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 sees fast stimulus passage

President-elect Barack Obama met  with congressional leaders Monday, declaring the national economy was "bad and getting worse" and embracing tax cuts now expected to reach $300 billion.

Man arrested in murder of Ohio mom

Police in Ohio have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the death of a Dayton mother and the kidnapping of her 4-year-old son, who was later abandoned at a highway rest stop. His father says the boy is "still terrified."

Certificate says seizure killed Jett Travolta

An official with a Bahamian funeral home says Jett Travolta's death certificate says he was killed by a "seizure."

NYT: Panetta pick for CIA reveals divisions

Leon E. Panetta has been selected by President-elect Barack Obama to head the C.I.A. The choice immediately revealed divisions in the Democratic Party.

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.

Police search for boy missing 10 years
The 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.

Nuggets' Anthony suffers 'probable' broken hand

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and had a season-high nine assists despite suffering a "probable" fracture in his right hand in the Denver Nuggets' 135-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

War tactics used against Rio gangs
Police are using counterinsurgency tactics in battle against gangs in Brazil's favelas, or slums.