Copyright (c) 2012 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. http://news.yahoo.com/us us U.S. News en-us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:15:52 GMT 5 142 18 http://news.yahoo.com/us http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gif http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120213/pl_nm/us_usa_budget nm/20120213/us_usa_budget Reuters politics Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:56:22 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120213/pl_nm/us_usa_budget"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20120213/i/r702741865.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=tD06ZhZhh75toXcUnq.CpQ--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 24, 2012. REUTERS/Saul Loeb/Pool" border="0" /></a>Reuters - President Barack Obama called on Monday for new spending to boost growth and higher taxes on the rich, laying out an election-year vision for America in a budget that drew heavy fire from Republicans for failing to curb huge deficits.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120213/pl_nm/us_usa_budget"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20120213/i/r702741865.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=tD06ZhZhh75toXcUnq.CpQ--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="photo" title="President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 24, 2012. REUTERS/Saul Loeb/Pool" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (Reuters) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120214/us_nm/us_gaymarriage_washington nm/20120214/us_gaymarriage_washington Reuters us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:20:22 GMT Reuters - Washington state became the seventh in the nation to put a law on its books recognizing same-sex marriage on Monday, as opponents of the measure signed by Governor Christine Gregoire vowed to try to prevent it from ever taking effect. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120213/us_nm/us_gaymarriage_newjersey nm/20120213/us_gaymarriage_newjersey Reuters us Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:39:02 GMT Reuters - New Jersey's Democratic-controlled state Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill on Monday but New Jersey was unlikely to become the eighth state in the country to approve gay marriage as Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto it. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/time_rss/rss_time_us/httpwwwtimecomtimespecialspackagesarticle02880421063442106345210674600htmlxidrssnationyahoo/44516135/SIG=13hsn25rj/*http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2106344_2106345_2106746,00.html?xid=rss-nation-yahoo time_rss/20120214/httpwwwtimecomtimespecialspackagesarticle02880421063442106345210674600htmlxidrssnationyahoo Time.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:10:00 GMT Time.com - TIME talks to the Chinese model about her favorite part of Fashion Week, how she celebrated Chinese New Year and why she's obsessed with Facebook as much as everyone else. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/time_rss/rss_time_us/httpswamplandtimecom20120210fearsfaithandfreedomatcpacixzz1lz6uacekxidrssnationyahoo/44505101/SIG=127oer9g6/*http://swampland.time.com/2012/02/10/fears-faith-and-freedom-at-cpac/#ixzz1lz6uACEk?xid=rss-nation-yahoo time_rss/20120214/httpswamplandtimecom20120210fearsfaithandfreedomatcpacixzz1lz6uacekxidrssnationyahoo Time.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:40:00 GMT Time.com - CPAC's thousands of attendees are a reminder of the vast array of parochial interests cohabiting under the conservative tent http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120214/us_nm/us_usa_crime_sandusky nm/20120214/us_usa_crime_sandusky Reuters us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:38:17 GMT Reuters - A judge on Monday granted nearly all requests from former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, allowing 11 of his 14 grandchildren to visit him under house arrest and securing a local jury for his child sex abuse trial. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_sp_ot/us_penn_state_abuse ap/20120214/us_penn_state_abuse AP sports Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:24:50 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_sp_ot/us_penn_state_abuse"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.c33b3666b6cf4278873e80b3560cbc85-c33b3666b6cf4278873e80b3560cbc85-0.jpg?x=130&y=90&q=85&sig=2Ny44eGhh_uXFOJw1Q9PrQ--" align="left" height="90" width="130" alt="FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2012 file photo, Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, speaks to the media at the Centre County Courthouse after a bail conditions hearing, in Bellefonte, Pa. The judge overseeing the case says Sandusky can see most of his grandchildren while he awaits trial. The judge ruled Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 that Sandusky can also use a jury chosen from the State College area to hear his case. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - A judge rejected requests by prosecutors that jurors be brought in from outside the State College area to hear the child sex-abuse case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_sp_ot/us_penn_state_abuse"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.c33b3666b6cf4278873e80b3560cbc85-c33b3666b6cf4278873e80b3560cbc85-0.jpg?x=130&y=90&q=85&sig=2Ny44eGhh_uXFOJw1Q9PrQ--" align="left" height="90" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2012 file photo, Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, speaks to the media at the Centre County Courthouse after a bail conditions hearing, in Bellefonte, Pa. The judge overseeing the case says Sandusky can see most of his grandchildren while he awaits trial. The judge ruled Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 that Sandusky can also use a jury chosen from the State College area to hear his case. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_vegas_mob_attraction ap/20120214/us_vegas_mob_attraction AP entertainment Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:19:39 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_vegas_mob_attraction"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.fdb5d0297c2b44f38f4900b0e56a42fc-fdb5d0297c2b44f38f4900b0e56a42fc-0.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=9dXnvMT2Gv4y7eFx14HPBg--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="An exhibit featuring a target of the G men, Murder, Inc. is pictured at The Mob Museum on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Las Vegas. The publicly funded, $42 million Mob Museum represents a new height in Sin City's lawlessness devotion. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)" border="0" /></a>AP - In one room, a ghastly photo wall of bloody, uncensored images showcases the mob's greatest hits.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_vegas_mob_attraction"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.fdb5d0297c2b44f38f4900b0e56a42fc-fdb5d0297c2b44f38f4900b0e56a42fc-0.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=9dXnvMT2Gv4y7eFx14HPBg--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="photo" title="An exhibit featuring a target of the G men, Murder, Inc. is pictured at The Mob Museum on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Las Vegas. The publicly funded, $42 million Mob Museum represents a new height in Sin City's lawlessness devotion. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_medical_marijuana_banking ap/20120214/us_medical_marijuana_banking AP us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:44:01 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_medical_marijuana_banking"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.fe8e80ac113b4ac8802d556d0d5617d7-fe8e80ac113b4ac8802d556d0d5617d7-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=upPYnKx8aorSigH_gAg5Nw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="A Feb. 10, 2012 photo shows Matthew Huron, owner of two medical marijuana dispensaries and an edible marijuana company in Denver, examining a marijuana plant in his grow house. Medical marijuana is legal in 17 states, but the industry has a decidedly black-market aspect &mdash; it's mostly cash-only. That's because banks won't touch pot money. The drug is illegal under federal law, and processing transactions or investments with pot money puts federally insured banks at risk of drug-racketeering charges. In Colorado, state lawmakers are attempting an end-run around the federal ban by creating a cooperative financial institution for state dispensaries and growers to allow them to store and borrow money. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)" border="0" /></a>AP - Medical marijuana is legal in 17 states, but the industry has a decidedly black-market aspect &mdash; it's mostly cash-only.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_medical_marijuana_banking"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.fe8e80ac113b4ac8802d556d0d5617d7-fe8e80ac113b4ac8802d556d0d5617d7-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=upPYnKx8aorSigH_gAg5Nw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="A Feb. 10, 2012 photo shows Matthew Huron, owner of two medical marijuana dispensaries and an edible marijuana company in Denver, examining a marijuana plant in his grow house. Medical marijuana is legal in 17 states, but the industry has a decidedly black-market aspect &mdash; it's mostly cash-only. That's because banks won't touch pot money. The drug is illegal under federal law, and processing transactions or investments with pot money puts federally insured banks at risk of drug-racketeering charges. In Colorado, state lawmakers are attempting an end-run around the federal ban by creating a cooperative financial institution for state dispensaries and growers to allow them to store and borrow money. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_robber_scream_mask ap/20120214/us_odd_robber_scream_mask AP odd Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:23:08 GMT AP - Police have arrested an Indianapolis man in connection with two convenience store robberies in Mississippi where the thief wore a mask like the one used by the villain in the 1990s slasher flick "Scream." http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_co/us_payroll_tax ap/20120214/us_payroll_tax AP business Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:22:00 GMT AP - House lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill to weigh a proposal by GOP leaders to extend the 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax through the end of the year and add the approximately $100 billion cost to the nation's $15 trillion-plus debt instead of scrounging around the budget for ways to pay for it. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston_funeral ap/20120214/us_whitney_houston_funeral AP entertainment Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:15:36 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston_funeral"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.adb130dde7d549eb8c59423dddcadb8a-adb130dde7d549eb8c59423dddcadb8a-0.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=QvZMHfljN3wtTzf9enjQLw--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="Evelyn Rios cries after reading a poem she wrote and posted on a makeshift memorial for the late singer Whitney Houston outside of New Hope Baptist Church, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Newark, N.J. As a young girl, Houston sang in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church. Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Feb. 11. She was 48. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" border="0" /></a>AP - A hearse under heavy police escort arrived late Monday at a funeral home officials said was handling the arrangements for late pop star Whitney Houston.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston_funeral"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.adb130dde7d549eb8c59423dddcadb8a-adb130dde7d549eb8c59423dddcadb8a-0.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=QvZMHfljN3wtTzf9enjQLw--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="photo" title="Evelyn Rios cries after reading a poem she wrote and posted on a makeshift memorial for the late singer Whitney Houston outside of New Hope Baptist Church, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Newark, N.J. As a young girl, Houston sang in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church. Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Feb. 11. She was 48. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_washington_gay_marriage ap/20120214/us_washington_gay_marriage AP us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:33:24 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_washington_gay_marriage"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.5c9a640606d24b988dc03c99712a1daa-5c9a640606d24b988dc03c99712a1daa-0.jpg?x=130&y=87&q=85&sig=js5qoRb7idb3oYUbvrbGuA--" align="left" height="87" width="130" alt="Gov. Chris Gregoire, seated, is surrounded by legislators and supporters as she signs into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Olympia, Wash. Gregoire handed gay rights advocates in Washington state a major victory with her signature, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. The law takes effect June 7, but opponents are already mounting challenges on multiple fronts. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)" border="0" /></a>AP - Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a measure that makes Washington state the seventh to legalize same-sex marriage, but opponents almost immediately filed a referendum to challenge the new law, meaning voters likely will have the final say.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_washington_gay_marriage"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.5c9a640606d24b988dc03c99712a1daa-5c9a640606d24b988dc03c99712a1daa-0.jpg?x=130&y=87&q=85&sig=js5qoRb7idb3oYUbvrbGuA--" align="left" height="87" width="130" alt="photo" title="Gov. Chris Gregoire, seated, is surrounded by legislators and supporters as she signs into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in Olympia, Wash. Gregoire handed gay rights advocates in Washington state a major victory with her signature, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. The law takes effect June 7, but opponents are already mounting challenges on multiple fronts. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_poets_love_letters ap/20120214/us_poets_love_letters AP entertainment Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:15:52 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_poets_love_letters"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.3145077a394a4920aebb7fec52d977a1-3145077a394a4920aebb7fec52d977a1-0.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=GC4ooR4RB_uMv_f__6meGg--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="In this Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 photo, a hand-written original manuscript by Elizabeth Barrett Browning of the epic poem 'Aurora Leigh,' is held by Mariana Oller, Wellesley College associate curator of special collections at the Margaret Clapp Library, on the campus of Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Mass. Beginning Valentine's Day Feb. 14, 2012 the famous love letters of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning will be available on line as part of a digitization collaboration between Wellesley and Baylor University in Texas. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)" border="0" /></a>AP - "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett ..."</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_ot/us_poets_love_letters"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.3145077a394a4920aebb7fec52d977a1-3145077a394a4920aebb7fec52d977a1-0.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=GC4ooR4RB_uMv_f__6meGg--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="photo" title="In this Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 photo, a hand-written original manuscript by Elizabeth Barrett Browning of the epic poem 'Aurora Leigh,' is held by Mariana Oller, Wellesley College associate curator of special collections at the Margaret Clapp Library, on the campus of Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Mass. Beginning Valentine's Day Feb. 14, 2012 the famous love letters of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning will be available on line as part of a digitization collaboration between Wellesley and Baylor University in Texas. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_school_bullying_minnesota ap/20120214/us_school_bullying_minnesota AP topstories Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:55:38 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_school_bullying_minnesota"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.c89a82f5de7840b49b3bf123430e474f-c89a82f5de7840b49b3bf123430e474f-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=PKrIrc1a5PfGNax4JdmMOw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Cherie Cullum uses her hands to explain to Anoka school board chair Tom Heidemann, right, and vice chair John Hoffman that she wishes the left and the right will come together during a discussion on the 'Respectful Learning Environment' policy during a school board meeting at the Anoka County School District headquarters in Coon Rapids, Minn. on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. The new policy commits the north suburban Twin Cities district to providing 'a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.' It says that when contentious political, religious, social matters or economic issues come up — it does not specifically cite sexuality issues — teachers shouldn't try to persuade students to adopt particular viewpoint. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Renee Jones Schneider) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT" border="0" /></a>AP - Minnesota's largest school district has abandoned a much-criticized policy that required teachers to remain neutral when issues of sexual identity came up in the classroom and replaced it with one that's meant to foster a respectful learning environment for all students, gay or straight, religious or not, liberal or conservative.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_school_bullying_minnesota"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.c89a82f5de7840b49b3bf123430e474f-c89a82f5de7840b49b3bf123430e474f-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=PKrIrc1a5PfGNax4JdmMOw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Cherie Cullum uses her hands to explain to Anoka school board chair Tom Heidemann, right, and vice chair John Hoffman that she wishes the left and the right will come together during a discussion on the 'Respectful Learning Environment' policy during a school board meeting at the Anoka County School District headquarters in Coon Rapids, Minn. on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. The new policy commits the north suburban Twin Cities district to providing 'a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.' It says that when contentious political, religious, social matters or economic issues come up — it does not specifically cite sexuality issues — teachers shouldn't try to persuade students to adopt particular viewpoint. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Renee Jones Schneider) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_rape911_call ap/20120214/us_rape911_call AP us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:15 GMT AP - Police say a South Florida mother managed to call 911 as a would-be burglar raped, beat and choked her while her newborn baby lay on a bed beside her. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_budget_phantoms_fact_check ap/20120214/us_budget_phantoms_fact_check AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:11:55 GMT AP - When a president introduces a budget, there are always phantoms flitting around the room. President Barack Obama's spending plan sets loose a number of them. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston ap/20120214/us_whitney_houston AP entertainment Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:43:45 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.063f1ceb86614fcaa190829fc4abc433-063f1ceb86614fcaa190829fc4abc433-0.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=jLjrGITooYwnpdu.9fPQjg--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="Whitney Houston fans, Lawanda Howkins, left, and Melanie Braggs honor her memory at a candlelight vigil in Leimert Park in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday, Feb. 11. She was 48. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)" border="0" /></a>AP - Whitney Houston's life was a doleful cover of other addiction-riddled pop stars who put their talent and themselves at risk.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_en_mu/us_whitney_houston"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.063f1ceb86614fcaa190829fc4abc433-063f1ceb86614fcaa190829fc4abc433-0.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=jLjrGITooYwnpdu.9fPQjg--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="photo" title="Whitney Houston fans, Lawanda Howkins, left, and Melanie Braggs honor her memory at a candlelight vigil in Leimert Park in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday, Feb. 11. She was 48. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_speed_freak_killers ap/20120214/us_speed_freak_killers AP us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:30:09 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_speed_freak_killers"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.228539639a864e92ad41ef3ff3a3ee9f-228539639a864e92ad41ef3ff3a3ee9f-0.jpg?x=97&y=130&q=85&sig=qR_wplEI_UkECvuzTqhAJA--" align="left" height="130" width="97" alt="FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the California Department of Corrections, Wesley Shermantine is shown. Authorities say Shermantine and Loren Herzog, dubbed the 'Speed Freak Killers,' wantonly murdered many throughout California's rural Central Valley before their arrest in 1999. Now, motivated by a bounty hunter's promise to pay, one of those convicted killer's is breaking his long-held secret and leading investigators to burial sites that have yielded hundreds of human bones. (AP Photo/California Department of Corrections, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - The childhood friends killed for the first time less than three months after their high school graduation in 1984. Then they seemingly killed with impunity for the next 15 years, with one man making barroom boasts about their ability to make people disappear.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_speed_freak_killers"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.228539639a864e92ad41ef3ff3a3ee9f-228539639a864e92ad41ef3ff3a3ee9f-0.jpg?x=97&y=130&q=85&sig=qR_wplEI_UkECvuzTqhAJA--" align="left" height="130" width="97" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the California Department of Corrections, Wesley Shermantine is shown. Authorities say Shermantine and Loren Herzog, dubbed the 'Speed Freak Killers,' wantonly murdered many throughout California's rural Central Valley before their arrest in 1999. Now, motivated by a bounty hunter's promise to pay, one of those convicted killer's is breaking his long-held secret and leading investigators to burial sites that have yielded hundreds of human bones. (AP Photo/California Department of Corrections, File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_china ap/20120214/us_us_china AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:43:36 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_china"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.ccd134755b7c482da6288a35e1fa962b-ccd134755b7c482da6288a35e1fa962b-0.jpg?x=86&y=130&q=85&sig=MfMCTAFCl6LKo.CewCIFzg--" align="left" height="130" width="86" alt="FILE - In this June 9, 2011 file photo, China's Vice President Xi Jinping waves in Santiago, Chile. The man destined to become the next leader of China has arrived in the U.S. on a visit that will include a welcome at the White House. (AP Photo/Aliosha Marquez, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - Washington is getting its first hard look at Xi Jinping, the man destined to lead China in the coming decade, during which the global powers probably will see their economic ties grow even as they are viewed increasingly as military rivals.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_china"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.ccd134755b7c482da6288a35e1fa962b-ccd134755b7c482da6288a35e1fa962b-0.jpg?x=86&y=130&q=85&sig=MfMCTAFCl6LKo.CewCIFzg--" align="left" height="130" width="86" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this June 9, 2011 file photo, China's Vice President Xi Jinping waves in Santiago, Chile. The man destined to become the next leader of China has arrived in the U.S. on a visit that will include a welcome at the White House. (AP Photo/Aliosha Marquez, File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP)