Twisters batter Oklahoma, killing 1, injuring 21, wrecking homes

A series of tornadoes raked a broad swath of the Midwest on Sunday, destroying homes and a trailer park in Oklahoma, killing one person and injuring at least 21 others, officials said.

NTSB: Trains were moving 70 mph before Connecticut collision

About 30,000 commuters in Connecticut and New York braced for a sluggish trek to work on Monday -- and for the rest of the week -- as officials continued to investigate why two trains slammed into each other in Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday evening.

Tornadoes touch down in Kansas, Oklahoma, damage homes

Tornadoes touched down in Kansas and Oklahoma on Sunday evening from a massive storm system stretching from Texas to Minnesota.

A traditional weekend of merriment in a small Virginia mountain town was disrupted Saturday when a man lost control of his car and drove into a crowd of parade participants.

Investigators probe Connecticut train crash

Federal investigators gathered Saturday at the site of the Connecticut train crash that left dozens of commuters injured Friday evening.

He's Sky Master at the Vegas Stratosphere: 'I throw people off'

LAS VEGAS -- When people ask Carlos Lucero what he does for a living, his answer often stops them in their tracks.

Sixty injured, 5 critically, after trains collide outside NYC

NEW YORK -- Five people were hospitalized in critical condition Friday and dozens more were treated for less serious injuries after a commuter train headed from New York City to suburban Connecticut derailed and hit a train headed in the opposite direction, officials said.

Illinois Senate approves bill to legalize medical marijuana

Illinois has come within a signature of becoming the 19th state to allow marijuana use for medical purposes.

More than 20 injured as commuter trains collide outside N.Y.

NEW YORK --  A train derailment and collision during evening rush hour injured 20 to 25 people, but none of the injuries are life-threatening, police in Fairfield, Conn., said Friday as emergency workers began scouring the mangled wreckage blocking the tracks north of New York City.

NEW YORK -- Two commuter trains collided in Connecticut during rush hour Friday after a Manhattan-bound train derailed and hit the second train, officials said.

Coffee break proves downfall for hatchet-carrying hitchhiker

NEW YORK -- The hatchet-wielding hitchhiker known to his legions of Internet fans as Kai craved freedom, but he also craved coffee. 

An Arkansas law that bans most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy was temporarily blocked by a federal judge on Friday.

Albuquerque mom's pursuit of suspect leads to his arrest

It all came down to a mother's instincts.

Hofstra student, captor killed in home invasion near university

NEW YORK -- A Hofstra University student being held hostage during a home invasion was shot dead and her captor was also killed as police arrived at the scene of the break-in early Friday, just two days before commencement ceremonies at the college on Long Island.

A U.S. sailor was killed and seven people were injured in a training exercise for SEAL forces in Fort Knox, Ky., officials said Friday.

Simpson's ex-lawyer Yale Galanter says O.J. knew about the guns

LAS VEGAS — The lawyer who unsuccessfully defended O.J. Simpson against armed robbery charges testified Friday his client knew two companions had guns in a 2007 confrontation with memorabilia dealers.

Idaho man pleads not guilty in alleged Uzbekistan terror plot

BOISE, Idaho — An Uzbekistan national living in Boise said little during his first court appearance Friday on federal charges that he gave support, cash and other resources to help a recognized terrorist group in his home country plan a terrorist attack there.

Daughter of Cleveland suspect Ariel Castro: He preyed on my friends

One of the daughters of the man accused of holding three women prisoner for about a decade in Cleveland says her father preyed on her friends.

Hatchet-wielding hitchhiker is arrested in killing of N.J. lawyer

NEW YORK--This is one bout of fame Caleb "Kai" McGillvary could have done without.

O.J. Simpson case: Lawyer Yale Galanter to testify in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – O.J. Simpson's former defense attorney, Yale Galanter, will take the stand Friday morning to respond to claims that he was a greedy, self-serving lawyer who so failed his celebrity client that Simpson deserves a new trial on kidnapping and robbery charges.

Soldier gets life without parole in Iraq killings

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — An Army sergeant was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole for the 2009 killings of five fellow service members at a combat stress clinic in Iraq.

Man arrested in Idaho, accused of terrorism conspiracy

BOISE, Idaho — Federal authorities in Idaho said Thursday they had arrested an Uzbekistan national accused of conspiring with a designated terrorist organization in his home country and helping scheme to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Cause of Texas fertilizer plant blast unclear; inquiry continues

The cause of the fire that triggered the deadly explosion of a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, last month remains undetermined after a $1-million investigation, officials said Thursday. Although the probe continues, the cause of the disaster may never be known.

Grand Canyon wildlife event to honor memory of park biologist

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. -- Eric York was obsessed with the big cats -- their health, temperaments and survival rates amid the park’s annual tourist invasion.

Jodi Arias: Victim's sister tells court, 'Travis was the glue'

PHOENIX — The jury deciding the fate of convicted murderer Jodi Arias heard dramatic and emotional testimony Thursday from family members of the man she killed as they described how their lives were ripped apart by his death.

Maryland governor signs gun control law; NRA vows to sue

Maryland has joined the list of states that have toughened gun control in the wake of the December shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Video shows deer crashing through bus windshield in Pennsylvania

A deer crashed through the windshield of a public bus in western Pennsylvania and floundered around in panic and confusion before finally exiting.

2 brothers held in New Orleans parade shooting

A pair of brothers have been charged with attempting to murder 20 people during a shooting spree at a parade on Mothers Day in New Orleans, and four other people have been arrested for allegedly harboring the fugitives during an intense manhunt, officials said Thursday.

Jodi Arias' lawyers tried to quit after conviction but judge said no

PHOENIX — Attorneys for Jodi Arias asked to step down from the case after their client was convicted of first-degree murder, but a judge denied the request, according to court minutes obtained Thursday.

'It's definitely a nightmare': Tornado cluster shreds North Texas

About 10 tornadoes slashed through parts of North Texas, leaving at least six people dead, dozens injured and more than 100 homes damaged or destroyed as the tornado season got off to a frenzied start.

Jodi Arias faces possibility of death as penalty phase begins

PHOENIX — Jodi Arias returns to court for the final phase of her trial as the same jury that convicted her of first-degree murder last week now weighs whether the former waitress should be sentenced to life in prison or death.

Tornadoes leave 6 dead in North Texas

GRANBURY, Texas -- At least six people were killed Wednesday as a spring tornado outbreak devastated parts of North Texas, destroying or damaging dozens of homes and injuring dozens of people.

Suspect arrested in New Orleans parade shooting

NEW ORLEANS --  The suspect in a Mother's Day parade shooting that left 19 people wounded in New Orleans was taken into custody Wednesday night, police said.

Mark Sanford sworn into Congress, calls himself 'humbled'

WASHINGTON -- Mark Sanford, after a detour to the governor's office and, infamously, to Argentina, is back in Washington as a member of Congress. 

Man held in killing of five people in Nevada

Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the killing of five people in northern Nevada, officials said  Wednesday.

Jodi Arias eligible for death penalty, jurors decide

PHOENIX — Jurors in Jodi Arias' trial found Wednesday that the former waitress should be eligible for the death penalty because the slaying of her lover was especially cruel and heinous.

Senate approves bill that would benefit L.A. port

WASHINGTON--The Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would increase funding for port projects in Los Angeles and elsewhere, shore up defenses against Sandy-like superstorms and study ways to better prepare the country for more extreme weather events.

Judge orders trial for man accused in 1979 slaying of N.Y. boy

NEW YORK -- A man who confessed to strangling 6-year-old Etan Patz, whose disappearance 34 years ago remains one of the nation's most baffling missing-persons cases, will stand trial for the boy's murder, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Texas paramedic will plead not guilty to federal weapons charge

A Texas paramedic arrested last week will plead not guilty to a federal charge of having bomb-making materials and will waive a formal arraignment on a new federal indictment, it was reported Wednesday.

Convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell gets third life sentence

PHILADELPHIA — Convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was sentenced Wednesday to a third life term for killing an aborted baby he described as so big it could “walk to the bus.”

O.J. Simpson says he didn't know his Las Vegas cohorts had guns

LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson finally took the stand as the star witness in his bid to receive a new trial on the kidnapping and robbery charges that sent him to prison for up to 33 years.

O.J. Simpson testifies in bid for new trial

LAS VEGAS -- Appearing confident but sometimes emotional, O.J. Simpson testified Wednesday that he did not know guns were involved in a confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers that led to his conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping, and a sentence that could keep him behind bars for life.

Cleveland kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro to plead not guilty

Ariel Castro, facing kidnapping and rape charges in connection with the Cleveland case of three women held prisoner for about a decade, will plead not guilty, his lawyers said Wednesday.

Jodi Arias due back in court today as jury weighs death penalty

PHOENIX — Jodi Arias returns to court Wednesday so jurors can consider whether the death penalty should be an option for sentencing the former waitress convicted last week of murdering her former boyfriend.

O.J. Simpson to testify in bid for new trial

LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson is expected to take the stand Wednesday as he seeks a new trial on his 2008 convictions for robbery and kidnapping, which sent him to prison for up to 33 years.

Casino owner Sheldon Adelson hit with $70-million verdict

LAS VEGAS – A Hong Kong businessman hit a $70-million court-awarded jackpot Tuesday when a jury agreed that he had helped the casino empire run by billionaire Sheldon Adelson get a gambling foothold in China.

Minnesota becomes 12th state to embrace same-sex marriage

Crowds cheered on Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday evening after he signed a bill making Minnesota the 12th state in the nation, and the third in three weeks, to allow same-sex marriage.

Sgt. John Russell: Wrenching testimony in penalty phase

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Lt. Col. Michael Jones was the last psychiatrist to see Sgt. John Russell before the sergeant returned to the Iraq mental health clinic with an M-16 rifle, killing two doctors and three other fellow servicemen.

New Orleans parade suspect roamed free while facing gun charge

The shocking parade shooting that brought New Orleans residents together has now turned some of its public officials against one another as the city confronts its longtime crime epidemic.

Alarmed by deaths, regulators urge states to lower drunk driving limit

WASHINGTON -- With drunk driving still a stubborn national problem that accounts for one-third of all traffic deaths, federal safety regulators on Tuesday called on states to take a dramatic step: lower the legal limit for drivers’ blood-alcohol content from 0.08% to at least 0.05%.

Convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell is spared death penalty

PHILADELPHIA — Kermit Gosnell, the abortion doctor convicted of killing three babies who were born alive in his grimy clinic, agreed Tuesday to give up his right to an appeal and now faces life in prison but will be spared a death sentence.

Vermont House OKs right-to-die bill; governor expected to sign it

Vermont is on track to become the fourth state to allow severely ill patients to end their lives under medical supervision.

Prince Harry tours Sandy-battered N.J.: 'This used to be a house?'

Britain's Prince Harry expressed astonishment at the damage still evident on the New Jersey shore from Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday as he toured hard-hit towns and took in the view of the historic Seaside Heights roller coaster, which was washed into the sea during the storm.

Parade shooting: New Orleans police chase teen with criminal past

Three victims remained in critical condition at a hospital Tuesday as New Orleans officials sought a teenage suspect in the Mother's Day parade shooting that wounded 19 people.

The father of a 4-year-old boy who shot and killed his 6-year-old playmate after finding a loaded .22-caliber rifle in his parents' home has been arrested after officials found "multiple" unsecured weapons accessible to children in the New Jersey house.

O.J. Simpson hearing continues Tuesday as he seeks new trial

LAS VEGAS -- O.J. Simpson was due back in court Tuesday in his bid for a new trial on his 2008 convictions for robbery and kidnapping, which sent him to prison for up to 33 years. 

Minnesota Senate OKs same-sex marriage; governor to sign bill

Minnesota is poised to become the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage as the state Senate approved legislation Monday, flooding the Capitol building with cheers from supporters.

Organizers 'embarrassed' by New Orleans parade shooting

When at least one man stepped into a New Orleans parade crowd on Mother's Day and opened fire, 19 people were shot and injured — and a city's conscience was also wounded.

O.J. Simpson, after 4 years in prison, is seeking a new trial

LAS VEGAS -- A fuller-faced O.J. Simpson walked slowly into a courtroom here Monday wearing wrist shackles and a blue jail jumpsuit as he seeks a new trial in his sports memorabilia robbery and kidnaping conviction that sent him to prison.

Mother tries to save family, but 6 die in Pennsylvania fire

A Pennsylvania mother had to be restrained by police as she tried to rescue her husband, four young children and sister, who all died when their home was engulfed in fire, authorities said Monday.

Gunman in Trenton standoff had extensive criminal past

NEW YORK -- A man shot dead by police in Trenton, N.J., after a 37-hour standoff may have held a young boy and two teenage girls hostage in a small room with their mother's decomposing body for about two weeks after killing her and one of her sons, law enforcement officials said.

Abortion doctor guilty of killing 3 babies said to be born alive

PHILADELPHIA  — A Philadelphia abortion doctor was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder and could face execution in the deaths of three babies who authorities say were delivered alive and then killed with scissors at his grimy clinic, in a case that became a flashpoint in the nation's debate over abortion.

Colorado judge allows James Holmes to move toward insanity defense

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- The judge in the Aurora movie theater massacre case paved the way Monday for James E. Holmes to plead not guilty by reason of insanity but did not formally accept that plea, delaying that decision until later this month.

O.J. Simpson appears cuffed in Vegas courtroom seeking new trial

LAS VEGAS -- O.J. Simpson arrived in a courtroom Monday morning in wrist shackles and dressed in a blue jail suit seeking a new trial in his 2008 sports memorabilia robbery and kidnapping conviction that sent him to prison.

Army sergeant found guilty of premeditation in killing 5 servicemen

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Army Sgt. John Russell was found guilty Monday of the premeditated murder of five fellow servicemen in 2009 at a mental health clinic in Iraq, a charge that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Three people remained in critical condition Monday morning after a shooting at a New Orleans Mother's Day parade wounded 19. Police said they were seeking three suspects in the case.

Insanity defense expected for theater shooting suspect James Holmes

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- James E. Holmes, accused of carrying out the Aurora movie theater massacre that killed 12 and injured 70 last summer, is expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity in court Monday, his defense lawyers have said in a court filing.

Astronaut says goodbye with David Bowie 'Space Oddity' video

Space exploration and mass media always seem to travel in parallel orbits, like twin planets linked by an unseen tether. Now, a Twitter-happy Canadian who has been giving the Earth poetic glimpses of itself from the International Space Station is saying goodbye in a most peculiar way.

19 people shot at New Orleans Mother's Day parade

A 10-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were among 19 people shot and wounded at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans on Sunday,  police said.

12 people reported shot at New Orleans Mother's Day parade

New Orleans police said at least 12 people were hurt after a shooting at a Mother's Day parade, according to local media reports Sunday.

Cleveland suspect's brother: 'If I knew, I would have reported it'

For two days, Pedro and Onil Castro were suspects in one of the most notorious crimes in Cleveland's history. Along with their brother, Ariel, the trio were arrested last week on suspicion of kidnapping, raping and holding three young women captive for roughly a decade.

TRENTON, N.J. -- A standoff with an armed man inside a Trenton home has ended and three children taken hostage are safe, police said early Sunday.

Five killings at Camp Liberty in Iraq: Calculation or despair?

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, WASH. — The court-martial of Army Sgt. John Russell concluded Saturday with a military judge asked to decide whether the 14-year Army veteran was deluded by depression and despair as he shot five fellow service members in Iraq, or was executing a calculated plan of revenge against psychiatrists who had blocked his hopes for an early exit from the Army.

Kansas prison escapees caught; 2 accused of attempted kidnapping

Three escapees from a Kansas prison were caught in Missouri, two of them after attempting to kidnap the mayor of a small town, authorities said.

Armed man takes hostages in Trenton in standoff with police

An armed man remained locked in a standoff Saturday with police negotiators in New Jersey in what authorities have described as a multiple-hostage situation.

Task force: Sandy Hook Elementary should be torn down, rebuilt

Faced with what one official called a “gut-wrenching” decision, a task force has voted to tear down the old Sandy Hook Elementary School and build a new one in its place.

West, Texas, paramedic 'vigorously denies' link to explosion

HOUSTON -- A paramedic arrested for possessing bomb-making materials after he responded to the massive fertilizer plant fire in West, Texas, has denied any connection between the fire and the charges he faces.

Naked airport protester still in hot water with TSA

The man who stripped naked at a Portland, Ore.,  airport last year in protest of what he saw as overly invasive security measures successfully defended himself against a charge of indecent exposure.

Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women

Birthrates were dramatically reduced during the recession among women who did not finish high school, a development that far outpaced the drop among women with higher levels of education, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.

Two officers shot, suspect dead after Minneapolis police search

A burglary suspect was killed and two police officers shot in a fast-paced string of events in Minnesota on Friday that also involved the death of a motorcyclist.

Bulldozer rampage demolishes one house, flattens truck in Washington

SEATTLE — A man in Port Angeles, Wash., went on a rampage with a bulldozer Friday afternoon after quarreling with a neighbor and plowed through four structures, a pickup truck and a power line, cutting electricity to homes as far as 20 miles away.

West, Texas, paramedic appears in court on pipe bomb charges

HOUSTON -- A paramedic who responded to the massive explosion in West, Texas, last month faced charges on Friday after federal investigators discovered he had the makings of a pipe bomb, authorities said.

New York's One World Trade Center spire finally goes up

New York City can once again claim to be home to the tallest building in the country, and the Western Hemisphere for that matter.

A 11-year-old boy shot a 12-year-old boy in the face early Friday morning in New Jersey, authorities said.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev buried in a Muslim cemetery in Virginia

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Virginia, Boston officials said on Friday as they released the official death certificate for a suspect in the bombing of the Boston Marathon.

Ohio kidnapping victim Michelle Knight released from hospital

Michelle Knight, one of the three Cleveland women kidnapped and held captive for about a decade, has been discharged from the hospital where she had been receiving care.

Paramedic arrested in West, Texas for having a destructive device

HOUSTON--A local paramedic who responded to the massive fertilizer plant fire last month in West, Texas, has been arrested for allegedly possessing a destructive device.

Ohio officials: Ariel Castro fathered baby born in captivity

Ariel Castro, accused of kidnapping and raping three women held captive for years in his Cleveland house, is the father of the child born in captivity to one of the victims, officials said Friday morning.

Minnesota House OKs same-sex marriage; Senate expected to concur

Minnesota is poised to become the second Midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage after the state House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday that would allow the practice.

Fort Hood suspect's relatives may be compelled to testify

HOUSTON -- A military judge ruled Thursday that relatives of accused Ft. Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan can be compelled to testify, potentially facing contempt charges if they refuse.

Shock hits home for families of Cleveland suspect and his victims

Even the cops were surprised by what they discovered on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland.

Cleveland prosecutor: Ariel Castro could face death penalty

Ariel Castro might face new charges that could lead to the death penalty, the Ohio prosecutor in charge of the case said Thursday.

Next phase of Jodi Arias' murder trial postponed to next week

PHOENIX — The next phase of the Jodi Arias murder trial was postponed Thursday and will continue next week.

Zombie targets: Hand-painted and ready to bleed

Shylock would understand Alexa. After all, injure either and they do indeed bleed.

Boston bombing: Tamerlan Tsarnaev's body is finally laid to rest

The body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died after a gun battle with police, has found its final resting place, ending more than a week of confusion and anger about how to deal with the remains of the suspected Boston Marathon bomber.

Ariel Castro's bail set at $8 million in Cleveland abduction case

Ariel Castro, a former school bus driver, was arraigned Thursday on rape and kidnapping charges in connection with the disappearance of three Cleveland women, and his bail was set at $8 million.

Cleveland suspect Ariel Castro: A troubling portrait emerges

When three young women emerged from a Cleveland home Monday evening after being held captive for about a decade, neighbors were thunderstruck. Ariel Castro, 52, who owns the home and who faces kidnapping and rape charges, was known as a sunny face, someone who was good with children.

Jodi Arias says after murder conviction she prefers death penalty

PHOENIX — Jodi Arias said in a post-conviction interview with a TV station that she prefers the death penalty over life in prison.

Plans shelved for coal export terminal in Oregon

SEATTLE — The battle over plans for a series of massive coal export terminals across the Pacific Northwest took a new turn Wednesday when the energy company Kinder Morgan announced it was dropping its plan to build a $200-million facility on the Columbia River in northern Oregon.

'Big bully' Ariel Castro charged with rape, kidnapping

CLEVELAND -- Ariel Castro, described by police as a "big bully," was charged Wednesday with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape after three women, missing for about a decade, escaped from his house this week.

Gina DeJesus, captive since age 14, returns home with a thumbs-up

CLEVELAND – As a curbside crowd joyfully chanted her name, Gina DeJesus, who disappeared in 2004 and was held prisoner for years in a house with two other women, arrived home on Wednesday.

Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder

PHOENIX — Jodi Arias was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the gruesome killing of her onetime boyfriend in Arizona after a four-month trial that captured headlines with lurid tales of sex, lies, religion and a salacious relationship that ended in a bloodbath.

San Diego man charged with cold case murder in Arizona

Tucson police have arrested a San Diego man on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with a case they have been pursuing for 37 years.

Cleveland kidnapping suspect had history of abuse, former lover said

CLEVELAND -- One of the men suspected of imprisoning and abusing three recently freed young women was earlier accused of a series of violent acts against the mother of four of his children and was ordered to complete domestic violence and substance abuse counseling.

Marine recruitment effort targets Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders

SAN DIEGO -- The Marine Corps on Wednesday began an advertising campaign targeted toward encouraging enlistment by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, two groups that make up only a tiny percentage of the Corps.

Amanda Berry, captive for a decade, arrives home to family embrace

CLEVELAND – Amanda Berry, one of the three women who was kidnapped and held prisoner for about a decade in a Cleveland house, returned to the embrace of her family on Wednesday.

Chains, ropes found in Cleveland house where women were held

CLEVELAND -- Chains and ropes have been removed from the home where three women were rescued on Monday after being held captive as long as 11 years, Cleveland’s chief of police said Wednesday as authorities planned to file charges against three brothers. 

Theater shooting suspect James Holmes to enter insanity plea

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- James E. Holmes, suspected of carrying out the Aurora movie theater massacre that killed 12 and injured 70 last summer, will plead not guilty by reason of insanity in court next week, his defense lawyers signaled Tuesday in a court filing.