Kerry nominated for Secretary of State

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Sen. John Kerry as his next secretary of state, elevating the longtime lawmaker and foreign policy expert to the top diplomatic job he had coveted.

Bells toll for victims one week after shooting

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) - The chiming of bells reverberated throughout Newtown on Friday, commemorating one week since the crackle of gunfire in a schoolhouse killed 20 children and six adults in a massacre that has shaken the community - and the nation - to its core.

Hot spots draw believers, but not doomsday

As the sun rose from time zone to time zone across the world on Friday, there was still no sign of the world's end - but that didn't stop those convinced that a 5,125-year Mayan calendar predicts the apocalypse from gathering at some of the world's purported survival hot spots.

US economy grew at 3.1 percent in summer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent over the summer as exports increased, consumers spent more and state and local governments added to growth for the first time in three years. But the economy is likely slowing in the current quarter.

Obama nominating Kerry for secretary of state

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Friday will nominate Sen. John Kerry as his next secretary of state, a senior administration official said, making the first move in an overhaul of his national security team heading into a second term.

NRA calls for armed police officer in every school

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest gun-rights lobby called Friday for armed police officers to be posted in every American school to stop the next killer "waiting in the wings."

Hot rhetoric, tiny numbers separate Obama, Boehner

WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite all the hot fiscal cliff rhetoric, the differences between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner seem relatively narrow. So why haven't they shaken hands already? One answer: Both sides need to keep - or get - their own troops behind them.

Newtown first responders carry heavy burdens

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) - While the people of Newtown do their best to cope with loss and preserve the memories of their loved ones, another class of residents is also finding it difficult to move on: the emergency responders who saw firsthand the terrible aftermath of last week's school shooting.

All we want for Christmas is our gifts on time!

NEW YORK (AP) - Will Santa's sleigh be late? A record number of Americans took to the Web to order holiday gifts after retailers flooded their inboxes with offers of extra discounts, free shipping and easy returns. But a storm bringing heavy winds and snow to much of the Midwest on Thursday - the heaviest shipping day of the year - could mean that some packages might not make it under the tree in time ...

UN OKs military action to oust al-Qaida in Mali

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized military action to wrest northern Mali from the control of al-Qaida-linked extremists but demanded progress first on political reconciliation, elections and training African troops and police.

Stores brace for snow during final shopping days

NEW YORK (AP) - Midwesterners aren't the only ones who could get slammed by the storm that's expected to bring heavy snow, winds and rain to the middle of the country over the next couple of days. Stores could get hit too.

In Mexico, New Agers hope Dec. 21 brings new era

MERIDA, Mexico (AP) - Doomsday hour is here, at least in much of the world, and so still are we.

Hot rhetoric, tiny numbers separate Obama, Boehner

WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite all the hot fiscal cliff rhetoric, the differences between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner seem relatively narrow. So why haven't they shaken hands already? One answer: Both sides need to keep - or get - their own troops behind them.

Americans seeking unemployment aid rises by 17,000

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week by 17,000, reversing four weeks of declines. But the number of people seeking aid is consistent with a job market that continues to grow modestly.

Snow in Midwest leads to fatal 25-vehicle pileup

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The first widespread snowstorm of the season crawled across the Midwest on Thursday, with whiteout conditions stranding holiday travelers and sending drivers sliding over slick roads - including into a fatal 25-vehicle pileup in Iowa.

Lion kills person at California animal park

DUNLAP, Calif. (AP) - A lion killed a worker on Wednesday at a private wild animal park in Central California, authorities said.

Physicists on Higgs hunt: Nearly there but not yet

LA Mayor Villaraigosa says he'd like to be governor someday

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Wednesday that he will join a think tank after leaving office this summer - and he'd also like to be California's governor someday.

Family: Woman denied CPR wanted no intervention

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Relatives of an 87-year-old woman who died after a nurse at her retirement home refused a 911 dispatcher's pleas to perform CPR expressed satisfaction with the care she received, saying her wishes were to die naturally. Meanwhile, the company that owns the facility now says its worker failed to follow proper procedures.

Your chances of dying by 2023? Test offers a clue

CHICAGO (AP) - Want to know your chances of dying in the next 10 years? Here are some bad signs: getting winded walking several blocks, smoking, and having trouble pushing a chair across the room.

Ads out of closet, into mainstream with gay themes

NEW YORK (AP) - A new TV commercial features a good-looking young woman on a beach vacation lounging next to a good-looking young man. He bemoans the glare on his iPad and she fills him in on the Kindle Paperwhite's sun-friendly screen.

House approves bill preventing shutdown March 27

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-controlled House approved legislation Wednesday to prevent a government shutdown on March 27 and blunt the impact of newly imposed spending cuts on the Defense Department.

UPDATE: Dow surges to record ... and keeps going

NEW YORK (AP) - An encouraging job-market report helped nudge the stock market higher Wednesday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average tore through its previous record high.

Garcetti, Greuel in LA mayoral runoff

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two City Hall veterans claimed spots Wednesday in a runoff for mayor of Los Angeles, setting up a confrontation likely to turn on personality and style since the Democratic pair share much of the same policy turf.

Family in CPR incident satisfied with facility

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Relatives of an 87-year-old woman who died after a nurse at her retirement home refused a 911 dispatcher's pleas to perform CPR expressed satisfaction with the care she received, saying her wishes were to die naturally. Meanwhile, the company that owns the facility now says its worker failed to follow proper procedures.

New Fox sports network to debut in August

NEW YORK (AP) - For anyone who thinks TV is already saturated with sports of every stripe, stay tuned.

Snow storm barrels through Midwest to Mid-Atlantic

CHICAGO (AP) - A late winter storm packing up to 10 inches of snow sent officials in weather-hardened Chicago into action Tuesday to prevent a repeat of scenes from two years ago, when hundreds of people in cars and buses were stranded on the city's marquee thoroughfare during a massive blizzard.

Americans control conclave message just by talking

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The two American cardinals sat on the stage, microphones in hand, fielding questions from the world's news media on everything from the delayed arrival of some of their colleagues to their own wardrobe choices if elected pope.

Venezuela's Chavez dies

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Some in anguish, some in fear, Venezuelans raced for home and stocked up on food and water Tuesday after the government announced the death of President Hugo Chavez, the larger-than-life firebrand socialist who led the nation for 14 years.

TSA to allow small knives, bats, clubs on planes

WASHINGTON (AP) - Airline passengers will be able to carry small knives, souvenir baseball bats, golf clubs and other sports equipment onto planes beginning next month under a policy change announced Tuesday by the head of the Transportation Security Administration.