US closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:34:08 GMT
AP - The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria — now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.

Deeper Iran sanctions; US targets its central bank (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:34:18 GMT
AP - Targeting Iran's economy, the U.S. ordered tough new penalties Monday to further pinch the country's financial system and encourage Israel to give sanctions more time before any military action against Iran's nuclear program.

Police: Powell planned deadly fire for some time (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:59:01 GMT
AP - Josh Powell planned the house fire that killed him and his young sons for some time, dropping toys at a charity over the weekend and sending final emails to several acquaintances in the minutes before the blaze, authorities said Monday.

Romney works to fend off Santorum challenge (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:34:23 GMT
AP - Sensing a possible threat, Mitt Romney criticized Rick Santorum's time in the Senate as "not effective" because of his past support for spending on pork-barrel projects as he worked to fend off an unexpected challenge in the next states to vote.

Tea party: Warming or resigned to Mitt Romney? (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:03 GMT
AP - Long skeptical of Mitt Romney, tea party activists are either warming up to the GOP presidential front-runner or reluctantly backing him after abandoning hope of finding a nominee they like better.

A push for family input to detect dementia earlier (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:56:31 GMT
AP - Alexis McKenzie's mother had mild dementia, but things sounded OK when she phoned home: Dad was with her, finishing his wife's sentences as they talked about puttering through the day and a drive to the store.

Palestinians take step toward unity (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:34:33 GMT
AP - After months of wavering, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took a decisive step Monday toward reconciliation with the Islamic militant group Hamas, a move Israel promptly warned would close the door to any future peace talks.

Tucson shooting suspect to remain at Mo. facility (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:06:44 GMT
AP - A federal judge ruled Monday that the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that wounded former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will spend four more months at a federal prison facility where officials are forcibly medicating him.

Mo. teen describes killing as amazing, enjoyable (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:52:12 GMT
AP - A Missouri teenager who admitted stabbing, strangling and slitting the throat of a young neighbor girl wrote in her journal on the night of the killing that it was an "ahmazing" and "pretty enjoyable" experience — then headed off to church with a laugh.

Despite Gisele, Patriots say no finger-pointing (AP)
Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:33:24 GMT
AP - The Patriots say there's no finger-pointing after their Super Bowl loss, even if supermodel Gisele Bundchen won't abide by that code.