Round 2: Snow slams Mid-Atlantic, makes way to Pa., NY, after killing 3 in Michigan
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....

A politically vulnerable NY Gov. Paterson 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."...

Residents evacuate as new storm threatens mudslides in LA-area foothills
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (AP) -- A new winter storm washed over the wildfire-scarred foothills north of Los Angeles Tuesday, leaving some residents to flee their homes in baggage-laden cars while others used shovels and buckets to try to hold back the muddy deluge....

Space shuttle Endeavour arrives at space station for weeklong stay, delivers new room, windows
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Shuttle Endeavour arrived 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....

Obama, state regulator criticize Anthem Blue Cross plans to hike rates 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....

LAPD: Teen graffiti tagger arrested in 'tragic' fatal shooting of 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....

NY Senate votes to immediately expel Democratic lawmaker convicted of misdemeanor assault
ALBANY, N.Y (AP) -- The New York Senate voted Tuesday night to expel a senator convicted of a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his girlfriend, a resolution the lawmaker assailed as an injustice to the people who elected him....

Target pulls Valentine's Day bear toys after California AG asks for recall 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....

Kerrigan family disputes medical examiner's report on father's death, says it wasn't homicide
BOSTON (AP) -- The family of Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan insisted Tuesday that they do "not blame anyone" for her father's death and criticized a medical examiner's finding that Daniel Kerrigan died of a heart rhythm problem after a fight with his son....

ATF blames spate of Texas church fires on serial arsonist, after 2 more buildings are torched
TYLER, Texas (AP) -- A spate of recent fires that destroyed or damaged several churches in eastern Texas were intentionally set, likely by the same person or group, federal authorities said Tuesday....