bridge shooting

A second former New Orleans police officer pleaded guilty Thursday in connection with police shootings of civilians on a Louisiana bridge in the days following Hurricane Katrina, authorities said. [More]

Woods likely to return at Masters

Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press. [More]

Vatican criticizes condom machines in Rome school

The decision by a Rome high school to install condom vending machines has set off a storm in Italy, with the Catholic Church charging the move will encourage young people to have sex and Rome's mayor saying it sends the wrong message. [More]

Republican Paid $150G After Nude 'Hot-Tubbing'

Utah's House majority leader said late Thursday he paid a woman $150,000 to keep silent about going nude "hot-tubbing" with her when she was a minor a quarter century ago. [More]

Toyota 'mystified' by California runaway Prius

A Toyota executive said today that the company is "mystified" by a report that a California man's Prius gas pedal became stuck and caused the car to speed out of control on a California freeway. [More]

Football Hall of Famer, TV star Olsen dies

Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. [More]

Senate Health Bill Would Up Costs for Millions in Middle Class

The Senate health care bill crucial to saving President Obama's signature domestic initiative will hit the wallets of a quarter of all Americans making less than $200,000 per year, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Tax Committee. [More]

Court approves God for US money, pledge of allegiance

A federal appeals court in California ruled that the references to God on US bank notes and in the pledge of allegiance to the US flag are constitutional and not religious in nature. [More]

Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC responders

A settlement that could pay up to $657.5 million to more than 10,000 ground zero rescue and recovery workers sickened by dust from the destroyed World Trade Center goes before a judge Friday, and he has said he favored a settlement but planned to analyze it carefully to make sure it was fair. [More]

Thursday, March 11

Finger Lady' details Wendy's plot; banned from Wendy's "for life"

A California woman jailed for four years after planting a severed human finger in her Wendy's chili has spoken publicly for the first time about the scheme. [More]

Calif. murder suspect broke parole

A convicted sex offender charged with murdering one California teenager and under investigation for another killing violated his parole by moving too close to a school but was allowed to remain free, according to records obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. [More]

Senate leader Reid's family hurt in car wreck

The wife and daughter of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were injured Thursday in a highway accident, a spokesman for the Democratic senator from Nevada said. The injuries aren't considered life-threatening. Reid's wife, Landra, 69, broke her neck, her back and her nose. [More]

Police: Drunk woman lets 14-year-old son drive

A 37-year-old woman was accused of putting her 14-year-old behind the wheel because she was too drunk to drive. [More]

Ex-Detroit councilwoman gets 37 months in prison

A federal judge has denied ex-Detroit councilwoman Monica Conyers' request to withdraw her guilty plea in a corruption case and sentenced her to three years and one month in prison. [More]

Miss. prom canceled after lesbian's date request

A Mississippi county school board announced Wednesday it would cancel its upcoming prom after a gay student petitioned to bring a same-sex date to the event. [More]

NJ man accused of raping, beating 5 daughters

A New Jersey man with apocalyptic visions is accused of years of terrorizing his family, raping his five daughters and impregnating three, beating his children with wooden boards and even moving at one point to avoid child welfare investigators. [More]

Men sue over snowball arrest

Four young New York men charged with criminal possession of a weapon are suing police for false arrest following an incident that started with a snowball. [More]

Dan Rather Apologizes for 'Watermelons' Comment

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather apologized for his choice of words on Sunday's Chris Matthews Show when he used an analogy of selling watermelons on the side of the road to describe President Obama and healthcare. [More]

Burglar uses church equipment to view porn

Second-degree burglary charges have been filed against an Ames man who broke into a church where he allegedly used the institution's electronic equipment to watch pornography. Police allege the 55-year-old man broke into the First Christian Church on Thursday. [More]

Miss Tiger Woods Mistress

Howard Stern sponsored a beauty pageant among three of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses, and cocktail waitress Jamie Jungers came out on top. [More]

Mexican Carlos Slim world's richest in new ranking

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim has dethroned Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world wealthiest person and China is fast catching up with the number of US billionaires on the annual Forbes rich list. [More]

Ex-Toyota lawyer says documents prove company hid damaging information

When former in-house defense attorney Dimitrios Biller resigned from his top post at Toyota, he walked out with something potentially more valuable than his nearly $4 million severance package. [More]

Unruly passenger admits disrupting flight

A Texas man who became enraged when a flight attendant refused to serve him alcohol and spent part of a flight locked in the lavatory has pleaded guilty to interfering with an airline flight crew. [More]

Ex-TSA Worker Tried Damaging Computer With Terror Info

An indictment released Wednesday claims 46-year-old Douglas James Duchak of Colorado Springs tried to damage the computer after he was told his job was being eliminated. [More]

Background check missed suspected shooter's prison stint

A background check conducted in 2009 on an Ohio State University employee suspected of opening fire Tuesday on his co-workers turned up no criminal record, even though he apparently served five years in prison. [More]

Corey Haim’s Hollywood story is sadly familiar

Corey Haim's story is sadly familiar in Hollywood: A teen talent who discovered drugs as he tasted his first success and whose personal problems increased as his star-power faded. [More]

Feldman says Corey Haim was winning fight with drugs

Corey Haim seemed to be winning his battle against drug abuse in the weeks before his death, his manager and closest friend said Wednesday. [More]

Man allegedly robs pharmacy, puts cash on counter

Police in northern Idaho arrested a robber accused of demanding a controlled drug from a pharmacy, then throwing cash on the counter before fleeing. Kootenai County Sheriff Lt. Stu Miller said a 39-year-old man was arrested Tuesday. [More]

Feds charge trendy sushi restaurant for serving whale meat

Federal authorities have charged a trendy Santa Monica sushi restaurant with serving whale meat - an investigation that was spurred by the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary, "The Cove." [More]

Fake Dentist Charged With Shooting Death of Patient

A Russian-speaking immigrant who police said may have been practicing dentistry without a license for years in Oregon has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a man believed to be a patient. [More]

Wednesday, March 10

Robber holds up 11 people, gets $6

They say crime doesn't pay. For one robber in California, it did — but not much. Authorities in Riverside County say a woman with a gun robbed 11 customers at a market and got away with $6 [More]

Man whose kiss caused airport security scare pleads guilty

A New Jersey man who breached airport security to give his girlfriend a kiss, causing scores of flight delays, pleaded guilty Tuesday to defiant trespass, his lawyer said. [More]

Mother Says Girl Thought Loaded Gun Was Wii Controller

A Middle Tennessee child who might have thought a loaded handgun was a video game controller has fatally shot herself. [More]

Runaway Prius driver: Brakes were 'almost burned'

Before he called 911, James Sikes says he reached down with his hand to loosen the "stuck" accelerator on his 2008 Toyota Prius, his other hand on the steering wheel. The pedal didn't move. "My car can't slow down," he began when a California Highway Patrol dispatcher answered his call. [More]

China may ban eating dogs, cats

Dogs bark and whine behind high chain-link fences, some of them gnawing the wire so hard they bleed at the mouths while cats packed into crowded cages cower in fear if anyone approaches. [More]

Barker donates $2.5 million to create PETA offices

Bob Barker has donated $2.5 million to help the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals open a new location in Los Angeles. [More]

Fawcett omission from Oscar segment no accident

The executive director of the film academy said Tuesday that Farrah Fawcett wasn't included in the Academy Awards' In Memoriam segment because the actress was better known as a TV star. [More]

Obama effect boosts Nobel Peace Prize nominations

A record 237 people and organizations have been nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, with interest boosted by last year's award to President Barack Obama, organizers said on Wednesday. [More]

7-year-old calls 911, saves family from attack

A terrified 7-year-old boy begged emergency dispatchers to send police to his Southern California home where three armed robbers threatened his parents, according to a recording of the call released Tuesday. [More]

Charlie Sheen returning to work next Tuesday

Charlie Sheen is expected to return to work on CBS' "Two and a Half Men" on Tuesday, according to his publicist. [More]

When jobless benefits turn to welfare

Millions of Americans have been forced to rely on unemployment payments for extended periods, and critics are taking aim. [More]

Mohammed cartoon republished

Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog by a caricaturist who was the target of an assassination plot by Muslims arrested in Ireland. [More]

Pa. woman, known as 'Jihad Jane,' indicted for recruiting fighters

The self-described "Jihad Jane" who thought her blond hair and blue eyes would let her blend in as she sought to kill an artist in Sweden is a rare case of an American woman aiding foreign terrorists and shows the evolution of the global threat, authorities say. [More]

Man stabbed with meat thermometer at movie in CA

Authorities say a man was stabbed in the neck with a meat thermometer after asking a woman to silence her cell phone during a screening of the film "Shutter Island" at a Southern California movie theater. [More]

Doctor gets life for wife's cyanide poisoning death

A former Ohio doctor was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for poisoning his wife with cyanide five years ago. [More]

'Lost Boys' actor Corey Haim dead in Burbank at 38

Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob for his roles in "Lucas" and "The Lost Boys" whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. [More]

Massa admits tickling, denies sexual intent

A day after former Rep. Eric Massa acknowledged tickling a colleague but denied the intent was sexual, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer accused "some people" of seeking to politicize the situation. [More]

Restaurant serves breast-milk cheese

A New York chef said public demand led him to allow diners at his restaurant to sample homemade cheese made from his wife's breast milk. [More]

Tuesday, March 9

Owners keep burglar locked in car

Authorities in Florida said residents who saw a man attempting to steal their car used the vehicle's remote-controlled locking mechanism to prevent his escape. [More]

Lifelock Fined $12 Million for Deceptive Business Practices

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that, along with 35 state attorneys general, it had levied a fine of $12 million against the company for deceptive business practices and for failing to secure sensitive customer data. [More]

Flashback: Lifelock CEO Davis victim of identity theft

A man who stole the identity of LifeLock co-founder Todd Davis won’t face criminal charges, police say, because LifeLock stepped in before the police could finish investigating the crime. [More]

TV producer admits trying to blackmail Letterman

A television producer admitted Tuesday to trying to shake down David Letterman in a case that bared the late-night icon's affairs with staffers, avoiding a long prison sentence by pleading guilty in exchange for six months in jail and community service. [More]

Missing exec's body found in river, police say

The body of a missing energy executive was pulled from the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Tuesday, four days after he disappeared, a police spokesman said. Several cameras captured a "disoriented" Schantz walking alone from a bar toward the Mississippi River. [More]

Lindsay Lohan sues over "milkaholic" E*Trade ad

Actress Lindsay Lohan has sued E*Trade Financial Corp for $100 million, saying a "milkaholic" baby girl who appeared in a recent commercial was modeled after her. [More]

Continental CEO will cancel flights before fines

Continental Airlines plans to cancel flights rather than risk stiff fines under new federal rules designed to punish carriers for delaying passengers. Under a federal rule taking effect next month, airlines can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger if planes are delayed three hours. [More]

Pot dealer's new freedom goes up in smoke

A 27-year-old man convicted of dealing marijuana was arrested this morning, when police say he was smoking pot on his way home from prison. [More]

Court awards bullied student $800,000

In what experts say could be a landmark decision, a Michigan school district has been ordered to pay $800,000 this week to a student who claimed the school did not do enough to protect him from years of bullying, some sexually tinged. [More]

N.C. Man Accused of Carving 'Mine' on Rape Victim

A North Carolina man has been arrested and charged with raping a woman and carving the word "Mine" on her stomach. [More]

ACORN Workers Charged With Felony Voter Fraud

Five Wisconsin residents, including two who worked for community organizing group ACORN, were charged Monday with election fraud relating to the 2008 presidential election. [More]

Convicted serial killer won on 'Dating Game'

Before he was a convicted serial killer, Rodney Alcala was a winning bachelor on "The Dating Game." "Oh yeah, I remember it quite clearly," said Jed Mills, the game-show contestant who sat next to Alcala in 1978. "He was creepy. Definitely creepy." [More]

Woman again tries using cabs to steal TVs

Police said a North Pole woman accused in December of stealing televisions and hiring a cabbie as her getaway driver is now accused of trying it again. [More]

Woman charged with breast milk assault

Police in Kentucky said a woman arrested for public intoxication faces an additional charge for squirting breast milk on a deputy at the jail. [More]

WordThink - Word of the Day

Acerbic [a·cer·bic] adj.  Sharp or biting, as in character or expression: The director occasionally allowed an acerbic tone to an otherwise subtle dialogue. [More]

Man Holding Fake Gun Killed Near NYC School

A police officer in Brooklyn has fatally shot a man who the NYPD says was brandishing a fake pistol near a school. [More]

Cheers, Ladies! A Drink A Day May Keep the Pounds Away

Normal-weight women who drank 5 to 30 grams of alcohol daily gained less weight and had a lower risk of becoming overweight or obese than either teetotalers or those who drank too much, according to a report in the March 8 Archives of Internal Medicine. [More]

'Tea Parties' complicate tea marketing

Chicago-area businesses that make their money from tea say the conservative Tea Party political movement is complicating online publicity. [More]

Prius with stuck accelerator glides to safe stop

A California Highway Patrol officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph to a safe stop on Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck on a San Diego County freeway, the CHP said. [More]

NYT: Defectors: Church of Scientology hides abuse

After 13 years and growing disillusionment, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, decided to leave Sea Org, the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running. Now, 56 years after its founding, the church is fighting off calls by former members for a Reformation. [More]

Lawyers Return to Court in Edwards Sex Tape Dispute

Lawyers are returning to court in North Carolina in a dispute over a tape purportedly showing two-time presidential candidate John Edwards in a sexual encounter. [More]

Monday, March 8

Accused Killer Uses U.S. Census as Defense in Court

A Georgia man accused of killing two people is trying to get his murder charges dismissed by using the Census defense. [More]

Woman allegedly stabs ex after looking at phone

According to police, a 27-year-old woman and her ex-husband were at her home late Thursday when she became upset after looking through his cell phone's call history. [More]

McDonald's parking spot dispute turns violent

A long-running argument over a favorite McDonald's parking spot has resulted in an assault conviction. A Colorado jury on Friday convicted 52-year-old Vernon Brandt of Loveland of felony third-degree assault for a 2008 fight with 85-year-old Richard Albers. [More]

Oldest person in US dies in NH at age 114

Mary Josephine Ray, the New Hampshire woman who was certified as the oldest person living in the United States, has died at age 114 years, 294 days. [More]

Man fatally struck by SUV had left hospital to smoke

A 48-year-old pedestrian struck and killed by an SUV this morning had just left a cardiac unit at Largo Medical Center to have a smoke against the advice of hospital staff and was apparently wearing a heart monitor, Largo police said. [More]

Sister, yacht captain want Natalie Wood case reopened

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Wood drowned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Catalina Island, California, on Thanksgiving weekend, 1981. Altough the case is officially closed, questions linger. Wood's sister, Lana, has asked the Los Angeles County sheriff to reopen the case. [More]

SoCal teen's skeletal remains found in remote area

When 17-year-old Chelsea King went missing last month San Diego, Maurice Dubois had a sinking feeling that his 14-year-old daughter had fallen victim to the same killer. [More]

Edwards’ affair earns Enquirer some respect

The Enquirer is under consideration for a Pulitzer Prize, and it has strong support for its bid from other journalists. The success of the John Edwards' story has Mr. Levine considering opening a Washington bureau to look for more dirt among politicians. [More]

Fawcett left out of Oscars tribute

Farrah Fawcett's absence from the traditional "in memoriam" segment of the Academy Awards broadcast has left some critics bemused. Film critic Roger Ebert was among those who questioned her absence, calling it a "major fail" and writing on Twitter: "They have a whole lot of 'splaining to do." [More]

Winners at the 82nd annual Oscars

Here is a list of the winners at the 82nd annual Academy Awards. [More]

How top Oscar Winners fared at the box office

Domestic box-office totals through February for the most-honored films at the 82nd annual Academy Awards. [More]

Director Bigelow makes history with `Hurt Locker'

Kathryn Bigelow made Oscar history Sunday night, becoming the first woman to win best director at the Academy Awards for her gritty Iraq war saga "The Hurt Locker." [More]

Notable quotes from the 82nd annual Academy Awards

Quotes from Sunday night's 82nd annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. [More]

WABC-TV back on for 3.1M customers as Oscars begin

Cablevision says WABC-TV's signal has been switched back on for its 3.1 million subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut shortly after the Academy Awards telecast got under way. [More]

Sunday, March 7

Crash blamed on motorist shaving privates

The Florida Highway Patrol alleges a two-vehicle crash in Cudjoe Key, Florida, was caused by a female motorist trying to shave her private parts. [More]

Casey Anthony Defense Wants State to Pay Legal Fees

Lawyers for an Orlando woman accused in her young daughter's death says the state should pay the cost of defending her. [More]

Glover: Help Ohio plant, shun Hugo Boss at Oscars

Actor and activist Danny Glover is calling on Academy Awards nominees and others in the film industry to not wear Hugo Boss suits at Sunday's awards ceremony. [More]

Obama's health care pitch to Democrats: Trust me

In private pitches to Democrats, President Barack Obama says he will persuade Congress to pass his health care overhaul even if it kills him and even if he has to ask deeply distrustful lawmakers to trust him on a promise the White House doesn't have the power to keep. [More]

Cablevision homes in New York lose ABC ahead of Oscars

Customers of Cablevision Systems Corp in New York lost broadcast signals of local station WABC on Sunday morning as the cable operator and TV network were unable to reach agreement on a new contract. [More]

Fire Destroys Pa. Forge That Made Ashtrays for Hindenburg

A historic metal forge that made ashtrays for the ill-fated German airship the Hindenburg and did custom work for Walt Disney has been destroyed by a fire. [More]

Bartender says exotic club demoted her because she was pregnant

A pregnant bartender says she is fighting to keep her job at a gentlemen's club in New York. Jennifer Paviglianiti, of Centereach, N.Y., claims her employer, Café Royale, discriminated against her because of her pregnancy. [More]

Tennessee CEO Sends E-Mail Comparing First Lady to Chimpanzee

The CEO of Tennessee's hospitality association is apologizing for sending an e-mail to a group of public figures that compares first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee. [More]

8 Teens Shot While Leaving Indiana Concert

Authorities say eight teenage boys were shot while leaving a Gary, Ind., skating rink where they were attending a concert. [More]

Saturday, March 6

6-Year-Old Girl Killed After Wandering Into Freeway Traffic

The Minnesota State Patrol says a 6-year-old girl wandered into freeway traffic near Minneapolis, where she was struck and killed by an SUV. [More]

Ex-Model Who Fended Off Central Park Rapist Involved in Murder-Suicide

A former model who earned public accolades six years ago for fighting off an attempted rape in New York's Central Park along with her dog fatally shot her boyfriend and set fire to the New Jersey home she was renting, then turned the gun on herself, authorities said. [More]

Woman Bitten by Bear at Wisconsin Zoo, Fingers Severed

Police say a bear bit off a woman's fingers at a Wisconsin zoo after she ignored barriers and warning signs to try to feed the animal. [More]

L.A. principal apologizes for teachers' choices of black heroes

The principal of a South Los Angeles elementary school has apologized after some children carried photos of O.J. Simpson, RuPaul and Dennis Rodman in a parade celebrating Black History Month. [More]

Teacher Charged With Sending Nude Photo to Student

A New Hampshire high school English teacher who allegedly e-mailed nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old male student was arrested Friday on a felony charge of indecent exposure and lewdness. [More]

Mercedes-Benz must pay $482,000 for ‘lemon’

A judge has ordered Mercedes-Benz USA LLC to pay $482,000 in damages and legal fees to a Wisconsin customer who was sold a defective car and not given a refund on time. [More]

Navy Captain Demoted After Warship Drag Race Surfaced

A Navy captain was demoted because she berated and assaulted her crew, not because she led her guided missile cruiser on a drag-race with another U.S. warship in the Pacific, an investigation shows. [More]

GM offers to reinstate 661 US dealers slated for closure

General Motors on Friday offered to reinstate 661 US dealerships slated for closure under its massive restructuring plan, amid legal challenges from the dealers and pressure from lawmakers. [More]

New York Rep. Massa resigns under ethics cloud

New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said Friday that he is stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure." "I am guilty," Massa said in an interview with a Corning, N.Y., newspaper columnist. [More]

6-Year-Old Suspended From School for Making Gun With Hand

A Michigan boy reportedly has been suspended from school for curling his hand into the shape of a gun and pointing it at another student. [More]

Congressional estimates show grim deficit picture

A new congressional report released today says the United States' long-term fiscal woes are even worse than predicted by President Barack Obama's grim budget submission last month. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts that Obama's budget plans would generate deficits over the upcoming decade that would total $9.8 trillion. That's $1.2 trillion more than predicted by the administration. [More]

Go-cart rider struck trying to cross Tampa street

A 28-year-old man was hospitalized after the go-cart he was driving collided with a pickup truck. [More]

$2.2 billion in Haiti aid leads to tug of war

The world's bill for the Haitian earthquake is large and growing — now $2.2 billion — and so is the criticism about how the money is being spent. [More]

Jogger paid $756 after toilet ordeal

Officials in London said they paid $756 compensation to a jogger who was locked in a public toilet for 17 hours on Christmas Day. [More]

Friday, March 5

Prosecutor: Greed prompted Ill. fire that killed 7

The owner of a suburban Chicago apartment house had his maintenance man set fire to the building, killing seven people including a newborn, because he wanted to cash in on a $250,000 insurance policy, prosecutors said Friday. [More]

2 NYC officers charged in $1 million perfume heist

Two New York City police officers are among five people charged with robbing about $1 million of perfume from a northern New Jersey warehouse. [More]

Ohio doctor found guilty in wife's cyanide death

A former Ohio emergency room physician was convicted of aggravated murder Friday in the 2005 poisoning death of his wife. [More]

Woods turns down 75-million-dollar sponsorship deal

US golfer Tiger Woods has turned down a 75-million-dollar sponsorship offer from bookmakers Paddy Power, the Irish firm revealed on Friday. [More]

Gun-twirling teen accidently shoots friend

A 17-year-old reportedly twirling a handgun on his finger accidentally shot a 17-year-old friend Thursday, St. Petersburg police said. [More]

SC cop stops go-cart, arrests man on drug charges

A go-cart wasn't much of a getaway vehicle for a South Carolina man. The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported that sheriff's deputies have arrested 29-year-old Edward Matthew Sweezy of Union after they stopped him last week at an intersection in Union. [More]

Sniper says he’s ‘truly sorry’ in letter to victim

A Louisiana man shot by Lee Boyd Malvo before the criminal spree that terrorized the Washington, D.C., area in 2002 has received a letter of apology from the convicted sniper. [More]

Texas police warn spring breakers: Stay out of Mexico border towns

The Texas Department of Public Safety took the unprecedented step Thursday of telling college students not to visit Mexican border cities during spring break because they are just too dangerous. [More]

Doctor, patient part ways over health care debate

Barbara Gabriel was dropped by The Woman's Group medical practice after she raised objections to posters that oppose the health care overhaul proposed by President Barack Obama. [More]

Obama Pleads With Dems to Pass His Health Bill

The president urges uneasy rank-and-file moderates and progressives to focus on the positives rather than their deep disappointment with parts of his massive health care overhaul. [More]

States under fire as budget cuts free prisoners

In the rush to save money in grim budgetary times, states nationwide have trimmed their prison populations by expanding parole programs and early releases. But the result — more convicted felons on the streets, not behind bars — has unleashed a backlash, and state officials now find themselves trying to maneuver between saving money and maintaining the public’s sense of safety. [More]

Kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard shares home videos

Kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard, held captive for 18 years in a ramshackle backyard compound, was seen cooking with her sister and mother and riding horses in recently shot home videos aired on ABC Friday. [More]

11-year-old spends $44 million on Dubai homes

Even by the standards of a city that celebrates extravagance, it was a spectacular shopping spree: In just two weeks early last year, an 11-year-old boy from Azerbaijan became the owner of nine waterfront mansions. [More]

Black leaders' support may buy time for Paterson

New York Gov. David Paterson might have won some time when he received what has become rare support from influential black leaders as he tries to ride out allegations in two scandals that threaten his job and led to the resignation of three top staffers. [More]

Thursday, March 4

Man dumped money while fleeing police

Authorities in Georgia said a man threw $76,656 from a duffel bag while fleeing sheriff's deputies on foot. [More]

Police: Calif. Mom Dumped Newborn in Trash, Went to Party

Police say they are investigating whether a newborn was alive when she was dumped in a trash bin before her mother returned to a party in Southern California. [More]

Jet pilot busted for flying with a fake license

The pilot of a Boeing 737 was in the cockpit, preparing to take off with 101 passengers, when police arrested him for flying with a fake pilot's license, investigators said. [More]

With Money on the Line, States Urge Illegal Immigrants to Fill Out Census

Cities, counties and states that haven't been very kind to illegal immigrants over the years are suddenly dusting off their welcome mats. With the 2010 census about to get under way, those undocumented residents will be worth a lot of money for the next few weeks. [More]

Funeral home tries to drum up business with chili cookoff

If customers know that the funeral home also can be the setting for other, happier activities, they might take some comfort in the place later when dark times come. [More]

Woman Gets Life Sentence for Setting Bikini Dancer on Fire

A woman has been sentenced to life in prison for dousing a bikini dancer with gasoline and setting her on fire in Los Angeles. [More]

Man Who Dismembered Woman Gets 15 Years to Life in Prison

An Ohio man who bludgeoned his girlfriend to death with a hammer before dismembering her and scattering her body parts around the apartment complex where they lived has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. [More]

3 teachers removed over choice of black heroes

Three Los Angeles elementary school teachers accused of giving children portraits of O.J. Simpson, Dennis Rodman and RuPaul to carry in a Black History Month parade have been removed from their classrooms, a school district spokeswoman said Wednesday. [More]

Muslim Woman Refuses Body Scan at British Airport

A Muslim woman was barred from boarding a flight after she refused to undergo a full body scan for religious reasons. [More]

Former Gitmo detainee said running Afghan battles

A man freed from Guantanamo more than two years ago after he claimed he only wanted to go home and help his family is now a senior commander running Taliban resistance to the U.S.-led offensive in southern Afghanistan, two senior Afghan intelligence officials say. [More]

'Smoking Killed Me' displayed on hearse

Funeral directors said they carried out the last wish of a British man who died from emphysema by placing signs on his hearse reading: "Smoking Killed Me." [More]

Social workers guilty in starvation case

Four social workers were convicted Wednesday in a fraud case stemming from the starvation death of a disabled Philadelphia teenager whose emaciated body was found with maggot-infested bedsores. [More]

Ex-Sheriff's Deputy Accused of Sex With Girl, 13

A laid-off Sacramento County sheriff's deputy is under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping and sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl. [More]

New York governor charged with breaking ethics law

Already caught up in a scandal involving a close aide, embattled New York Governor David Paterson was charged on Wednesday by the state's ethics watchdog for unlawfully taking free baseball tickets to the 2009 World Series. [More]

`Hurt Locker' star poised to explode after Oscars

Jeremy Renner seems surprisingly calm, considering he's going through a breakup with his girlfriend, moving into a new house he renovated and preparing to attend the Oscars as a best-actor nominee. [More]

Nicklaus thinks Woods will play Masters

Jack Nicklaus is going to appear at next month's Masters. He thinks Tiger Woods will as well. Nicklaus said Wednesday that "it would surprise me" if Woods did not return to competitive golf in time for the Masters, a tournament the embattled world No. 1 has won four times in his career. [More]

Tiger's caddy 'mad' at his boss over scandal

Tiger Woods' caddy is mad at his golfing superstar boss over a string of adulterous affairs and said he would have blown the whistle if he had known about them. [More]

Teen turns from clown to suspected armed robber

This time, authorities say, Matthew David Lopez wasn't clowning around. The Tampa 19-year-old had been arrested last week after the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spotted him wearing a clown mask. [More]

Former Wisconsin Mayor Gets Prison Sentence for Internet Sex Sting

The former mayor of Racine, Wis., has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges stemming from an Internet sex sting. [More]

Drivers complain that Toyota's fixes didn't work

At least 15 Toyota drivers have complained to U.S. safety officials that their cars sped up by themselves even after being fixed under recalls for sticky gas pedals or floor mat problems, according to an Associated Press analysis. [More]

New Jersey Family Asked to Cover Up Nude Snow Woman

The family added a green bikini top and a blue sarong bottom, after the complaint. [More]

Wednesday, March 3

LAPD Apologizes to Kennedy Family for RFK Exhibit

The Los Angeles Police Department has apologized to the family of Robert F. Kennedy for exhibiting the shirt, tie and jacket the senator wore when he was assassinated in 1968. [More]

Mom sues doctor for giving her four breasts

A Staten Island mom who underwent bosom-boosting surgery got far more than she bargained for - "essentially four breasts," her lawyer claimed Tuesday. [More]

California Officers Won't Be Charged in Student Beating

Prosecutors say they won't file criminal charges against four Northern California police officers seen in a videotaped beating of an unarmed college student. [More]

Parents Accused of Selling Sex With Teen Daughter

Authorities in central Georgia say a mother and father offered sex with their 14-year-old daughter in lieu of making payments on their minivan. [More]

Police: Woman threw coffee at meter maid

Massachusetts police said a Rhode Island woman threw hot coffee on a parking enforcement officer for issuing her a $25 parking ticket. [More]

Captain Sully retiring from US Airways

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a US Airways flight during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January of last year, is retiring Wednesday. [More]

Russian Olympic boss quits after worst showing

The head of the Russian Olympic Committee resigned Wednesday in the wake of the traditional powerhouse's worst performance at the Winter Games, news agencies reported. [More]

JFK tower allowed a kid to direct air traffic

Air-traffic control tower employees at New York's Kennedy Airport are under federal investigation for apparently allowing a school-age child to direct pilots. [More]

Cactus accident

A guy fell backwards on a cactus after a few drinks while playing a round of golf at a desert course. It took paramedics over three hours to remove the cactus before he could get into an ambulance and go to the hospital. [photo] [More]

"Hurt Locker" producers sued days before Oscars

An Army sergeant on Tuesday sued the makers of Oscar-nominated film "The Hurt Locker" five days before the Academy Awards, claiming the central character in the film is based on him. [More]

"Hurt Locker" producer punished for Oscar violation

"The Hurt Locker" producer Nicolas Chartier on Tuesday was denied attendance at the upcoming Oscar ceremony for sending an e-mail to Academy Award voters urging them to name his movie as best film. [More]

WordThink - Word of the Day

Anachronism [a·nach·ro·nism] n.  One that is out of its proper, chronological, or historical order, especially a person or practice that belongs to an earlier time.  [the sword is an anachronism in modern warfare]. [More]

No charges for Naomi Campbell in NYC driver flap

A man hired to drive Naomi Campbell told police she assaulted him from the back seat of a luxury SUV on Tuesday before hopping out and running away, but the supermodel likely won't face criminal charges. [More]

Child services probes stun gun at Jackson home

An attorney for Michael Jackson's mother confirms that child services workers are investigating the presence of a stun gun at the Jackson family home, but he says the late singer's children were never exposed to the weapon. [More]

Man swallows flash drive, charged with obstruction

In a bold and bizarre attempt to destroy evidence seized during a federal raid, a New York City man grabbed a flash drive and swallowed the data storage device while in the custody of Secret Service agents. [More]

Fort Lauderdale city employee suspended for noose

A Fort Lauderdale city employee has been suspended for leaving a noose in a work area. [More]

Rangel tries to hang on to Ways and Means post

Rep. Charles Rangel is struggling to hold on to his powerful tax-writing committee chairmanship, with the House speaker declining to endorse him and other Democrats clearly nervous about retaining a leader who has been accused of ethical misconduct. [More]

Your Daily Horoscope

From UPI. [More]

Shock as Weight Watchers OKs McDonald's Food

Meals approved by Weight Watchers are going on sale at McDonald's in New Zealand, the companies said Wednesday, in a deal trumpeted as an enjoyable way to lose weight but that nutritionists criticize as a marketing ploy that doesn't promote healthy eating. [More]

Women's group asks Paterson to resign

The National Organization for Women's New York chapter called for embattled Gov. David Paterson's resignation Tuesday after a report alleging that he asked two staff members to call a woman who accused a governor's aide of assault. [More]

Woman Sentenced to Prison for Beating Son With Belt

A Pittsburgh woman has been sentenced to six to 12 years in state prison for beating her 12-year-old son so severely with a belt that he needed a skin graft and painkillers during a two-week hospital stay. [More]

Tuesday, March 2

Anachronism [a·nach·ro·nism] n.  One that is out of its proper, chronological, or historical order, especially a person or practice that belongs to an earlier time.  [the sword is an anachronism in modern warfare].

Body reported found during search for Chelsea King

A body was reported found in Lake Hodges near San Diego this afternoon during the search for missing teen Chelsea King. [More]

Update: Smithsonian doesn't want OJ Simpson Suit

The Smithsonian Institution has rejected a donation of the suit O.J. Simpson wore when he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend. [More]

44-year-old lawsuit ordered to trial

A New York state appeals court has ordered a trial for a 44-year-old lawsuit between two companies that no longer exist. [More]

Motorcyclist dies in crash with black bear

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a bear ran in front of Ronald Roy Stanley while the 51-year-old was riding his motorcycle Monday night. [More]

Flight Attendants Arrested in Alleged Prostitution Ring

A self-styled Hindu holy man and a British Airways flight attendant have been arrested in Delhi on suspicion of involvement in a multimillion-dollar prostitution racket. [More]

"Hurt Locker" breaks Hollywood's Iraq war curse

World War Two produced Oscar winner "The Bridge over the River Kwai". The Vietnam war was immortalized on screen by Academy Award winners "The Deer Hunter" and "Platoon." Now the Iraq conflict has inspired "The Hurt Locker" - a low-budget, independently-made movie that is enjoying a level of industry success that has eluded other Hollywood films about America's ongoing military mission in the Middle East. [More]

'Toyota defense' could reverse criminal conviction

A man serving eight years for vehicular homicide because of a fatal crash involving his Toyota Camry is hoping for exoneration amid concerns over unintended acceleration in some of Toyota's vehicles. [More]

Mass. School Bus Driver Charged With Raping 8th Grader

A Lowell, Mass., school bus driver has been charged with raping an 8th grade passenger. [More]

Woods returns home after counseling with wife

Tiger Woods is back at home after a week of family counseling in Arizona and is trying to get into a routine that includes golf and fitness, a person with knowledge of his schedule said today. [More]

Driver in doghouse after walking pet while in car

An English dog-owner has been fined after taking his pet for a stroll while driving next to him in his car. [More]

Ohio woman gets married, has baby on same day

An Ohio woman taken to a maternity ward in her wedding dress became a newlywed and a new mom on the same day. [More]

Apple audit exposes serious labor law violations

Apple Inc. said it found more than a dozen serious violations of labor laws or Apple's own rules at its suppliers that needed immediate correction. [More]

Suit: Police violated finger free speech

An Oregon man's lawsuit against Clackamas County sheriff's deputies claims his First Amendment rights to display his middle finger were violated. [More]

Arizona man faces murder charge in fatal chase

An Arizona man who drove a stolen car through the gates of Luke Air Force Base is facing a murder charge after his teenage passenger was fatally shot by a security guard. [More]

NY prosecutor clears U.S. liberal group ACORN workers

Employees at the U.S. liberal grass-roots group ACORN who were caught on video giving tax advice to a couple posing as a pimp and a prostitute have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, New York prosecutors said on Monday. [More]

Marie Osmond in 'disbelief' over son's suicide

Although Marie Osmond knew her son had problems, she had visited him often in Los Angeles, where he attended school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and thought he was doing better, a friend tells PEOPLE. [More]

Gov. Paterson told two female aides to contact

Gov Paterson personally directed two female staffers to reach out to a domestic violence victim who was pointing the finger at his right-hand man. [More]

WordThink - Word of the Day

Temporal [tem·po·ral] adj.  Relating to, or limited by time. Lasting only for a time; not eternal.  Also: fleeting, passing, momentary, temporary, transient, short-lived. [More]

Scuba smuggler spotted in sewer

U.S. Border Patrol officials in Arizona said someone outfitted in scuba gear was spotted in a sewer along the U.S.-Mexico border with two bundles of marijuana. [More]

Obama to pitch "cash for caulkers" in Georgia

President Barack Obama will announce details of an estimated $6 billion program on Tuesday to generate jobs by providing incentives for Americans to make their homes more energy efficient, the latest step in his bid to convince Americans he can ease their economic woes. [More]

Dems: Emanuel’s ‘gut instincts’ trump Obama’s

Rahm Emanuel is a Washington caricature, but many Democrats think Obama isn't listening to him nearly enough. [More]

$5 fee required to overthrow government

In South Carolina, any group that plans to overthrow the federal government - or any other government in the U.S. - must register its activities. It's the law. [More]

Democrats rip GOP senator for blocking jobless benefits extension

Top Democrats tore into one of their Republican counterparts Monday for blocking an extension of unemployment benefits that would provide assistance to millions of jobless Americans. [More]

Raytheon estimates 78 years for pollution cleanup

Homeowners surrounding the now-shuttered Raytheon defense plant may not live long enough to see their neighborhood rid of the industrial pollution that's been creeping under parks, playgrounds and homes for decades. [More]

All sides agree to donate O.J. suit to Smithsonian

With O.J. Simpson giving his agreement from prison, a judge approved a plan today to donate the suit the former NFL star was wearing when he was acquitted of murder to the Smithsonian Institution. [More]

Fla. man allegedly calls 911 more than 200 times

Maybe he was bored. Maybe he just likes prank phone calls. But for some reason, a Florida man allegedly called 911 more than 200 times in a recent 3-day span. Highlands County sheriff's deputies said Timothy Todd Lawrence spoke only to female dispatchers, and made sexually explicit remarks to one of them. [More]

Your Daily Horoscope

From UPI. [More]

Jay Leno: ‘It’s good to be home’

ay Leno had been absent from the nation’s TV screens for less than a month, but he returned Monday night with renewed purpose. [More]

Postal Service seeks 5-day delivery

The U.S. Postal Service will move this month toward reducing mail delivery from six days a week to five, a change Postmaster General John Potter has said is critical to reducing its massive debt. [More]

Man agrees to take down 8-story sign

A Los Angeles businessman who was being held on $1 million bail has agreed to take down an eight-story ad for a film, authorities said. [More]

Monday, March 1

SeaWorld workers pried open whale's mouth to remove trainer

SeaWorld employees who witnessed a killer whale attack its trainer said it happened suddenly and that the trainer was dead by the time they were able to pry her loose. [More]

Man shoots up room, puts clock in microwave

Authorities said an overnight hotel guest who claimed a divine calling has been jailed after shooting up his room and placing an alarm clock in the microwave. [More]

Hazmat Crews, FBI Called to IRS Building in Utah

Hazardous material crews were called to an IRS building in Ogden, Utah on Monday, less than two weeks after a man deliberately crashed his private plane into a Texas building that housed IRS workers, according to local reports. [More]

Teen dies after highway jump from ambulance

A teenager has died after jumping out of a moving ambulance on an interstate highway in South Carolina. [More]

Unpaid $68 dental bill dogs Utah homeowner

A Utah woman who lost title to her house over an unpaid $68 dental bill has been given a reprieve. [More]

Senate impasse puts federal employees out of work

Two thousand federal transportation workers were furloughed without pay on Monday, and the Obama administration said they have a Kentucky senator to blame for it. [More]

Texas businessman charged in dancer's slaying

A man long considered a person of interest in the disappearance of an exotic dancer was charged during the weekend with killing her, authorities said. [More]

Unattended toddlers die in NC fire; mother charged

Authorities in North Carolina say two toddlers left without adult supervision have died in a house fire, and their mother has been charged with murder. [More]

Dunkin’ Donuts worker falls in sewage pit, dies

A teenage worker taking out the garbage at a Long Island doughnut shop fell into a sewage pit and died Sunday night. [More]

Sex Offender Arrested in Search for Missing Girl

A registered sex offender was arrested today in connection with the disappearance of Chelsea King, a 17-year-old straight-A student who disappeared Thursday after going for a run in a San Diego park, police said. [More]

Jewel Thieves Rob Store But Leave Child Behind

Philadelphia police say a pair of thieves made off with some expensive jewelry but left behind a 4-year-old boy. [More]

5,200 strip for nude photo shoot in Sydney

About 5,200 naked people have embraced each other on the steps of the iconic Sydney Opera House for a photo shoot by photographer Spencer Tunick. [More]

Former Enron CEO Could Face New Trial

It's a 28-word word law that federal prosecutors have used for more than two decades to send high-profile public officials and corporate executives, including former Enron Corp. CEO Jeff Skilling, to prison. [More]

Man dies when 911 calls unheeded for 30 hours

After a Pittsburgh man dies in a storm when emergency help doesn't arrive, city officials order an investigation and reforms. [More]

Florida boy accidentally shot, killed by brother

An 11-year-old South Florida boy was fatally shot after he and a brother found their father's gun. [More]

Rock Hall of Fame expands to accommodate collection

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland has fascinating relics like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" mask. Soon it'll have space to showcase its interesting but less flashy artifacts. [More]

Sunday, February 28

Actor Randy Quaid, wife want apology for arrest

Actor Randy Quaid and his wife are crying foul over their arrests last year on a charge they failed to pay a California hotel bill, which they claim was the result of a series of mishaps and unfortunate events. [More]

Obama yet to kick smoking habit, should eat better

President Barack Obama hasn't kicked the smoking habit, takes anti-inflammatory medication to relieve chronic tendinitis in his left knee and should eat better to lower his cholesterol, his team of doctors concluded Sunday. [More]

Miami pastor gets probation for stealing $10k

A popular Miami pastor will spend five years on probation instead of serving jail time after being convicted of stealing $10,000 in county grant money. [More]

2 Teenage Girls Hit by Train Committed Suicide

Officials in Pennsylvania say two teenage girls who were struck and killed by a high-speed Amtrak train committed suicide. [More]

Hurt Locker producer email upsets Oscar race

An uproar has erupted in Hollywood concerning one of the producers of the acclaimed film The Hurt Locker, who has admitted to directly lobbying Oscar voters. [More]

Beer-drinking, smoking chimp sent to rehab

A Russian chimpanzee has been sent to rehab by zookeepers to cure the smoking and beer-drinking habits he has picked up. [D] [More]

Marie Osmond's son kills self in jump from building

The teenage son of famed Osmond family singer Marie Osmond committed suicide by jumping from a building in downtown Los Angeles, her representative confirmed on Saturday. [More]

Union's agenda hits roadblock

Labor union's high hopes for major gains under President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress have dimmed, raising fresh doubts about union leverage even in the best of political times. This wasn't what unions expected a year ago after spending more than $400 million to help elect Obama and fellow Democrats. [More]

Dugard, family file claims against California

Jaycee Dugard and her family have taken the first step to sue the state of California for lapses officials made while she and her daughters were allegedly held captive by a convicted sex offender. [More]

US sets medals record, Canada ties gold record

While the Vancouver Olympics aren't finished, the medal races are — and in spectacular fashion for North Americans. [More]

Baby and Toddler Found Bound, Gagged in California

Authorities say a baby and a toddler have found bound, gagged and left on a bedroom floor in Southern California, and the childrens' father is being investigated for attempted murder and torture in the case. [More]

Obama signs one-year extension of Patriot Act

President Barack Obama has signed a one-year extension of several provisions in the main U.S. counterterrorism law, the Patriot Act. [More]

Oprah helps chef fulfill Michelle Obama wish

When Oprah Winfrey recently asked her former personal chef what he wanted for his 50th birthday, Art Smith's first thought was a new treadmill. Aim higher, she told him. [More]

Michael Jordan reaches deal to buy Bobcats

He has been called the NBA's greatest player and one of the country's top pitchmen. Now Michael Jordan is ready for a new title: NBA owner. [More]

Saturday, February 27

Flight passenger eats winning scratch card

A spokesman for an Irish airline said a passenger who won nearly $13,620 on a scratch card ate the instant lottery ticket when told he could not cash it in until the plane landed. [More]

Marie Osmond’s son commits suicide

Marie Osmond's teenaged son, Michael Blosil, has killed himself by leaping to his death Friday in Los Angeles, reports Entertainment Tonight. Michael is one of eight children Osmond has raised with ex-husband Brian Blosil. [More]

Beer vendor, 85, replaced by 75-year-old

A New York judge has thrown out an age-discrimination suit filed by an 85-year-old woman who sold beer at Mets games until she was replaced with a 75-year-old. [More]

Wash. Teacher's Stalker Waited Outside School for Hours Before Shooting

The stalking began with bursts of phone calls — 10 or 15 in a day, about once a year, from an old college acquaintance. Then, flowers and unwanted visits, an anti-harassment order, an arrest — and bail. [More]

'Lockergate'?: Producer apologizes for e-mails

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering action against a producer of "The Hurt Locker" who sent multiple e-mails urging academy members to vote for his movie in the Oscar best-picture race and "not a $500 million film" — an obvious reference to close-competitor "Avatar." [More]

Teacher Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Having Sex With 15-Year-Old Student

A former Georgetown high school teacher has been sentenced to five years in prison for having sex with a 15-year-old student. [More]

Mother, Son Charged in Death of Mentally Disabled Daughter

A mother and her son were charged Friday in the death of the woman's 23-year-old mentally disabled daughter who investigators said was repeatedly raped, beaten and scalded and had her face pushed into feces. [More]

Whales perform for 1st time since trainer's death

More than 2,000 people watched killer whales perform Saturday at SeaWorld for the first time since one of the orcas dragged a trainer to her death underwater in front of horrified spectators three days ago. [More]

Child sex abuse scandal stuns Delaware town

The case of a small-town pediatrician accused of molesting more than 100 young patients has created a wrenching dilemma for the alleged victims' parents and relatives. [More]

Rangel refuses to step aside after ethics slap

Rep. Charles Rangel said Friday he won't step down as chairman of the powerful House tax-writing committee after being admonished by an ethics panel for accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. The public rebuke of one of the Democrats' most outspoken leaders posed more woes for a party that had vowed to end a "culture of corruption." [More]

Tiger Woods dropped by Gatorade

Sports drink maker Gatorade has ended its marketing deals with Tiger Woods, joining the list of sponsors to drop the superstar golfer in the wake of a sex scandal. [More]

Friday, February 26

Pilot cancels flight after attendant fight

Passengers on a Pinnacle Airlines flight from Rochester, N.Y., to Atlanta said the plane was grounded due to a fight between flight attendants. [More]

Clerical Mistake Kept Woman in Louisiana Jail for Months

A homeless, mentally ill woman has been released from a Louisiana jail after a clerical mistake kept her there for six months. [More]

Man caught robbing same bank twice in 24 hours

A German robber held up the same bank in Hamburg twice within 24 hours just a week after being released from jail - for the same crime. [More]

Debt collectors turned away at Wayne Newton home

Police say sheriff's deputies were turned away from Wayne Newton's sprawling Las Vegas home while trying to collect a $500,000 court judgment. [More]

45 pounds of pot delivered to wrong home

Police in North Carolina said a woman opened a package she believed to be her new computer and discovered 45 pounds of marijuana worth $35,000. [More]

NYPD investigating Seinfeld parking placard

The New York Police Department is investigating why a Bronx police placard was displayed in comedian Jerry Seinfeld's car. Seinfeld spokeswoman Elizabeth Clark Zoia on Wednesday said the performer wasn't aware of the parking placard, which belonged to Seinfeld's longtime driver, a retired police officer. [More]

80-year-old burglar gets 3 years in Calif. prison

An 80-year-old woman with a criminal record stretching back to 1955 has been sentenced to three years in state prison for ransacking and stealing cash from a Southern California medical office. Doris Thompson thanked a judge Wednesday for not sending her to Los Angeles County jail, which she doesn't like, [More]

Couple sued over 'ugly' kitchen

A New York realty group is suing the owners of a floor at the Gramercy Park Hotel for installing an "ugly" Ikea kitchen at the property. [More]

WordThink - Word of the Day

Aesthetic [aes·thet·ic] adj.  1. Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste.  2. Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty. [More]

Ethics panel finds Rangel broke rules

The Associated Press has learned that the House ethics committee has concluded that Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel knowingly accepted Caribbean trips in violation of House rules that forbid hidden financing by corporations. [More]

Wife blindfolded husband for 'surprise,' beat him with hammer

A 37-year-old Salt Lake City woman on Tuesday admitted hitting her husband in the head with a hammer after blindfolding him and promising a "surprise." [More]

Drunk mom allegedly runs through school with sword

Police said the mother of an elementary school student drank a 40 ounce bottle of malt liquor before brandishing a sword in her child's school. The woman, 32, apparently intended to confront the parents of another child who had been in a spitting match with her child the previous day. [More]

Douglas son blames parents for failings

Michael Douglas' drug-dealing son tried to sell a Manhattan court a sob story worthy of a Hollywood script - that his famous family made him a smack-addicted wreck. [More]

Whale trainer had 'dream job,' sister says

From the time she visited SeaWorld as a 9-year-old, Dawn Brancheau was hooked. From then on, her family said, she was determined to be an animal trainer when she grew up. [More]

Police: Drunk man drove off with gas hose

Indiana police said they arrested an alleged drunk driver who drove away from a gas station with the nozzle and hose still attached to his vehicle. [More]

NY Gov. Paterson won't seek new term

Democratic officials are telling The Associated Press that New York Gov. David Paterson is not seeking election. [More]

Your Daily Horoscope

From UPI. [More]

Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight heal their rift

As Angelina Jolie continues her working-mom trip to Europe, she has made a point of family bonding - not only with her six kids and partner Brad Pitt, but with her long-estranged dad, too. [More]

Man, 89, ordered to remove hat in store

An 89-year-old British man said he was outraged when employees at a store asked him to remove his flat cap because of security concerns. [More]

TV chef dropped for cat recipe comments

Italy's state-owned television broadcaster has dropped a popular chef for sharing a recipe with viewers to cook cat. [More]

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