Alaska trooper says politics slowed drug arrest

A drug investigator says authorities delayed the arrest of a woman tied to Gov. Sarah Palin's family until after the November election, in which Palin was the Republican vice presidential candidate, a newspaper reported.

Ukraine: Russia slashed gas to Europe
Ukraine's gas company Naftogaz said Tuesday that Russia cut natural gas supplies to Europe by about two-thirds, raising the stakes in a dispute between the two neighbors that bodes ill for European consumers.

Richardson, Obama teams trade blame

The camps of President-elect Barack Obama and N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson have exchanged comments over the disclosure of information about an investigation into Richardson's gubernatorial office.

Wash. state police find baby's remains in trash
Authorities combing through 60 tons of trash, searching for the body of a baby allegedly dumped by his 16-year-old mother, found a dead infant in the garbage Monday.

Cuba allows access to Hemingway papers

Cuba on Monday began accepting requests for electronic access to more than 3,000 documents from Ernest Hemingway's home on the island, including the unpublished epilogue of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and coded messages the author sent when using his yacht to hunt for German submarines during World War II.

Some cities drop criminal-history question

Some major U.S. cities are eliminating questions from their job applications that ask whether prospective employees have ever been convicted of a crime.

Obama girls' first day at new school

Malia and Sasha Obama begin classes at Sidwell Friends under watchful eyes of, well, everyone.

Franken tops recount, lawsuit looms

The Minnesota state Canvassing Board certified results showing Democrat Al Franken the winner of the state's contested Senate race on Monday.

Jobs outlook grim for 2009

We've decided to ask the Magic 8-Ball about the jobs outlook for this year.  The answer? "Outlook not so good."

Holes in health care means teens face future ills
Many adolescents are falling through cracks in the health care system — what a major new report calls missed opportunities to shape the next generation's health.