National & World News

National news

Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies at age 48
07:02 p.m., February 11, 2012 Updated 08:25 p.m.
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.
Sandusky seeks visits with grandkids
February 11, 2012
Jerry Sandusky declared Friday that people have turned against him, moments after the ex-Penn State football coordinator asked a judge for greater freedom while he awaits trial on child sex abuse charges.
Navy names ship for Giffords
February 10, 2012
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Friday that the next Independence variant littoral combat ship will be named after Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who survived being shot in the head last January when a gunman opened fire as Giffords met with constituents outside a Tucson grocery store.
Report: Teacher in LA molest case paid to resign
February 10, 2012
The former third-grade teacher charged with committing lewd acts on students was paid $40,000 to drop an appeal of his firing, a newspaper reported Friday.
Congressman asks for delay in Eisenhower Memorial
February 10, 2012
Virginia Rep. Frank Wolf is asking a federal panel to reject architect Frank Gehry’s design for a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington.
Leaving ‘No Child’ law: Obama lets 10 states flee
February 10, 2012
It could be the beginning of the end for No Child Left Behind.
$25B foreclosure abuse settlement reached
February 10, 2012
A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation’s top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But consumer advocates countered that far too few people will benefit.

World news

Egypt’s military warns of plots on eve of strike
February 11, 2012
Egypt’s military rulers warned Friday that the country faces conspiracies that seek to topple the state and spread chaos, in a message intended to undermine activists who plan to mark the anniversary of President Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow with anti-army protests.
Suicide bombers kill 28 in Syria; rebels deny involvement
February 10, 2012
Two suicide car bombers struck security compounds in Aleppo on Friday, killing 28 people, Syrian officials said, bringing significant violence for the first time to an industrial center that has largely stood by President Bashar Assad during the 11-month uprising against his rule.
Greek deal to cut spending does not end debt drama
February 10, 2012
More than two years after it came clean about its addiction to debt, Greece may finally have begun its long and painful road to recovery.
In scientific coup, Russians reach Antarctic lake
February 9, 2012
Opening a scientific frontier miles under the Antarctic ice, Russian experts drilled down and finally reached the surface of a gigantic freshwater lake, an achievement the mission chief likened to placing a man on the moon.
U.S. closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses
February 7, 2012
The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria — now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.
Obama: Israel has not decided on Iran attack
February 6, 2012
President Barack Obama said Sunday he does not think Israel has decided whether to attack Iran over its disputed nuclear program, a standoff that has the Middle East on edge.
After U.N. veto, U.S. proposes coalition
February 6, 2012
The United States proposed an international coalition to support Syria’s opposition Sunday after Russia and China blocked a U.N. attempt to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed, raising fears that violence will escalate. Rebel soldiers said force was now the only way to oust President Bashar Assad, while the regime vowed to press its military crackdown.