State

• Ill. gov., flying on state dime, met with donors

• Prosecutors: US atty. should stay on Ill. gov. case

National

• Investigation begins in plane's NYC splash landing

  • Experts: Airliner crashes more survivable recently

  • Hudson River hero is ex-Air Force fighter pilot

• Big chill clamps down on upper Midwest

• 4 kids badly burned by sulfuric acid in Texas

• Former transit cop pleads not guilty to murder

• Moored boat sinks from Alaska rig; 14 evacuated

International

• Off the plank! Pirates would walk into court

  • Owner: Pirates free Danish ship held for 2 months

• Israeli envoys sent to US, Egypt for truce talks

  • Iran president: 'Not feasible' for Israel to live

• Trial opens for US suspect in Italy slaying

• UN to Obama: Don't change Afghan strategy

• Venezuela seeks investments from Big Oil

Politics

• Obama hitting the road to sell his economic plan

  • Poll finds broad support for Obama

• Obama's AG pick on track for confirmation

• In farewell speech, Bush says he kept nation safe

ODD & Extraordinary

• Vt. police: Poodle left inside vehicle for 19 days

• Man waiting for tools gets brick of marijuana

• Historic NYC diner will get hauled to Alabama

• Man beats speeding ticket by saying sign too small

• 'Joba-The-Not' charged with impersonating Yankee

• Lithuanian firm hires witch to hunt debt-dodgers

• N.Y. driver, passenger switch places; both drunk

• Indiana boy licks light pole, gets stuck

Science, Technology & Environment

• Martian methane belch: From rocks or microbes?

• NASA to fly unmanned drone for science research

• Dung deal: Elephant count surprises in Malaysia

• Fish poop helps balance ocean's acid levels

• Science closing in on cloak of invisibility

Entertainment, Entertainers, Media & Arts

• Audience goes up for 'American Idol'

• NBC announces '30 Rock,' 'The Office' renewals

• O'Brien, Fallon see late-night challenges ahead

• Redford's excited over fade-out on Bush years

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather