State

• Obama's Blagojevich report to explain staff's role

• Ill. impeachment panel awaits word from prosecutor

• University of Chicago to allow co-ed dorm rooms

National

• Bitter cold, high winds chill Midwest, Northeast

• Investigators press for clues in Denver jet mishap

• Magnitude-4.1 quake shakes central California

• SEC has been slow to react to fraud claims

• AP study finds $1.6B went to bailed-out bank execs

• Desert wind blows health risks from Calif. mines

• Sex no longer a taboo subject at nursing homes

• Recall information

International

• Iraq shoe-thrower's brother says he'd do it again

• Suspected US missile strike in Pakistan kills 8

• Official: US-Afghan operation kills 20 insurgents

  • Karzai presses top US military leader

• Palestinians unhappy with Abbas' frequent absences

  • World Bank calls for steps to ease West Bank trade

• Belarus seeking $3B loan from Moscow

• Report: S. Korea seeks talks with North to fix ties

Politics

• Hairdressers want chance to style first lady

• Cheney says Congress failed struggling automakers

• Lawmaker says 'no' to Rev. Warren at inauguration

ODD & Extraordinary

• Chicago sheriff baits fugitives with holiday ruse

• Man eats 7 pounds of latkes to win N.Y. contest

• Hawaii Chevrolet dealer crushes auto competition

• Politician tries to protect NYC's pesky parrots

• Diamond in the rough: Museum finds vacuumed gem

• Texas cops: Driver threatened students over crumbs

Science, Technology & Environment

• Pope marks Galileo anniversary, praises astronomy

Entertainment, Entertainers, Media & Arts

• Music industry drops effort to sue song swappers

• Carrey's 'Yes Man' opens at No. 1 with $18M debut

• Ho-ho-ho. You're on stage ... at airport karaoke

• Bolshoi ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya dies at 92

• Obama's election voted top news story of 2008

Today

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