Birmingham mayor faces bribery charges
The mayor of Alabama's largest city was arrested Monday on federal bribery and fraud charges connected to a sewer bond deal that has driven the surrounding county to the brink of bankruptcy.

U.S. deaths in Afghanistan drop sharply

One American serviceman died in Afghanistan in November, a dramatic drop from earlier months that the U.S. military attributed in  part to their campaign against insurgents.

AP: Feds ignored meltdown warnings

The Bush administration ignored remarkably prescient warnings that foretold the financial meltdown, according to an Associated Press review of regulatory documents.

Fed chairman: Lower rates 'feasible'

Fed chief Ben Bernanke said that further interest-rate cuts are "certainly feasible," but he warned there are limits to how much such action would revive the economy.

New hope on AIDS in Africa

In a sign of hope on a continent ravaged by AIDS, a South African fertility clinic has started a service allowing couples infected with the virus to have a healthy baby.

Panel: Biological attack likely by 2013
The U.S. can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study being briefed Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Burress appears in court; bail set at $100,000

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was charged Monday with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Dodgers offer arbitration to Manny, Lowe

The Los Angeles Dodgers offered salary arbitration to free agents Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe and Casey Blake on Monday.

Obama names Clinton to top role

President-elect Barack Obama announced former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as his choice for secretary of state Monday and also said he would keep Robert Gates as defense minister.

Son of slain rabbi arrives in Israel

An Israeli Air Force jet left India for Israel Monday carrying the 2-year-old orphan of a rabbi and his wife who were slain in the Mumbai Jewish center attack.