National News

Microsoft CEO Ballmer unveiling Windows 7 beta, Live Search deals with Dell, Verizon Microsoft Corp.'s next version of the Windows operating system is almost ready for prime time.

Rain and melting snow bring dangerous flooding and mudslides to Washington state More than 30,000 people were urged to leave their flood-endangered western Washington homes as swollen rivers, mudslides and avalanches engulfed neighborhoods and roadways.

Rocket barrage from Lebanon strikes northern Israel, threatening to open a second front in war Lebanese militants fired barrages of rockets into northern Israel early Thursday, striking a nursing home and threatening to open a second front for the Jewish state as it pushed forward with its o

Joint session of Congress to count electoral votes, declare Obama the next president The House and Senate are coming together in a centuries-old tradition to count the electoral votes from the November election and formally declare that Barack Obama will be the 44th president of th

Illinois lawmakers plan to grill Burris about accepting Senate appointment from Blagojevich Illinois Republicans are promising tough questions Thursday for Senate-appointee Roland Burris on why he accepted a position offered by disgraced Gov.

Protests over fatal New Year's Day shooting at Oakland, Calif., train station turn violent Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday night, with windows broken, streets shut down and train stations closed.

Cleveland Browns to hire former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, source tells AP Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets.

'Dark Knight,' 'Iron Man' and 'Indiana Jones' give People's Choice Awards heroic odds "The Dark Knight" could soar away with several trophies Wednesday night at the 35th annual People's Choice Awards.

Democrats yield to pressure from Obama and retreat on rejection of Burris for Senate seat Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked th

Cheney says Obama shouldn't throw out terrorist surveillance, interrogation programs Vice President Dick Cheney said Wednesday it would be a mistake for President-elect Barack Obama to scrap the Bush administration's terrorist-fighting policies designed to prevent future attacks on

No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Oklahoma set to play in BCS championship game The Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida Gators meet tonight for the BCS championship. It's a matchup that includes a pair of Heisman Trophy winners, an SEC vs.

Oregon police say law against teen drivers using cell phones tough to enforce, mostly ignored The chances that a teenager will be cited for talking on a cell phone while driving are pretty much zero in Oregon, a consequence of the way the law is written and a problem other states may be fac

Report: Obama should refocus Afghanistan war, rebuilding effort after Bush's miscalculations The United States and its partners have shortchanged Afghanistan by focusing on short-term goals pursued without a cohesive strategy or a clear understanding of the way the poor, decentralized coun

Hold that pose: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Oklahoma set to play in BCS championship game Standing next to the crystal football, Bob Stoops was the picture of Mr. Agreeable. Any pose the photographers wanted, the Oklahoma coach gave them.

Progress on diplomatic front but Israel resumes offensive in Gaza and Hamas fires rockets Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid.

Inauguration attractive terrorist target but officials have no specific info about plots The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan.

Lin's 27 points leads Harvard to 82-70 upset over No. 17 BC after Eagles upset Tar Heels Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.

Melting snow threatens record flooding in parts of Wash. state; snow closes Northeast schools Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly

Inauguration attractive terrorist target but officials have no specific information about plots The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan.

Federal judge orders arrest of Alabama sheriff accused of profiting while inmates went hungry A federal judge has ordered the arrest of an Alabama sheriff who was held in contempt of court for failing to adequately feed jail inmates while profiting from the skimpy meals.