Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:07:25 GMT  us Ariz. files appeal as sheriff launches new sweep (AP) AP - The showdown over Arizona's immigration law played out in court and on Phoenix's sun-splashed streets on Thursday, as the state sought to reinstate key parts of the measure and angry protesters chanted that they refused to "live in fear." Dozens were arrested.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:08:40 GMT  politics Panel hits Rangel with 13 ethics charges (AP) AP - House investigators accused veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of congressional ethics standards on Thursday, throwing a cloud over his four-decade political career and raising worries for fellow Democrats about the fall elections.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:08:47 GMT  politics As many as 6,600 Arlington graves mixed up (AP) AP - Estimates of the number of graves that might be affected by mix-ups at Arlington National Cemetery grew from hundreds to as many as 6,600 on Thursday, as the cemetery's former superintendent blamed his staff and a lack of resources for the scandal that forced his ouster.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:08:47 GMT  politics Pentagon: Leak investigaton may go beyond military (AP) AP - A criminal investigation into the leak of tens of thousands of secret Afghanistan war logs could go beyond the military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, and he did not rule out that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be a target.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:10:28 GMT  us Ousted USDA employee Sherrod plans to sue blogger (AP) AP - Ousted Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she will sue a conservative blogger who posted a video edited in a way that made her appear racist.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:08:51 GMT  politics Dems, GOP warily eye Arizona immigration ruling (AP) AP - On the surface, a judge's decision to block tough provisions of Arizona's immigration law was a defeat for the state's Republican governor and a win for the Democratic Obama administration. But neither party is sure it will play out that way politically, either this fall or beyond.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:10:09 GMT  world Reports: Mexican drug lord targeted in raid (AP) AP - Several Mexican news organizations are reporting that a top drug cartel leader has been either been killed or arrested.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:56:43 GMT  entertainment Ellen DeGeneres out as 'American Idol' judge (AP) AP - Ellen DeGeneres is leaving "American Idol" after one season as a judge for the hit Fox TV singing contest.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:20:45 GMT  odd Police: Cheeseburger found in SC woman's gas tank (AP) AP - A South Carolina woman found out fast food won't make your car go fast. The Herald of Rock Hill reported Thursday a 30-year-old woman made a complaint to police after she took her car to a Rock Hill mechanic last week because it would suddenly stop running.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:52:45 GMT  sports Oswalt traded to Phillies; Tejada, Cantu also move (AP) AP - Roy Oswalt granted his own wish: He's now part of a pennant race. Miguel Tejada and Jorge Cantu joined the mix, too.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:47:31 GMT  politics Weakened Arizona immigrant rules still draw protests (Reuters) Reuters - Arizona on Thursday appealed a judge's decision to block key parts of the state's crackdown on illegal immigrants and police in Phoenix arrested scores of activists protesting the remaining measures in the law.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:37:29 GMT  business Unemployment claims fall, but still elevated (Reuters) Reuters - New claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, but stayed at a stubbornly high level that underscored the labor market recovery was having trouble gaining traction.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:35:53 GMT  science BP lawsuits over oil spill take center stage (Reuters) Reuters - More than 2,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, a panel of U.S. judges heard arguments from lawyers on Thursday on how piles of oil spill-related lawsuits against BP Plc should be merged.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:52:10 GMT  topstories WikiLeaks may have blood on its hands, U.S. says (Reuters) Reuters - The whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks may have blood on its hands, the Pentagon said on Thursday, warning its unprecedented leak of secret U.S. military files could cost lives and damage trust of allies.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:40:47 GMT  business Fed officials clash on need for more stimulus (Reuters) Reuters - Federal Reserve officials clashed on Thursday over whether the central bank should be more aggressive in supporting the stumbling economy and one said the Fed's current policy may be contributing to worryingly low levels of inflation.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:09:03 GMT  science Special Report: A Mississippi Yankee in BP's battered court (Reuters) Reuters - Bob Dudley is not one to wear his disappointment on his sleeve.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:19:40 GMT  topstories Heavy rains delay salvage of crashed Pakistan plane (Reuters) Reuters - Heavy monsoon rains in Islamabad on Thursday hampered recovery efforts at the site of a Pakistani plane crash that killed all 152 people on board a day earlier, a senior police officer said.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:29:41 GMT  topstories Arabs back direct peace talks when Abbas sees fit (Reuters) Reuters - The Arab League said on Thursday it would back face-to-face peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel when the Palestinians believe the time is right.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:45:54 GMT  topstories Monsoon hampers Pakistan black box search (AFP) AFP - Monsoon rain and clouds on Thursday hampered the search for the black box of a Pakistani airliner that slammed into hilly woodland killing all 152 people on board, the nation's worst aviation disaster.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:30 GMT  world French mother confesses to eight infant murders (AFP) AFP - A French nursing assistant Thursday admitted suffocating eight newborn babies because she did not want more children and wished to avoid seeing a doctor for contraception, a prosecutor said.