Aw, snap! It's Colbert & Colmes — for a day

Jettisoned by his longtime co-host Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes was adopted by Stephen Colbert — for a day, at least. "The Colbert Report" anchor introduced the Fox News commentator as his new co-host, but later turned him into a bat.

Fed sees long-lasting downturn

Federal Reserve officials feared the economy would be stuck in a painful rut for some time despite their decision to slash interest rates to a record low.

Stocks end up slightly after Fed notes' release

Wall Street brushed off more bad economic news Tuesday to finish with a moderate advance that left broad stock indexes at their highest levels in two months.

Mortgages: What you need to know in 2009
Mortgage rates are at historic lows and may be poised to go even lower next year. It's a great time to buy a home — if you can.

New appeal in $54 million pants case
A former U.S. judge who unsuccessfully sued his South Korean immigrant dry cleaners for $54 million over a lost pair of pants is not giving up.

Brain pacemaker benefits Parkinson's patients

Parkinson's patients who had electrodes implanted in their brains improved more than those who took only medicine, according to the biggest test yet of deep brain stimulation.

Onboard innovators: In pursuit of pain-free flying

While most of us tend to sigh and suffer our frustrating flying moments silently, a few intrepid travelers have managed to turn those moments into marketable products.

U.N.: 36 die in strike near Gaza school

Red Cross warns 500,000 civilians in danger; Israel rejects calls for truce.

Baby's corpse thrown out with hospital's trash
Police are searching garbage dumps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the body of a baby that was apparently thrown out with the trash at a Jersey City hospital.

Is new TV series unfair to bears?

The Discovery cable-TV network claims its new series "Bear Feeding Frenzy" shows bear behavior. But some animal experts are attacking the show, saying it reinforces negative stereotypes about the creatures.