By IAN JAMES and JORGE RUEDAAssociated PressCARACAS, VenezuelaVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez can take the oath of office for his next term before the Supreme Court at a later date if the ailing leader isn’t fit to be sworn in next
(AP) AUSTIN, TexasThe New York Times reported Friday that Lance Armstrong, who has strongly denied the doping charges that led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, has told associates he is considering admitting to the use
By STACEY PLAISANCEAssociated PressNEW ORLEANSFormer Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards will star on a new cable TV show with the woman he married after his release from federal prison on a corruption conviction. In a Facebook exchange Friday, Trina Scott Edwards
(AP) Mexico’s ‘grand warlock’ makes 2013 predictionsBy OLGA R. RODRIGUEZAssociated PressMEXICO CITYAntonio Vasquez is a cherubic 72-year-old with twinkling eyes, a long white beard and a knack for predicting things that don’t actually happen. For more than three decades, Mexico’s
By MARY CLARE JALONICKAssociated PressWASHINGTONThe Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed the most sweeping food safety rules in decades, requiring farmers and food companies to be more vigilant in the wake of deadly outbreaks in peanuts, cantaloupe and leafy
(AP) ‘McDreamy’ says he beat Starbucks for coffee chainBy DONNA BLANKINSHIP and CANDICE CHOIAssociated PressSEATTLE The actor, who was dubbed “McDreamy” as a star of the hospital drama while his co-star was called “McSteamy,” may soon be serving hot, steaming
AP) Ex-Rep. Frank on Senate seat: Put me in, governorBy STEVE PEOPLESAssociated PressBOSTONNewly retired Rep. Barney Frank revealed on Friday that he would like to serve as a temporary successor to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the secretary of state nominee.
An hour after the Kansas City Chiefs fired general manager Scott Pioli, NFL.com reported on Friday the Chiefs have hired former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid to be their new coach. After spending 14 years coaching the Eagles, Reid was
By JEAN H. LEE and YOUKYUNG LEEAssociated PressSEOUL, South KoreaWhen he lands in North Korea, even Google’s executive chairman will likely have to relinquish his smartphone, leaving him disconnected from the global information network he helped build. Eric Schmidt is
(AP) NJ Gov. Christie blasts Boehner, RepublicansBy KATIE ZEZIMA AND GEOFF MULVIHILLAssociated PressTRENTON, N.J.Gov. Chris Christie’s blunt talk has long been one of his hallmarks. But Christie, who has verbally tangled with many, showed Wednesday he’s willing to aim his
(AP) Hollywood faces fracking in ‘Promised Land’By MICHAEL RUBINKAMAssociated PressALLENTOWN, Pa.The new movie “Promised Land” digs into the fierce national debate over fracking, the technique that’s generated a boom in U.S. natural gas production while also stoking controversy over its
(AP) Sandy Hook students, teachers head back to schoolBy JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN and PAT EATON-ROBBAssociated PressNEWTOWN, Conn.Since escaping a gunman’s rampage at their elementary school, the 8-year-old Connors triplets have suffered nightmares, jumped at noises and clung to their parents a
By PETER JACKSONAssociated PressHARRISBURG, Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday he plans to sue the NCAA in federal court over stiff sanctions imposed against Penn State University in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal. The Republican
By MURRAY EVANSAssociated PressOKLAHOMA CITYKevin Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook returned from a cut above his eye to finish with 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 114-96 on Monday
By JOHN ERFORTAssociated PressEL PASO, TexasSouthern California was ranked No. 1 at the beginning of the season, and Matt Barkley was a strong contender for the Heisman Trophy. The year ended with Barkley on the sideline as the Trojans lost
(AP) Gunmen kill 5 female teachers in PakistanBy RIAZ KHANAssociated PressPESHAWAR, PakistanGunmen in northwest Pakistan killed five female teachers and two aid workers on Tuesday in an ambush on a van carrying workers home from their jobs at a community
(AP) Details of Senate bill averting ‘fiscal cliff’By The Associated PressHighlights of a bill approved Tuesday by the Senate aimed at averting wide tax increases and budget cuts scheduled to take effect in the new year. The measure would raise
By The Associated Press Quite a day for NFL sacks. Seven coaches and five general managers were fired Monday in a flurry of pink slips that were delivered the day after the regular-season ended. There could be more, but so
By CHRISTINA REXRODEAP Business WriterNEW YORKOn Monday, the stock market was as choppy as the “fiscal cliff” deal-making that has been yanking it around. U.S. stocks struggled for direction on the last day of the year, with the “fiscal cliff”
By ASHOK SHARMAAssociated PressNEW DELHIIndian police have charged six men with murder, adding to accusations that they beat and gang-raped a woman on a New Delhi bus two weeks ago in a case that shocked the country. The murder charges
By COLLEEN LONGAssociated PressNEW YORKA woman who told police she shoved a man to his death off a subway platform into the path of a train because she hates Muslims and thought he was one was charged Saturday with murder
By ANTHONY McCARTNEYAP Entertainment WriterLOS ANGELESFBI files on Marilyn Monroe that could not be located earlier this year have been found and re-issued, revealing the names of some of the movie star’s acquaintances who drew concern from government officials and
(AP) Putin signs anti-US adoptions billBy JIM HEINTZAssociated PressMOSCOWPresident Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children, part of a harsh response to a U.S. law targeting Russians deemed to be human rights violators. Although
(AP) Little time left to head off longshoremen’s strikeBy DAVID B. CARUSO and SCOTT MAYEROWITZAssociated PressNEW YORKShipments of products as varied as flat-screen TVs, sneakers and snow shovels could sit idle at sea or get rerouted, at great time and
(AP) Over the fiscal cliff: Soft or hard landing?By CONNIE CASSAssociated PressWASHINGTON Efforts to save the nation from going over a year-end “fiscal cliff” were in disarray as lawmakers fled the Capitol for their Christmas break. “God only knows” how
