VIDEO: With Time, Money Running Out, South Carolina Often Turns Nasty

South Carolina has always picked the GOP's eventual nominee since the primary's inception in 1980

2012-01-15

Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- In mailboxes across South Carolina in 2007, likely Republican voters received a Christmas card signed by "The Romney Family" with a quotation from a 19th century Mormon leader suggesting God had several wives. Read the complete article

VIDEO Obama Takes on Big Government: ‘It Has to Change’

Obama asked Congress to give him a kind of reorganization power no president has had since Ronald Reagan

2012-01-15

Ben Feller AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seeking more power to shrink the government, President Barack Obama on Friday suggested smashing six economic agencies into one, an election-year idea intended to halt bureaucratic nightmares and force Republicans to back him on one of their own favorite issues. Read the complete article

Debate Heats Up Over Illinois Jailed Immigrant Policy

Ordinance passed last September is at center of case over missing hit-and-run suspect

2012-01-14

Don Babwin The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) -- Controversy over a Cook County ordinance that forbids the sheriff from notifying federal officials when they're about to release suspected illegal immigrants from jail is heating up after a suspect charged in a fatal hit-and-run posted bail and disappeared. Read the complete article

Oregon Wind Farm a First Under New Eagle Kill Rules

Permit for proposed farm would allow three golden eagle deaths over five years

2012-01-14

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- A proposed Central Oregon wind project is the first in the country to be considered for a permit that allows wind turbines to kill a few golden eagles so long as developers make up for the loss, federal officials say. Read the complete article

Priest With Gambling Habit Facing Prison in Vegas

59-year-old pleaded guilty to siphoning $650,000 from parish funds

2012-01-14

Ken Ritter The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A lawyer planned to ask a federal judge on Friday to reject a call for almost three years of prison time and instead give probation to a Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to siphoning $650,000 over eight years from his northwest Las Vegas parish gift shop, votive candle collection and prayer funds to support his gambling habit. Read the complete article

Tribe Looks to Teenagers to Revive Bison Demand

South Dakota school hopes meat program helps restore animal’s significance to Native Americans

2012-01-13

Kristi Eaton The Associated Press

FLANDREAU, S.D. (AP) -- It seems an unlikely concept: teenagers forgoing the immediacy of a McDonald's Big Mac to don an apron, grab a meat patty and learn how to cook their own lower-fat version in the kitchen. Read the complete article

Documents Show How Fed Missed Housing Bust

Newly released transcripts show some officials expressed concern, but none recognized extent of bubble danger

2012-01-13

Martin Crutsinger AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ben Bernanke presided over his first meeting as Federal Reserve chairman in March 2006 believing the nation's economy could pull off a "soft landing" from falling home prices. Three months later, Bernanke had begun to grasp that he and others had underestimated the risk housing posed to the economy. Read the complete article

Detroit Imposes Business Hours at Police Precincts

Officers are still inside the building around the clock, but at night public access is limited to a phone in the foyer

2012-01-13

Corey Williams The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) -- Fighting crime is a 24-hour job, but Detroit police stations will be sticking to business hours. Read the complete article

Black Worker Files Second Race-Based Lawsuit Against Panera

21-year-old’s discrimination claims echo sentiments of allegations filed last year

2012-01-12

Joe Mandak The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A black man who says racial discrimination forced him to quit working at a Panera Bread restaurant has sued its franchisee, claiming the company doesn't want black employees in positions where they interact with the public. His lawsuit echoes allegations by a white manager of the suburban Pittsburgh store who sued last year, claiming he was fired for defending the employee. Read the complete article

Muslim Who Claims Harassment Sues Connecticut University

Balayla Ahmad says University of Bridgeport recklessly threatened FBI terrorism investigation

2012-01-12

John Christoffersen The Associated Press

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- A Muslim woman is suing the University of Bridgeport, alleging that the school failed to investigate her claims that a fellow student sexually harassed her and instead retaliated by reporting her to the FBI based on a false claim that she was a terrorist. Read the complete article