NY governor says he'll step aside only 'in a box'
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. David Paterson, defying calls from even fellow Democrats to drop out of the race for a full term, said Tuesday that he would leave only if the voters turned him out through the ballot box, or he's carried out "in a box."...

Storm dumps rain, hail, snow in SoCal
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (AP) -- The latest Pacific storm that brought heavy rain, hail and snow to Southern California is heading east, but the mudslide threat is not over for communities below wildfire-scarred mountains....

Ex-Ill. gov. to answer revised corruption charges
CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich heads to court Wednesday to answer a revised batch of charges that he schemed to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat and swap official favors for campaign money....

Space shuttle Endeavour pulls in at space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Shuttle Endeavour arrived to a warm welcome at the International Space Station early Wednesday, delivering a new room and observation deck that will come close to completing construction 200 miles above Earth....

Latest plan to cut farm subsidies likely dead
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- If history and the political lineup are any guides, President Barack Obama's latest effort to cut subsidies for wealthy farmers likely will fare no better than his first try - or his predecessor's attempt....

Anthem asked to justify rate hike in California
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In his push to move stalled health care reform, President Barack Obama is appealing to American pocketbooks by calling one health insurer's major rate hike in California a harbinger of rising premiums....

Round 2: Snow slams Mid-Atlantic, points north
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Plows that have been rolling around the clock for days in the nation's capital, Philadelphia and Baltimore won't be heading for the garage any time soon as a second major storm in a week moved into the snowbound region Wednesday....

NY senator who dragged girlfriend fights expulsion
ALBANY, N.Y (AP) -- A Democratic state senator who betrayed his colleagues by joining Republicans in a brief coup and was convicted of a misdemeanor assault charge for dragging his girlfriend around during an argument at his apartment says he'll go back to court to fight his expulsion from the Senate....

Teen arrested in killing of LA anti-gang counselor
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- When Ronald "Loony" Barron urged a young graffiti tagger to put away his paint cans, he was doing what he viewed as his mission - steering kids away from crime - but he paid for it with his life....

Target pulls Valentine's toys over lead concerns
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Target Corp. said Tuesday it was pulling its Valentine's Day "Message Bears" from store shelves after California's attorney general raised concerns that the toys have illegal levels of lead....