State

• School bus driver accused of braking hard; 19 injured

• Ex-cop offers reward for wife's safe return

National

• Hawaiian sovereignty seekers take over palace

• Crop subsidies switched to feeding needy as food prices rise

• Maine river crests after surging to record high

• Pittsburgh surpasses Los Angeles as nation's sootiest city

• Senate acts to ensure students get loans

• Documents show US considered using nuclear weapons

International

• Olympic flame's Everest ascent is grand but so far a secret

• Leader of al-Qaida in Somalia dies in airstrike

• Pentagon officials may beef up command role in Afghanistan

  • Al-Qaida link in Afghan assassination plot

• Police: Car bomb kills at least 9 in Baghdad

• 5 French mountaineers die in avalanche in Italy

• DNA confirms IDs of czar's children, ending mystery

Election

• DNC chairman under Bill Clinton: Unite behind Obama

• Obama, Clinton court working families

• McCain blames Minnesota bridge collapse on wasted money

ODD & Extraordinary

• Dino dung sells at NYC auction for nearly $1,000

• Mexican bus drivers want tips despite harrowing rides

• Utah police say man stole a US mail van

Entertainment

• Cruise talks to Oprah about image, faith, family

  • Cher says she dated Tom Cruise when he was a 'shy boy'

• McKellen to reprise Gandalf role

• 'American Idol' boots another finalist; 4 singers remain

• That was the week that was

Science

• Scientist rediscovers rare plant unseen since 1985

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather