By AP SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A California judge on Thursday ruled that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger abused his discretion in ordering furloughs of state workers, dealing a blow to the administration's efforts to cope with California's ongoing fiscal ...

With President Obama declaring a "systemic failure" of our security system in the wake of the attempted Christmas bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner, familiar arguments about what can and should be done to reduce America's ...

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- New York state ended 2009 with $883.7 million of available cash, after borrowing from its short-term investment pool to absorb a record $600 million deficit in its general fund, according to a report by ...

By AP HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The Montana Supreme Court said Thursday that nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide, making Montana the third state that will allow the procedure.

President Obama and his family are at Windward Mall this morning for a private viewing of the film "Avatar." A media pool report from Peter Baker of the New York Times said the first family left their vacation compound in Kailua shortly after 9.

Now, Warren put out an "urgent" plea to the nation's sixth largest congregation, Saddleback in Lake Forest, south of Los Angeles, for nearly $1 million -- by Jan.1, no less -- to support and continue a banner year of ministry efforts from Southern ...

By AP FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- The Fort Hood mass shooting suspect's attorney says his client is treated more harshly than other soldiers suspected of crimes.

New Jersey's Assembly is ready to skip a judiciary hearing and bring a gay marriage bill to a vote, but only after the Senate does the same, the Star-Ledger reported.

It seems sadly inevitable, but the failed Christmas terrorist attack has become the subject of the latest ideological battle between partisans of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

By AP SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Two people died in separate collisions with Northern California commuter trains Thursday, making 2009 the deadliest year for Caltrain since 1995.

AP SANTA CRUZ - A Seattle man accused of killing his girlfriend and infant daughter last week decided not to fight extradition to Washington state.

Besides the usual swearing-in ceremony, incoming Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is inviting the public to celebrate his inauguration week with a City Hall open house and a music festival featuring popular local bands and food vendors.

AP DETROIT -- In its annual effort to protect the Queen's English, a Michigan university is insisting that "shovel ready" be buried, "tweet" be tossed and all "czars" be banished.

In response to Dave Argyle's "Blame Democrats" (Forum, Dec. 23), health care reform is something that desperately needs to happen in this country, plain and simple.

Dec 31, 2009 (CIDRAP News) - President Barack Obama, giving a push to a proposal that has been in the works for years, yesterday ordered federal agencies to develop a plan for the US Postal Service (USPS) to deliver medical countermeasures to ...

ALTOONA, Wis. - The body of a missing Altoona woman has been found in a rural part of Adams County in central Wisconsin. Officer Scott Kelley of the Altoona Police Department says the body of 43-year-old Theresa Lynn Still was found Wednesday afternoon ...

AP - December 31, 2009 5:25 PM ET BUFFALO, NY (AP) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says he will replace H. McCarthy Gipson as the city's police commissioner.

CHARLOTTE, NC - A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting two female motorists while in uniform and operating his patrol car.