State

• The Rev. Jesse Jackson warns of `jail hotels'

National

• Man in Santa suit kills 8, self on Christmas Eve

• 14 hurt in NY when car crashes into Hanukkah party

• Arrest details on mom of Bristol Palin's boyfriend

• 400 dress as Jesus to put Christ back in Christmas

• The Influence Game: Unlikely groups seek job funds

• Problems seen in e-voting overseas

• Homeland Security forecasts 5-year terror threats

• Winds prevent Washington from crossing Delaware

International

• Pakistan moves troops toward Indian border

• 3 Chinese navy ships leave for Somalia

• Troops in Iraq find Christmas in memories

  • Police: 13 killed in Iraqi jailbreak

Politics

• Obama stays close to home, military on holiday

  • For Obama, huge challenges vs. big assets

• Cabinet choices touch off scramble in states

• Coal for Christmas: Brooklyn man's pardon revoked

• Prosecutors to court: Get on with Jefferson trial

• Christmas at Camp David: For Bush, 1 last visit

• Kennedy, in Senate bid, hasn't shared finances

ODD & Extraordinary

• Police use tobacco spit to nab burglary suspect

• Sunken Soviet sub needs buyer - or it's scrapped

• Utah store has bone to pick with shoplifting dog

Science, Technology & Environment

• Amateurs are trying genetic engineering at home

Entertainment, Entertainers, Media & Arts

• Eartha Kitt, sultry `Santa Baby' singer, dies

• Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter dies at 78

• Jazz pianist-singer Page Cavanaugh dies at 86

• Dance, dance, dance! Obama will have 10 parties

• WB shrouds 'Dark Knight' from Chinese audiences

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather

  • Winter storm blankets West with snow, heads east