National News

Burris declares 'I'm a senator' _ but seating unlikely Tuesday as Dems try to avert showdown Senate Democrats struggled to avert a showdown steeped in race and corruption Monday as a defiant Roland Burris declared, "I'm a United States senator" and flew to the capital to claim President-el

AP Source: Bradley reaches preliminary agreement on $30 million, 3-year deal with Cubs The Chicago Cubs and free agent Milton Bradley reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $30 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

Prosecutor wants disgraced financier Bernard Madoff jailed without bail A prosecutor on Monday asked that Bernard Madoff be jailed pending trial, saying the disgraced financier violated an agreement with the court by mailing watches, jewelry, cufflinks and mittens wort

Ohio boy, 4, shoots babysitter after the teen accidentally stepped on his foot Police say a 4-year-old boy in southern Ohio shot his babysitter because the sitter accidentally stepped on his foot.

Baseball official: Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad dead at age 93 Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died Monday, a baseball official said. He was 93.

Minn. board certifies Franken as leader at end of recount, but Coleman plans legal challenge A Minnesota board on Monday certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state's U.S.

Defiant Roland Burris declares 'I'm a senator' despite boiling controversy and unlikely seating Senate Democrats struggled to avert a showdown steeped in race and corruption Monday as a defiant Roland Burris declared, "I'm a United States senator" despite boiling controversy over his appointm

Obama fills top spy jobs with 2 men short on direct experience in intelligence gathering President-elect Barack Obama's decision to fill the nation's top intelligence jobs with two men short on direct experience in intelligence gathering surprised the spy community and signaled the Dem

Minn. board certifies Franken as leader at end of Senate recount, but legal challenge looms A Minnesota board has certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state's U.S.

Gaza's civilian toll rises as diplomats make a desperate push for cease-fire GAZA CITY, Gaza—Israel ignored mounting international calls for a cease-fire Monday and said it won't stop its crippling 10-day assault until "peace and tranquility" are achieved in southern Isra

Police records reveal anguish of anthrax suspect's wife, and admission that he took own life Anthrax mailing suspect Bruce Ivins tormented his wife with rudeness and behaved erratically in the weeks before the Army scientist took his own life by overdosing on Tylenol, according to document

Pat Burrell agrees to $16 million, 2-year contract with AL champion Tampa Bay Rays Pat Burrell went from one World Series team to the other. The Tampa Bay Rays added a big bat to the middle of their lineup, agreeing Monday on a $16 million, two-year contract with Burrell.

Gaza's civilian death toll rises as diplomats make a desperate push for cease-fire Israel's expanding ground and air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers took a heavy civilian toll Monday, including three young brothers reported killed by a crashing shell and wounded who filled

Obama plunges into pre-inaugural talks, says his economic plan with tax cuts will get quick OK President-elect Barack Obama plunged into rare pre-inaugural crisis talks with congressional leaders Monday, declaring the national economy was "bad and getting worse" and embracing tax cuts now ex

Mexican police say woman who begged from wheelchair caught fleeing from crime scene on foot Police say a woman who begged from a wheelchair was caught running from a crime scene on foot in Monterrey, Mexico.

Mexican police surprised when beggar in wheelchair flees on foot Police say a woman who begged from a wheelchair was caught running from a crime scene on foot in Monterrey, Mexico.

Obama embraces $300 billion in tax cuts, predicts quick passage of huge economic rescue plan President-elect Barack Obama declared the national economy was "bad and getting worse" Monday as he began crisis talks with congressional leaders on emergency action.

NC man shot by his stepfather ends up in the same jail with him after officers find warrants A man who police said was shot by his stepfather ended up in the same jail with him after officers discovered outstanding arrest warrants against the victim.