All USA Update
More US cities ban sledding. Will it work?A growing number of American cities are banning sledding in public parks citing expensive lawsuits from sledding injuries. Will such bans be effective?
Plane crash survivor's unusual tale: How many 7-year-olds have survival skills?Sailor Gutzler, the 7-year-old lone survivor of a plane crash in Kentucky, showed remarkable resourcefulness and fortitude to find help.
Girl walks away from Kentucky plane crash: The tragedy and ‘miracle’ of sole survivalA seven-year-old girl was the lone survivor of a prop-plane crash Friday that killed her family. Eight out of 28 sole survivors since 1970 have been children.
Federal judge's ruling makes Florida the 36th state where gay marriage is legalUS District Judge Robert Hinkle issued a clarifying order on New Year's Day that all of Florida’s county clerks have a legal duty to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples seeking to wed. The couples can wed as soon as Tuesday.
Christmas surprise: Woman gives birth on Philadelphia subway trainSurprise births in 2013 include no less than five babies born at Walmarts, along with first appearances on crowded trains and at least one on a stalled elevator. Parents named her 'Ella,' after elevator.
Baby Jesus stolen from nativity scene: Harmless prank or hate crime?The desecration of a nativity scene in Haverhill, Mass., has 'all the elements of a hate crime,' the mayor said. But police do not yet have evidence of anti-Christian prejudice.
Snow ... tornadoes and thunderstorms? This is Christmas Eve?Severe thunderstorm systems complicate holiday travel plans for many in the South and Northeast, while a winter storm brings Christmas snow to the Midwest and Rockies.
Obama's popularity falls to record low among US troops. Why?Only 15 percent of US active-duty service members approve of President Obama's job as commander-in-chief, according to an annual Military Times survey. What's behind American troop dissatisfaction?
Sony hack: Attack threat leads Sony to cancel 'The Interview' releaseWhen those who hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment then threatened a 9/11-type attack if 'The Interview' was released, major theater groups said they wouldn’t show the film. Sony then canceled its Christmas Day release.
Hackers threaten movie theaters showing 'The Interview': How serious is threat?Counterterrorism experts say North Korea 'has little or no capability to do any physical attacks' on US movie theaters.
Electronic cigarettes gain foothold in American middle and high schoolsFewer teens are lighting up tobacco cigarettes, but many are instead turning to electronic cigarettes, according to the 2014 Monitoring the Future study.
Can gunmaker be held responsible for Newtown shooting?The families of nine victims of the 2012 shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., are suing the manufacturer of the Bushmaster AR-15 for negligence and wrongful death.
Majority of Americans side with Dick Cheney, say torture was justifiedA new Pew poll suggests that 51 percent of Americans back the CIA's use of harsh interrogation techniques, which many call torture, after 9/11.
California’s 'Pineapple Express': more where that came fromDrought-stricken California can use the water that came by the bucketful in this week’s storm. But much more is needed for the parched state to fully recover.
Does this video show Michael Brown beating an old man? Not likely.A 2012 video purportedly showing Michael Brown beating an old black man is likely a false claim, according to Snopes.com
Layaway angel spends $20,000 at Toys 'R' Us to make Christmas merry for familiesFrom a 'layaway angel' in Massachusetts to an NFL player in Texas, as the holidays approach, a series of individuals with big hearts are bringing joy to others.
Drug-testing welfare recipients: War on drugs or war on the poor?The Michigan Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would require welfare recipients undergo drug testing. If welfare recipients refuse to be tested, they would lose benefits for at least six months.
Study: 5 trillion-plus pieces of plastic floating in ocean. What can be done?A new study has found that pieces of plastic weighing 269,000 tons are floating in the world's oceans, posing a danger to animals and humans alike.
Detroit to emerge from 'historic' bankruptcy WednesdayDetroit's historic Chapter 9 bankruptcy will be officially over by midnight on Wednesday, marking an end to the tenure of emergency manager Kevyn Orr.
Ferguson library, a community pillar during unrest, gets $350,000 in donationsDonations to the Ferguson Municipal Public Library have flooded in from around the country in recent weeks, almost matching the library's annual budget.
