
5 hours ago - By Eileen Sullivan, Associated Press Writers
The attention-hungry couple that crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner admitted to a friendly Pentagon official that they went without a confirmed invitation — just in case they got approved at the last minute. Complete Story...

4 hours ago - By Calvin Woodward , Associated Press Writers
President Barack Obama's speech Tuesday night did not always match the reality on the ground in Afghanistan. The president raised expectations that may be hard to meet when he told Americans his troop increase in Afghanistan will accelerate the training of that country's own forces and be accompanied by more help from allies.

4 hours ago - By Kevin Maurer, Associated Press Writers
Battle-weary troops and their families braced for a wrenching round of new deployments to Afghanistan, but many said they support the surge announced Tuesday as long as it helps to end the 8-year-old conflict.
5 hours ago - By Associated Press
Court officials say a Birmingham woman who changed her name to Jesus Christ didn't live up to it when she reported for jury duty this week. The woman, previously named Dorothy Lola Killingworth, was sent to Judge Clyde Jones's courtroom for a criminal case Monday.
22 minutes ago - By Min Lee, AP Entertainment Writer
A top Asian cinematographer has expressed his distaste for digital cameras in a recently released book, complaining about having to use them to shoot an adaptation of Haruki Murakami's hit novel "Norwegian Wood."
27 minutes ago - By Herbert A. Sample, Associated Press Writer
Hawaii's chief elections officer on Tuesday proposed closing 40 percent of the state's polling places in response to deep budget cuts imposed by the Legislature and the state's governor. Then he abruptly resigned.

4 hours ago - By Courtney Hazlett, msnbc.com - Only on msnbc.com
The Tiger Woods case might be closed in the opinion of the Florida Highway Patrol, but not according to some of the women who reportedly have had relationships with the pro golfer.
1 hour ago - By Associated Press
A Washington state man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison in the fatal shooting of his 6-year-old daughter.
57 minutes ago - By John Schoen
When President Barack Obama sits down with business leaders Thursday to talk about the ailing job market, the question he’ll ask is simple: How much more can — or should — the government do to get companies to start hiring again?

1 hour ago - By Anne D'Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer
Electronics sellers and online merchants thrived in November, particularly the start of the holiday shopping season, but clothing and luxury merchants struggled, according to estimates released Wednesday.
1 hour ago - By Andrew Vanacore, AP Business Writer
The Associated Press is partnering with other international news organizations on an online hub where readers can interact with journalists covering the climate talks opening next week in Copenhagen.
1 hour ago - By Associated Press
Ford Motor Co.'s big U.S. gamble on small cars begins Wednesday when it formally unveils American versions of the new Fiesta subcompact at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
1 hour ago - By Don Thompson, Associated Press Writer
California's insurance commissioner said Tuesday he will push insurance companies doing business in California to divest up to $12 billion in indirect investments in Iran's defense, nuclear, energy and banking industries.

1 hour ago - By Associated Press
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, Chauncey Billups had 22 and the Denver Nuggets used their biggest scoring first half of the season to pull away from the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 135-107 victory Tuesday night.

1 hour ago - By Tini Tran, Associated Press Writer
A new bar in southwestern China aimed at educating gay men about AIDS stayed conspicuously empty during its official opening as potential customers shunned the spotlight, state media said Wednesday.
1 hour ago - By Associated Press
Colt Ryan hit a jumper with 5 seconds on the clock in double overtime to lift Evansville to a 91-90 win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night.

1 hour ago - By Aaron Beard, AP Basketball Writer
New season, different lineups, same result.
1 hour ago - By Associated Press
Erika Arriaran made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 23 points, helping No. 17 Texas shake off a rocky first half to beat Oral Roberts 94-80 on Tuesday night.
1 hour ago - By Mary Pemberton, Associated Press Writer
Nearly 2 million acres of water off Alaska's largest and busiest city, Anchorage, have been proposed as critical habitat for beluga whales.

1 hour ago - By Hrvoje Hranjski, Associated Press Writer
Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos filed her candidacy for next year's congressional elections, joining the country's boxing champion and the outgoing president in the star-studded race for the lower house.

1 hour ago - By Rick Gano, AP Sports Writer
Brent Seabrook scored in the 11th round of a shootout Tuesday night and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 to give coach Joel Quenneville his 500th career victory.
2 hours ago - By Courtney Hazlett, msnbc.com - Only on msnbc.com
By the time America is celebrating the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Wednesday night, Brian Williams will have hit the five-year mark as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News.
1 hour ago - By Associated Press
P.J. Alawoya scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures in McNeese State's 101-54 rout of Paul Quinn College on Tuesday night.
2 hours ago - By Associated Press
Riley Grafft scored 13 points and American held off Howard 59-53 on Tuesday night in a game between winless teams.
2 hours ago - By Associated Press
Keegan Bell scored 17 points to lead Chattanooga to an 80-71 victory over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night.