Yahoo! News: U.S. News

Minivan recall grows as victim's family speaks out (AP)
Feds sue BP, other companies for oil spill damages (AP)
Mom shot at strip mall used body to protect son, 2 (AP)
Navy Fires Top Two Officers For Being "Unduly Familiar" While Commanding Warship (Time.com)
Why Did We Take Brett Favre's Streak for Granted? (Time.com)
Maine, NJ links probed in case of NY beach bodies (AP)
Border Patrol agent killed in southern Arizona (AP)
Marines fly Santa, helpers to Arizona reservation (AP)
'Birther' reverses course, says he would deploy (AP)
Casino's choice: Let bandit flee or start shootout (AP)
Fla. school board shooter had turbulent life (AP)
Rare immigration bills pass Congress (AP)
Lawyers prevail in money fight with Brunei prince (AP)
More sex assaults reported at military academies (AP)
NYC to vote on change to taxi driver dress code (AP)
Stores try to create shopping surge in final days (AP)
Record number of eagles counted at Pa. sanctuary (AP)
Father of 3 missing Michigan boys arraigned (AP)
Copper thief burns down Ala. city's Christmas tree (AP)
Scientists: It's not too late yet for polar bears (AP)

Minivan recall grows as victim's family speaks out (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:08 PM PST

AP - Sean Bowman was driving with a classmate to community college when his Ford Windstar's rear axle cracked in half, sending the minivan careening into a building and killing him, his family says.

Feds sue BP, other companies for oil spill damages (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:06 PM PST

AP - The Justice Department sued BP and several other companies involved in the Gulf oil spill Wednesday, an opening salvo in the government's effort to get billions of dollars for untold economic and environmental damage.

Mom shot at strip mall used body to protect son, 2 (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:13 PM PST

AP - A mother loading her 2-year-old son into an SUV used her body to protect the toddler before she was shot and killed in an ensuing midday gunbattle at a Sacramento strip mall, sheriff's officials said Wednesday.

Navy Fires Top Two Officers For Being "Unduly Familiar" While Commanding Warship (Time.com)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:45 AM PST

Time.com - The Navy has relieved the commander of a mine-sweeper for having an "unduly familiar relationship" with his female second-in-command

Why Did We Take Brett Favre's Streak for Granted? (Time.com)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:45 AM PST

Time.com - Now that Brett Favre's streak of starting 297 straight games, dating back to September of 1992, is history, it's only fair to wonder: did we take his astounding record for granted?

Maine, NJ links probed in case of NY beach bodies (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:07 PM PST

AP - The mother of a missing Maine woman last seen working as an escort in New York submitted a DNA sample Wednesday to authorities trying to determine the identities of four women whose bodies were found dumped on a deserted beach highway on Long Island.

Border Patrol agent killed in southern Arizona (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:06 PM PST

AP - A Border Patrol agent was fatally shot near the Mexico border amid a shootout with bandits known for targeting illegal immigrants along a violent smuggling corridor in the Arizona desert, a union leader said Wednesday.

Marines fly Santa, helpers to Arizona reservation (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:41 PM PST

AP - Children on the Havasupai reservation don't associate Santa Claus with a sleigh and flying reindeer.

'Birther' reverses course, says he would deploy (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:14 PM PST

AP - An Army doctor who disobeyed orders to deploy to Afghanistan because he questioned President Barack Obama's eligibility for office told a jury he was wrong to do so and would now deploy if he could.

Casino's choice: Let bandit flee or start shootout (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:07 PM PST

AP - Waving a gun, a motorcycle helmet-wearing bandit ordered wide-eyed gamblers and dealers back from a Bellagio craps table, and quickly stashed at least $1.5 million in casino chips into a bag.

Fla. school board shooter had turbulent life (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:05 PM PST

AP - Clay Duke was a troubled, broke ex-con with bipolar disorder, an interest in anarchy, a wife who unemployment benefits had run out and frustrations that reached their boiling point on a day circled on his calendar.

Rare immigration bills pass Congress (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:18 PM PST

AP - Congress has taken the unusual step of waiving immigration restrictions for two Japanese citizens fighting to live in the United States.

Lawyers prevail in money fight with Brunei prince (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:31 PM PST

AP - Two British attorneys won a multimillion-dollar tussle with Brunei's Prince Jefri Bolkiah on Wednesday after a trial that provided a glimpse into the prince's jet-set lifestyle as a member of one of the world's richest royal families.

More sex assaults reported at military academies (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:50 PM PST

AP - Reported sexual assaults at the three U.S. military academies rose 64 percent in the 2009-10 academic year compared with the previous year, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

NYC to vote on change to taxi driver dress code (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:26 AM PST

AP - Shabby cabbies in New York City might have to step up their look.

Stores try to create shopping surge in final days (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:59 PM PST

AP - You won't find uncommonly deep discounts, but you won't have to worry about finding something to buy, either. For the first time in three years, the Christmas season is looking brighter for stores and shoppers alike.

Record number of eagles counted at Pa. sanctuary (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST

AP - Bird-watchers at a ridgetop preserve in eastern Pennsylvania counted a record number of migrating bald eagles this fall, another sign of the species' remarkable comeback following a century of decline.

Father of 3 missing Michigan boys arraigned (AP)

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:33 PM PST

AP - A 39-year-old father blamed for the disappearance of his three missing sons appeared via video in a Michigan courtroom for the first time Wednesday to face kidnapping charges.