Top News

• Suspect charged with murder in gay teen's decapitation
  A suspect in the brutal slaying of a gay teenager in Puerto Rico was charged with first-degree murder and four other counts, the prosecutor in the case said.
  
• Court: Corps liable for Katrina flooding
  The Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a shipping channel linking New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico led to catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina, a federal court ruled Wednesday.
  
• 'Bug guy' faces grisly task in Ohio case
  As part of the investigation into the remains of 11 women found inside and outside the Cleveland, Ohio, home of a registered sex offender, police have turned to the self-described "bug guy."
  
• Senate leader unveils $849B health bill
  Sen. Harry Reid unveiled a sweeping health care bill that would expand insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years.
  
• California OKs energy standards for TVs
  The California Energy Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to become the first state to impose energy efficiency standards for televisions. The agency estimates the move will save consumers $1 billion a year in energy costs.
  
• U.N.: Climate change hits women hard
  On the steep, dusty slopes of the Chacaltaya mountains, thousands of meters above sea level in the Bolivian Andes, the hardy farmers tending root crops or herding llamas have no need of scientists or climatologists to measure the impact of global warming.
  
• Obama meets with half-brother in China
  President Obama's four-day visit to China was aimed at building deeper ties -- and also spending time, albeit briefly, on family relationships.
  
• New 'sexiest man' named
  Break out the Bordeaux, the whoopee cushions and the bangin' Keith Richards guitar solos, because the 2009 Sexiest Man Alive party is officially under way.
  

Business

• Geithner: 'The credit crunch is not over'
  One day after Goldman Sachs' CEO apologized for his bank's role in the financial meltdown, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called on the nation's financiers to step up and do more to fix the damage they helped cause.
  
• More questions over stimulus jobs
  So just how many jobs has the $787 billion stimulus package created or saved?
  
• Aetna to cut up 3.5% of workforce
  Aetna announced it eliminated 625 positions Wednesday in the first of two rounds of job cuts that will reduce the health insurance giant's workforce by up to 3.5% by the end of the first quarter in 2010.
  
• Senate's health care bill cost: $849 billion
  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Senate health care bill would cost $849 billion over 10 years, according to a senior Democratic source and an administration official.
  
• Super Bowl ads are selling out
  Plummeting advertising sales have severely wounded media companies, but CBS is scoring big with the broadcast of this season's Super Bowl XLIV.
  
• 1 million jobless face benefits loss in January
  One million people could lose unemployment benefits in January if Congress doesn't extend federal aid, according to a report released Wednesday.
  
• Housing savant Paulson now looks to gold
  Billionaire John Paulson, who earned his hedge fund billions when he bet against the housing bubble, is waging a new noteworthy bet.
  
• Want to avoid foreclosure? Go see a counselor
  Housing counselors, who've received more than $400 million in federal funds to help mitigate the mortgage crisis, are helping troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure and lower their monthly payments, a study released Wednesday has found.
  
• Holiday shopping credit card tips
  You are at the checkout counter with an armload of packages and as you dig into your purse or wallet, you're presented with an offer of a store credit card along with a holiday gift.
  
• Budgeting for the holidays
  Here's how to avoid the chill of overspending and facing unexpectedly high credit-card payments in the New Year.
  
• The big financial pay pie
  As the world knows, the public is up in arms about the compensation being paid at financial companies that owe their very existence to massive government help. Ordinary citizens, earning ordinary pay (or none at all), burn to see bankers and Wall Streeters get rudely cut down to size. But what many people don't focus on is that lower pay for these corporate fat cats would simply mean more money for the shareholders who own their companies. At heart, it's this year's rebound in profits that is causing the commotion. Earnings at Goldman Sachs, currently everybody's favorite piñata, are up 70%; guessing what CEO Lloyd Blankfein will make has suddenly become a parlor game. Maddeningly for anyone already mad, the government spurred the profits by keeping interest rates low and allowing financial firms to fund their operations cheaply.
  
• Treasury prices dip on inflation data
  
  
• Max out your health insurance now
  With the year rolling to a close, make sure you don't leave ANY health-insurance money on the table. Here's how to cash in now.
  
• Leggo your Eggo: There's a waffle shortage
  Better hoard your Eggos!
  
• Shut up, Lloyd Blankfein!
  The public relations gurus who are advising Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein might want to give him some new advice. Shut up!
  
• Max out your health insurance now
  With the year rolling to a close, make sure you don't leave ANY health-insurance money on the table. Here's how to cash in now.
  
• Control the cloud
  For years the online-software company HotSchedules had its head in the clouds.
  
• Thanksgiving: Highways will be more crowded
  After a sharp drop last year, more Americans are expected to travel for the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, although travel by air will decline, according to a forecast from motorist group AAA issued Wednesday.
  
• An animation studio bets on the iPhone
  At first glance, Albie Hecht's office is cluttered with toys -- a plush gorilla from the Mario Bros. video game, vinyl figurines from the toy line Kidrobot, to name a few. But in fact, they're all relics of the animation industry, where Hecht, 56, made his name launching such mega-hit children's shows such as Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Dora the Explorer," and "Blue's Clues."
  
• Stocks hit a roadblock
  Stocks closed slightly lower Wednesday, paring deeper losses, after a drop in new home construction made investors jittery about the economic recovery and wary profit outlooks weighed on the technology sector.
  

Entertainment

• The changing face of vampires
  It's a long night's journey from "Nosferatu" to Edward Cullen.
  
• Clothes and Ephrons
  Nora and Delia Ephron take to the stage to tell a story about life and fashion.
  
• Heidi Klum trying to lose 20 lbs.
  Heidi Klum will be on the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" -- though she's still working on her figure.
  
• People are behind People's sexy choice
  One of the toughest questions plaguing women the world over just got more difficult: Team Edward, Team Jacob ... or Team Johnny?
  
• Police say father of Jackson accuser killed himself
  The man who accused pop star Michael Jackson of molesting his son in 1993 killed himself in his New Jersey condo earlier this month, police said.
  
• Sexiest man alive: Johnny Depp
  The star of "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Public Enemies" is People's new Sexiest Man Alive.
  
• Ex-manager blames Cage for money woes
  Nicolas Cage's former business manager says the actor's lavish spending brought about his financial problems.
  
• 'Twilight' author: It started with a dream
  When the first book of the "Twilight" series was released in October 2005, no one could have guessed the phenomenon it would become.
  
• Hough takes a 'Dancing' break
  Sorry, Julianne Hough fans, you'll have to endure a season of DWTS without her.
  
• 'Lang Lang Effect': Piano star's global impact
  After starring in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, classical pianist Lang Lang rocketed to international stardom.
  

Sports

• Peter King: Favre passes biggest preseason test
  If Brett Favre can develop a quick rapport with his teammates and remain healthy for his 19th NFL campaign, the Vikings might be on the brink of something special, writes Peter King.
  
• Favre, Peterson tally TDs in Vikes' 17-10 road victory
  Benefitting from a full week of practice, Brett Favre showed glimpses of his future Hall of Fame self and played a strong role in the Vikings' 17-10 victory over the Texans.
  
• 'Not-so Amazins' lead lengthy list of disappointments this season
  The Mets and Cubs have fallen woefully short of expectations, which is why the beleaguered clubs are headlining Jon Heyman's in-depth look at this season's biggest disappointments.
  
• Will Brady play in Pats' opener?
  
  
• 'Pacman' strikes deal to play with CFL
  If controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is going to return to the NFL, it will be via the Canadian Football League. Jones agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers late Monday night and is expected to join the team as early as Wednesday.
  
• Alabama DL Deaderick shot, wounded in robbery
  TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick was hospitalized in good condition Tuesday after being shot in the arm during an apparent robbery attempt at an off-campus apartment complex.
  
• Dodgers net Thome, Garland
  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big push to lock up the NL West, acquiring slugging first baseman Jim Thome from the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Jon Garland from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  
• Rubio shuns Wolves, inks deal with Spanish club
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Point guard Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain for the next two seasons instead of coming to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves this fall, according to two published reports.
  
• Pettitte flirts with no-no
  BALTIMORE(AP) After an error ruined Andy Pettitte 's bid for perfection, the left-hander's effort to console his dejected teammate was absolutely flawless.
  
• Michigan's Rodriguez denies practice allegations
  ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that his football program has abided by NCAA rules, despite allegations from players and former players who say the team has practiced far beyond the time allowed.
  

Health

• 'Awareness' trumps breast self-exams, docs say
  Aside from pushing back the age for routine mammograms, new guidelines recommend against breast self-exams. For some, the advice is sacrilege. For others, it's just fine.
  
• Task force changes mammography guidelines
  Women in their 40s should not get routine mammograms for early detection of breast cancer, according to updated guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
  
• Wheelchair rugby puts athletes back on the team
  Talbot Kennedy became a quadriplegic on the last day of high school, but he's still an athlete. He plays on a team that's part of United States Quad Rugby Association. And what he and others gain by playing goes beyond the gym.
  
• Budget office: Health care bill costs $849 billion
  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Senate health care bill would cost $849 billion over 10 years, according to a senior Democratic source and an administration official.
  
• HHS chief says no to changing mammogram policy
  A federal advisory board's recommendation that women in their 40s should avoid routine mammograms is not government policy and has caused "a great deal of confusion," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday.
  
• Poll: Majority of U.S. adults don't want H1N1 shot
  More than half of all adult Americans say they don't want to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, according to a new national poll.
  
• Poll: Majority favor ban on abortion funding
  Six in 10 Americans favor a ban on the use of federal funds for abortion, according to a new poll.
  
• Army suicides set another yearly record
  Suicides among soldiers this year have topped last year's record-breaking numbers, but Army officials maintain a recent trend downward could mean the service is making headway on its programs designed to reduce the problem, Army officials said Tuesday.
  
• Study: Heart attack patients receive much radiation
  Heart attack patients are exposed to a radiation dose equal to about 725 chest X-rays over the course of their hospital stay, according to research presented Monday at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida.
  
• Ulcer meds may up death risk after heart surgery
  Heart patients who take certain stomach-acid-suppressing drugs to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding may be at increased risk of dying after a cardiac procedure, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA) in Orlando, Florida.
  

Technology

• Top 10 Internet moments of the decade
  The explosion of Craigslist. The death of Napster. YouTube's video revolution. They're all among the 10 Internet moments of the past decade, according to the Webby Awards announced Wednesday.
  
• California approves new energy efficiency standards for TVs
  The California Energy Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to become the first state to impose energy efficiency standards for televisions. The agency estimates the move will save consumers $1 billion a year in energy costs.
  
• Senate studies 'shocking' online-marketing ploys
  It could happen to anyone who shops online these days.
  
• Social network sites criticized on bullying
  The world's biggest social networking site has rejected criticism by a senior UK police officer responsible for preventing online bullying that it is failing to combat abuse.
  
• Can you be liable for your tweets?
  Rocker-actress Courtney Love was recently sued for something she posted on Twitter. What does the law say about libel and online social media -- and what does it mean for you?
  
• Solar gadgets for when you're on the go
  When it comes to sun energy, the focus is often on solar power plants or rooftop panels. But there's an increasing number of snazzy portable products that also draw juice from our nearest star -- things we can carry, wear, or set on our desks.
  
• Dictionary word of the year: 'Unfriend'
  It's prone to cause drama in the online world.
  
• Report: U.S., other countries prepping for cyberwar
  Major countries and nation-states are engaged in a "Cyber Cold War," amassing cyberweapons, conducting espionage, and testing networks in preparation for using the Internet to conduct war, according to a new report to be released on Tuesday by McAfee.
  
• Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has cancer
  Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, more than 25 years after he was treated for Hodgkin's disease, a spokesman at his company Vulcan Inc. told CNN on Monday.
  
• 'Jailbreakers' battle over iPhone control
  With each new version of the iPhone, a small army of independent programmers get to work prying it open. Last month saw the release of software that can hack and unlock an iPhone in just two minutes.
  

Science

• Mars Science Lab launch delayed two years
  NASA's launch of the Mars Science Laboratory -- hampered by technical difficulties and cost overruns -- has been delayed until the fall of 2011, NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday in Washington.
  
• Shuttle lands at California air base
  NASA officials Sunday waved off the first opportunity for space shuttle Endeavour to return to Earth, citing poor weather conditions.
  
• iReporters watch planets, moon align
  
  
• Inspiration for 'Contact' still listening
  From a remote valley in Northern California, Jill Tarter is listening to the universe.
  
• Indian lunar orbiter hit by heat rise
  Scientists have switched off several on-board instruments to halt rising temperatures inside India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft.