National News

Rockies acquire RHP Jason Marquis from Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino The Colorado Rockies have bolstered their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

Republican Norm Coleman suing to challenge Democrat's apparent victory in Minn. Senate recount Republican Norm Coleman said Tuesday he is suing to challenge Democrat Al Franken's apparent recount victory in Minnesota's U.S.

CNN says Obama has approached its medical correspondent to be surgeon general President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN's chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, to be the country's next surgeon general, the cable news network said Tuesday.

Cross-dressing Mass. dermatologist convicted of killing wife found hanged in prison cell A cross-dressing, millionaire Harvard dermatologist serving life in prison for shooting his estranged wife to death has been found hanged in his cell, a prison spokeswoman said Tuesday.

CBS 'Late Late Show' host Craig Ferguson reveals he got married over the holidays You couldn't miss the wedding band on Craig Ferguson's ring finger when he returned to CBS' "The Late Late Show" from his holiday break.

Burris rejected at Capitol as he tries to claim Obama's Illinois Senate seat Roland Burris tried to take President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois Senate seat Tuesday but failed in a scripted piece of political theater staged just before the opening of the 111th Congress.

Obama says trillion-dollar deficits may last years despite recovery efforts President-elect Barack Obama says the nation probably faces huge deficits for years to come, but heavy spending is needed now to spur the economy.

Phillies' J.C. Romero, Yankees minor leaguer Mitre suspended 50 games for banned substance Phillies reliever J.C. Romero and Yankees minor league pitcher Sergio Mitre were suspended for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a banned substance.

Obama to create oversight board for economic stimulus plan; promises no earmarks President-elect Barack Obama is promising that his economic stimulus plan won't include money for politicians' pet projects and will include provisions aimed at ensuring his administration is open

Online Islamic radicals scoff at White House announcing death of Bush family's cat Islamic militants posted sarcastic comments on an extremist Web site Tuesday ridiculing a recent announcement by First Lady Laura Bush that the family's cat had died.

German billionaire throws himself in front of train after businesses sink in global meltdown German billionaire Adolf Merckle threw himself in front of a train after his business empire, which included interests ranging from VW cars to pharmaceuticals to cement, ran into trouble in the glo

Obama's pick to head CIA, will face questions but not serious challenges in Senate hearing President-elect Barack Obama is defending his unexpected CIA nominee Leon Panetta, who faced a surge of skepticism in Congress on Tuesday but is not expected to draw serious opposition when his con

Lou the mule credited with saving Tennessee woman from house fire Jolene Solomon is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else.

Former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush won't run for Senate in 2010, saying it's not the 'right time' Former Gov. Jeb Bush says he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Mel Martinez.

Bush counterterrorism official foresees more aggressive campaign under Obama administration President-elect Barack Obama apparently plans a more aggressive approach than the Bush administration to helping friendly nations get better at fighting terrorism within their own borders, the Stat

Apple's Macworld finale includes iTunes songs at 69 cents and end of copy protection Apple Inc. is cutting the price of some songs in its market-leading iTunes online music store to 69 cents and plans to begin selling all tracks without copy protection.

India's national airline fires 9 flight attendants deemed overweight Nine flight attendants who couldn't meet the weight standards of India's national airlines have been fired, an official said Tuesday.

Facing Baby Boom onslaught, Social Security unveils online application that takes15 minutes The Social Security Administration, bracing for the coming eligibility of 80 million baby boomers, is introducing an online application that will allow people to apply for retirement benefits in as

Secretary of Senate refuses to seat Roland Burris of Illinois Roland Burris announced Tuesday he was rejected for Barack Obama's Senate seat, in a bizarre rainy-day scene on the Capitol grounds as lawmakers awaited the gaveling of the 111th Congress into sess

Burris says he's planning to appear Tuesday to be seated in the US Senate Barack Obama's appointed successor declared Tuesday he's qualified to take a seat in the Senate and said he'll go to Capitol Hill to do just that.