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Updated: 11 min 47 sec ago
Football Legend, TV Star Merlin Olsen Dies
The Hall of Fame defensive lineman went on to a successful career in sports broadcasting and commercials, as well as a continuing role on Little House on the Prairie. He was 69 and had been suffering from cancer.
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More Quakes Hit Chile As New President Takes Over
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck central Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and setting off a tsunami.
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Computers One Step Closer To Reading Your Mind
Clairvoyant computers may be nearer to reality than you'd think. In a new study, a computer program that analyzes brain scans was able to detect participants' thoughts — or at least their memories of a short film they were thinking about.
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Schools Across U.S. Grapple With Closures
Kansas City, Mo., has just approved one of the largest school closures in the nation's history. All over the U.S., the number of districts shutting schools is growing rapidly in the face of declines in both revenue and enrollment.
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Budget Woes Could Close Abolitionist's Burial Site
A budget crisis could lead New York to close the farm where John Brown is buried. Closing the burial site would save taxpayers about $40,000 a year, a tiny chunk of the state's $8 billion deficit. Historians say that's not enough to warrant the loss.
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New Music Emerges From Elkhart's Instrument Past
Dozens of band instrument makers used to be part of the local economy in Elkhart, Ind. But only three major companies remain. One company says it will only manufacture instruments in the U.S. — and it will hire new workers to grow the business and regain market share.
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Highway Deaths At Lowest Levels Since 1950s
The Department of Transportation announced Thursday that the number of people killed in highway crashes last year was the lowest since 1954. Factoring in the number of miles traveled, it was the lowest fatality rate ever.
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Obama Meets With Senators On Immigration
President Obama met Thursday with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) who are trying to craft a bipartisan immigration bill. The meeting comes less than two weeks before immigrant rights activists are planning a march on Washington to draw attention to their cause, but so far the White House has been reluctant to put the issue on the front burner.
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Afghan Troops Earn Kudos, But Questions Remain
NATO commanders in southern Afghanistan are sharing credit for the success of last month's offensive in Marjah with their Afghan counterparts. But there are still concerns about the Afghans' tactics and ability to coordinate with foreign troops on the battlefield.
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Japan Confirms Secret Nuclear Pacts With U.S.
Japan's government has acknowledged Cold War-era agreements allowing the U.S. to bring nuclear weapons into the country in violation of Japan's non-nuclear policies. Analysts say admitting the pacts now should strengthen, not weaken, the U.S.-Japan alliance.
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Ex-New Orleans Cop Pleads In Shooting Cover-Up
A judge called the plot to hide the shooting of unarmed residents crossing a bridge a "despicable" scheme that immeasurably compounded Hurricane Katrina's damage. Jeffrey Lehrmann pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, meaning he knew about the crime and didn't report it. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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Panel Recommends Rethink On Repeat Cesareans
Most women who give birth by cesarean section should have the option for vaginal delivery of subsequent children, experts recommended. Existing medical guidelines would have to be changed to make that approach more common.
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Cities Find New Ways To Reach Into Your Wallet
Across the country, cash-strapped cities are coming up with novel ideas for raising money — imposing new charges on everything from sodas and plastic bags to library late fees and emergency-response services. With at least two more years of bad budgets ahead, look for cities to turn to niche taxes.
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Dodd Says He'll Go It Alone On Financial Regulation
The Senate Banking Committee chairman plans to offer his own financial regulation bill without GOP support after a month of talks with Republican Sen. Bob Corker found some common ground but didn't yield agreement on consumer protections and other sticking points.
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Afghanistan Welcomes Pakistani Role In Peace Talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that Pakistan has a key role to play in peace talks with the Taliban, a possible attempt to quash speculation that his government was trying to sideline its neighbor.
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Huge Aftershock Hits Chile On Inauguration Day
A series of strong aftershocks from last month's devastating quake rocked Chile on Thursday as a new president was sworn into office and immediately urged coastal residents to move to higher ground in case of a tsunami.
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Electric Vehicles May Energize Elkhart's Future
Elkhart, Ind., is known as the RV-making capital of the world. The mayor wants to claim a new title: the electric vehicle capital of the world. Stimulus grants and other incentives are attracting companies planning to build electric vehicles to Elkhart. It's hoped the new business will fill the void created by a serious slump in recreational vehicle sales.
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Greece Roiled By General Strike Over Austerity Plan
Greek police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing rocks and firebombs outside Parliament as tens of thousands of people marched through Athens to protest measures to cut the country's debt. The strike grounded all flights and brought public transport to a halt.
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Trade Deficit Shrinks As Auto And Oil Imports Drop
The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.
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Talks With Taliban To Decide Afghanistan's Future?
The emerging consensus in Afghanistan is that military action alone will not win the war against the Taliban and a political solution will be necessary. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reached out to some Taliban leaders. But analysts say the Taliban and the U.S. are not ready for full-scale negotiations — yet.
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