Top headlines:
Ski bum? Bottom bared in lift mishap: A guy who dangled upside down from a ski lift with his bare bottom exposed probably doesn't want to hear any "ski bum" jokes. ›14:40
Obama hails 'extraordinary gathering': President-elect Barack Obama has returned to the White House for a private sit-down with President George W. Bush, less than two weeks before their official transfer of power. ›19:28
DiCaprio, Eastwood take Palm Springs honors: Palm Springs Film Festival honorees include many who are widely considered strong Oscar contenders. ›17:03
Dozens held over alleged Turkish coup plot: Turkish police detained more than 30 people including three retired generals in a widening probe into an alleged plot to overthrow the Islamic-rooted government, according to reports Wednesday. ›16:06
U.S. tourist stabbed in Rome, in critical condition: An American tourist from California is in serious condition in a Rome hospital after being stabbed outside a bar in downtown Rome. ›12:41 5 Jan, Mon
Biden's right at home, Burris gets denied: Sen. Joe Biden is still a member of the Senate club, but Roland Burris isnt not yet anyway. But the legislative hopeful still attracted the largest press scrum Tuesday at the opening of the 111th Congress. ›23:18 6 Jan, Tue
Oil plunges on worries about demand: Energy prices plunged across the board Wednesday after a government report showed U.S. oil reserves were much greater than expected, suggesting demand continues to fall. ›20:15
Prosecutors list Madoff's alleged bail violations: Prosecutors said in court documents that disgraced financier Bernard Madoff sent packages containing at least 16 watches and a diamond necklace to family members over the holidays. ›16:33
Obama hails 'extraordinary gathering': President-elect Barack Obama has returned to the White House for a private sit-down with President George W. Bush, less than two weeks before their official transfer of power. ›19:28
Stonehenge: One totally awesome rave location: Stonehenge was built as a dance arena for prehistoric "samba-style" raves, according to a study of the acoustics of the 5,000-year-old stone circle. ›16:40
Swayze faces cancer bravely: Patrick Swayze says his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer put him through hell while he pushed ahead on his new TV series. ›22:29 6 Jan, Tue
Bikers strap on fruit to dodge helmet law: Police in Nigeria have arrested scores of motorcycle taxi riders with dried fruit shells, pots or pieces of rubber tire tied to their heads with string to avoid a new law requiring them to wear helmets. ›15:41
Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent: The Ohio man who became a household name during the presidential campaign says he is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for the conservative Web site pjtv.com. ›17:58
No trial for elderly Nazi hit man: A German court ruled Wednesday that an elderly former Nazi hit squad member is medically unfit to stand trial for the World War II reprisal killings of three Dutch civilians. ›20:05
Recession worries send stocks sliding: A handful of bleak profit forecasts and more evidence of escalating unemployment unnerved investors Wednesday, sending stocks down sharply. ›19:58
Fire survivor: Lou the mule saved me: Jolene Solomon is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else. She says Lou's braying alerted to a fire that consumed her house but she escaped unharmed. ›03:31
Craig Ferguson ties the knot over holidays: Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson had quite a surprise for his audience Monday night. The talk show host announced he got married during his holiday break. ›15:26 6 Jan, Tue
Ice storm in Northeast, floods in South: Storms had people on edge across the U.S. Wednesday, with ice and freezing rain in the Northeast, flooding and power outages in the South and the Pacific Northwest watching for avalanches. ›17:35
House, Senate convene for 111th Congress: The House and Senate have convened for a new Congress that will immediately confront the country's struggling economy. ›22:46 6 Jan, Tue
India: Mumbai gunmen directed by phone: "We have three foreigners, including women," the gunman said into the phone. ›14:50
Win a trip to the inauguration: Florida homebuilder Cynthia Russell won an all-expenses-paid trip to the inauguration for her essay on her economic struggles and her hopes for the new administration. The Presidential Inaugural Committee is giving away nine more trips to those who enter by midnight Thursday. ›15:28
House to vote on Obama-favored health plan: House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care with a vote next week on legislation to expand a children's health insurance program. ›19:03
Lawyer gets 5-cent IRS bill, 4-cent refund: James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service. ›17:31 3 Jan, Sat
Bikers strap on fruit to dodge helmet law: Police in Nigeria have arrested scores of motorcycle taxi riders with dried fruit shells, pots or pieces of rubber tire tied to their heads with string to avoid a new law requiring them to wear helmets. ›15:41
