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.

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requests for electronic access to more than 3,000 documents from Ernest Hemingway's home on the island, including the unpublished epilogue of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and coded messages the author sent when using his yacht to hunt for German submarines during World War II.

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.

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.

Ex-eBay CEO to run for Calif. governor

Former eBay Inc. chief executive Meg Whitman plans to run for governor of California, a person with knowledge of her political aspirations said Monday.

Texas stuns Ohio State at Fiesta Bowl

Colt McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting third-ranked Texas to a 24-21 Fiesta Bowl victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night.

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."

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.

Obama girls' first day at new school

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