National News

Franken on top in Minn. recount; Coleman to sue (AP)

In a Sept. 23, 2008 file photo  Democratic candidate for the Minnesota Senate Al Franken makes remarks at the National Jewish Democratic Council in Washington.  The Minnesota state Canvassing Board is expected to certify the results of the re-count of the race between Franken and Republican incumbant Norm Coleman, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson/file)AP - A Minnesota board on Monday certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state's U.S. Senate recount over Republican Norm Coleman, whose lawyer promised a legal challenge that probably will keep the race in limbo for months.


Timber company drops road deal with Forest Service (AP)

AP - The nation's largest owner of timberland disclosed Monday that it will no longer pursue changes in agreements governing its use of U.S. Forest Service roads — changes that critics complained could transform forests into housing subdivisions.

5 homeless shelter residents killed in Texas fire (AP)

A firefighter looks out from a fire-damaged portion of a homeless shelter, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, in Paris, Texas. The fire tore through the small-town homeless shelter early Monday, partially collapsing the building and killing five men, fire officials said. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP - A fire fueled by donated clothes ripped through a homeless shelter in northeastern Texas early Monday, killing five residents as some tried dousing the blaze with pans of water.


Records reveal anguish of anthrax suspect's wife (AP)

AP - Anthrax mailing suspect Bruce Ivins tormented his wife with rudeness and behaved erratically in the weeks before the Army scientist took his own life by overdosing on Tylenol, according to documents released Monday.

Fabulous fib is named Wis. club's top lie of 2008 (AP)

AP - A whopper about a devious baby and his diapers is the top lie of 2008, an organization of champion fibbers declared Monday.

Search starts for Kansas boy now missing 10 years (AP)

AP - The Kansas parents who failed to report their 11-year-old adopted son missing nearly a decade ago are "people of interest" as authorities search for him nationwide, a sheriff said Monday.

FBI tapes might elude Illinois impeachment panel (AP)

Former Illinois attorney general and senate appointee Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's choice to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama, speaks to the media at BWI airport on his way to Washington DC,  in Baltimore, Maryland, January 5, 2009.    REUTERS/Molly Riley  (UNITED STATES)AP - State legislators weighing evidence against Gov. Rod Blagojevich may finish their work before getting any tapes of the governor's conversations that were made secretly by the FBI, attorneys indicated Monday.


NM gov. backed down over pay-to-play probe (AP)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson puts on a smile as he leaves a news, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009 in Santa Fe, N.M. after withdrawing his nomination as U.S. Commerce Department secretary. At left is Brian Condit, the governor's chief of staff. (AP Photo / Craig Fritz)AP - Gov. Bill Richardson's gold-plated resume had never been tarnished as he moved up the political ladder from congressman and diplomat to governor.


Manslaughter charges filed in NYC crane collapse (AP)

AP - A contractor was charged with manslaughter Monday for allegedly using worn, fraying safety straps that broke apart and caused a crane to crash down on a Manhattan neighborhood, killing seven people in one of the city's worst construction accidents in decades.

Former policeman, teen arrested after Ga. standoff (AP)

A police officer carries an infant to a waiting ambulance following a standoff between a former police officer and authorities at a motel in Madison, Ga., Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. Authorities say David Dietz, 25, kidnapped the infant and two women on Saturday night in West Columbia.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP - A 13-hour hostage standoff at a Georgia motel ended peacefully Monday when a former South Carolina police officer and a teenage girl surrendered, freeing his estranged wife and infant son.