Round 2: Blizzard warnings in New York, Mid-Atlantic as winter storms hound snowbound region
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Snow, wind and slush hounded eastern commuters early Wednesday as blizzard warnings from Baltimore to New York City heralded the second major snowstorm in less than a week for the region....

Latest storm dumps rain, hail, snow on Southern California; so far no mudslides
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (AP) -- The latest Pacific storm that brought heavy rain, hail and snow to Southern California is heading east, but the mudslide threat is not over for communities below wildfire-scarred mountains....

Ex-Illinois governor headed to federal court to answer revised corruption charges
CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich heads to court Wednesday to answer a revised batch of charges that he schemed to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat and swap official favors for campaign money....

Space shuttle Endeavour arrives at space station for weeklong stay, delivers new room, windows
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Shuttle Endeavour arrived to a warm welcome at the International Space Station early Wednesday, delivering a new room and observation deck that will come close to completing construction 200 miles above Earth....

Extraordinary hearing in murder case against ex-Ill. cop turns into dress rehearsal for trial
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Family members, investigators, clergy and even a psychic have spent weeks testifying in a northern Illinois courtroom - and Drew Peterson's murder trial hasn't even started....

NY senator convicted of misdemeanor assault vows to fight 53-8 vote to expel him
ALBANY, N.Y (AP) -- A Democratic state senator who betrayed his colleagues by joining Republicans in a brief coup and was convicted of a misdemeanor assault charge for dragging his girlfriend around during an argument at his apartment says he'll go back to court to fight his expulsion from the Senate....

History, politics suggest trouble for administration plan to cut subsidies for wealthy farmers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- If history and the political lineup are any guides, President Barack Obama's latest effort to cut subsidies for wealthy farmers likely will fare no better than his first try - or his predecessor's attempt....

A politically vulnerable NY Gov. Paterson says he'll step aside only 'in a box'
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. David Paterson, defying calls from even fellow Democrats to drop out of the race for a full term, said Tuesday that he would leave only if the voters turned him out through the ballot box, or he's carried out "in a box."...

Obama, state regulator criticize Anthem Blue Cross plans to hike rates in California
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In his push to move stalled health care reform, President Barack Obama is appealing to American pocketbooks by calling one health insurer's major rate hike in California a harbinger of rising premiums....

LAPD: Teen graffiti tagger arrested in 'tragic' fatal shooting of anti-gang counselor
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- When Ronald "Loony" Barron urged a young graffiti tagger to put away his paint cans, he was doing what he viewed as his mission - steering kids away from crime - but he paid for it with his life....