U.S. and World News

House begins effort to head off student loan increase

9:41 PM, May 22, 2013

A Republican plan that ties loan rates to the interest rate on a 10-year Treasury note, plus 2.5%, with a cap of 8.5%, is scheduled for a Thursday vote.

Teen birthrate hits another record low in 2011

9:38 PM, May 22, 2013

The teen birthrate in 2011 set another new record low, according to the latest federal data, released Thursday. The numbers reflect a continued trend downward for teens having babies.

Exit exams may be on their way out

6:42 PM, May 22, 2013

GREENVILLE - South Carolina Rep. Phil Owens says a story he heard from one of his constituents convinced him it was time to do away with the state's requirement that students pass an exit exam to earn their high school diploma.

Okla. tornado damages could hit $2 billion

6:22 PM, May 22, 2013

As search and rescue operations wind down and this battered, exhausted city mourns its dead, attention is turning to a long, costly rebuilding effort. Up to 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by Monday's tornado that may have caused up $2 billion in damages, nearly double earlier estimates.

Twitter adds security measure to logins

4:10 PM, May 22, 2013

NEW YORK - Twitter is adding an extra security measure to users' accounts in an effort to prevent unauthorized logins.

Obama threatens veto of House student loan plan

1:21 PM, May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON - The White House Budget Office said Wednesday the GOP plan does not guarantee current low interest rates for students and creates uncertainty for them. The budget office says that if Obama were presented the current bill, officials would urge a veto.

Stocks fall on news Fed weighed cutting stimulus

1:16 PM, May 22, 2013

NEW YORK - Stocks closed lower on news that several Federal Reserve policymakers favored cutting back on stimulus programs as early as June if the economy continues to improve.

Okla. City mayor: Up to 13K homes hit by tornado

1:14 PM, May 22, 2013

MOORE, OK - Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says 12,000 to 13,000 homes were affected by the tornado that tore through a city suburb.

House panel moves to curb military sexual assaults

1:12 PM, May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON - A bill approved by a House panel Wednesday authorizes changes to military law that would strip commanding officers of their authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in major cases, such as rape and assault.

Arias jury deadlocked but must continue

1:09 PM, May 22, 2013

PHOENIX - Jurors in the Jodi Arias murder trial told the judge they've been unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether she should be sentenced to life or death.

Which domestic airline do consumers rate the best?

10:07 AM, May 22, 2013

Consumer Reports reveals the top 10 rated domestic airlines of the year.

U.S. home sales tick up to highest in 3 ½ years

7:12 AM, May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON - Sales of previously-occupied U.S. homes ticked up last month to the highest level in three and a half years, helped by a jump in the number of houses for sale.

Volkswagen installing device to prevent costly owner mistakes

6:39 AM, May 22, 2013

Volkswagen is taking steps to make sure diesel owners never put gas in their tanks again.

Man questioned in Boston bombings shot to death by FBI

6:26 AM, May 22, 2013

An FBI agent shot and killed an Orlando man early Wednesday who had been questioned for several hours about his alleged ties to Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the victim's friend told local media.

Oklahoma tornado upgraded to EF5

12:03 AM, May 22, 2013

MOORE - Rescuers neared an end of their desperate search for survivors in the debris of destroyed homes, schools and businesses Tuesday, a day after after a massive tornado blasted through this Tornado Alley town, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 200.

Army general suspended over adultery allegations

11:59 PM, May 21, 2013

WASHINGTON - The Army announced Tuesday that it has suspended the top general at Fort Jackson in South Carolina over allegations of assault and adultery, the latest in a string of sex scandals to rock the military.

Anthony Weiner declares he's running for NYC mayor

11:50 PM, May 21, 2013

Former congressman Anthony Weiner officially jumped into the race for New York City mayor, ending weeks of speculation by declaring his intentions in a video posted on his campaign website.

Senate Judiciary Committee approves immigration overhaul

9:58 PM, May 21, 2013

After three long weeks of hearings and debates, spectators burst out into screams and applause Tuesday night after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an immigration bill that would be the biggest overhaul to the nation's immigration laws in a generation.

Teachers were heroic protectors during Oklahoma tornado

6:37 PM, May 21, 2013

Heroic teachers may have saved several children during the Oklahoma tornado.

Oklahoma death toll revised: 24 dead

4:35 PM, May 21, 2013

MOORE - The state medical examiner's office has revised the death toll from a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb to 24 people, including seven children.

House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts

3:24 PM, May 21, 2013

WASHINGTON - Republicans controlling the House are pressing ahead with slashing cuts to domestic programs far deeper than the cuts departments like Education, Interior and State are facing under an already painful round of automatic austerity.

Okla. schools hit by tornado had no safe rooms

3:21 PM, May 21, 2013

MOORE, Okla. - An emergency official says Oklahoma has reinforced tornado shelters in hundreds of schools across the state, but the two that were hit by this week's storms in suburban Oklahoma City did not have them.

Gay Fla. teen charged for underage girlfriend

3:17 PM, May 21, 2013

MIAMI - Gay rights advocates are rallying around an 18-year-old central Florida girl who was expelled from school and charged with having sexual contact with her 14-year-old girlfriend.

Senate votes to make small cut to food stamps

3:15 PM, May 21, 2013

WASHINGTON - The Senate has voted to keep a $400 million annual cut - or roughly a half of 1 percent - to the food stamp program in a farm bill it is considering this week.

Ongoing live coverage of the Oklahoma tornado aftermath

10:12 AM, May 21, 2013

Live video and Tweets.

7 mistakes to avoid in retirement planning

6:38 AM, May 21, 2013

7 mistakes to avoid in retirement planning

Senate panel says Apple avoids billions in U.S. taxes

6:12 AM, May 21, 2013

The California-based firm has used a web of offshore entities - including three Ireland subsidiaries that it said don't have tax residency in any country - to cut some of its tax rates to 0.05%, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reported.