State

• Illinois leaders ponder what to do with governor

  • Illinois AG threatens to act soon against governor

  • Are Blagojevich tapes enough evidence to convict?

  • Deputy governor resigns after being tied to probe

  • Ill. governor's arrest raises serious questions

  • Arrest of Ill. governor puts spotlight on his wife

  • Tribune's Zell says FBI contacted him in gov. case

  • Senate Dems urge Ill. gov not to make appointment

  • Ill. lieutenant gov. has battled with Blagojevich

  • Jesse Jackson Jr. entangled in Ill. gov. scandal

• Chicago workers end sit-in at closed factory

National

• Report: US executions, death sentences on decline

• Hawaii man charged with threatening to kill Obama

• Bush asserts declining teen drug use; reports vary

• In tough times more students feed on free lunches

• WTC survivor staircase moves again at ground zero

International

• Gates: More brigades to Afghanistan by summer

• US plan calls for hunting pirates by land and air

• Pakistan targets group linked to Mumbai attacks

  • India calls on Pakistan to hand over 40 fugitives

• Suicide bomber strikes restaurant in northern Iraq

• Zimbabwe's Mugabe: Cholera epidemic under control

• US envoy says N. Korea nuke talks end in stalemate

Politics

• Vitter remains opposed to $14B auto bailout plan

• Energy secretary pick argues for new fuel sources

• Lisa Jackson in line to be 1st black EPA chief

• Mullen says defense overspending must stop

• Obama transition going well, most in AP poll say

ODD & Extraordinary

• For bid on eBay: 1 Ill. Senate seat, slightly worn

• Man brings 11-inch knife to court in walking stick

• Owner of big cat who bit Santa comes forward

• Calif. KFC workers in hot water after sink baths

• No, it's not Santa: Burglar gets stuck in chimney

• Tow driver demands 'drop fee' from assault victim

• Dying to support animal rights? Try a PETA coffin

Science, Technology & The Environment

• Study: More nano research needed

• Calif. set to adopt sweeping global warming plan

Entertainment, Entertainers and the Arts

• 'Dark Knight,' 'Milk' jockey for Golden Globe noms

• Chilean cardinal: Madonna rouses 'impure thoughts'

• Jerry Lewis to receive Oscar's humanitarian award

• Screen Actors Guild sets strike vote on Jan. 2

• Sotheby's yanks 3 MLK papers from N.Y. auction

• Library association launches award for teen books

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather

  • Violent storms damage dozens of homes across South