Missouri teen killer had troubled family, depression

Abandoned by her mother and missing a father in prison, Alyssa Bustamante had plunged to the depths of depression before, once overdosing on a large bottle of painkillers, slicing her skin hundreds of times and carving the word "hate" in her arm. She recovered from her suicide attempt and was prescribed an antidepressant drug.

Oil prices climb as Iran threatens EU supply cut

Oil prices are rising as Iran again threatens to cut off supplies to Europe.

Florida postal worker falls into storm drain, dies

U.S. Postal Service officials in Miami say an employee died when he tumbled into a storm drain while searching for his cell phone.

October trial in NY Saudi ambassador plot case

A New York judge has scheduled an October trial for a man charged with plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

Off-duty federal agent shot in California, shooter fled in vehicle

Authorities say an off-duty federal agent was shot in the San Francisco Bay area city of Newark.

Occupy Pittsburgh protester arrested for failing to register as sex offender

An Occupy Pittsburgh protester has been arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, authorities said.

Religious license plates for sale in SC

South Carolina drivers can buy religious license plates that feature three crosses and a sunrise.

Father: Abducted Alaska barista was scared of man after filing restraining order

A barista abducted from a coffee shack that sits near one of Anchorage's busiest intersections had filed for a restraining order against a man, but had been too scared to show up for the court hearing, her father said Monday.

Wisconsin man's 'nearly skeletonized' body found in home 4 years after suicide

A Wisconsin man who was thought to have moved away in 2007 reportedly killed himself, leaving his "nearly skeletonized body" to rot in his home for more than four years.

Job openings jump to near a 3-year high

The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring.

APNewsBreak: Komen exec quits after funding flap

A high-ranking official resigned Tuesday from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity after a dispute over whether the group should give funding to Planned Parenthood, according to...

Pa. college machine dispenses 'morning-after' pill

Students at a Pennsylvania university can obtain the "morning-after" pill from an unusual source — a vending machine at the campus health center.

Atlanta's Bank of America Plaza to be sold at auction

The tallest skyscraper in the southern United States is going up for public auction after its owners missed mortgage payments.

Somali-American admits aiding Al Qaeda terrorists

A Somali-American man admitted Monday that he helped raise money so others could travel from Minnesota to join the terror group al-Shabab in Somalia, and that he sent money to Somalia so one of those travelers could buy a firearm.

Special operations' Afghan role could be expanded

Adm. Bill McRaven said Tuesday that special operations forces in Afghanistan are preparing for a possible expanded role as overall U.S. forces begin to draw down after a decade of war. ...

New York man found dead after subway fire wrote graphic novel of life in tunnels

A man found dead in an abandoned New York subway room following a fire was the co-author of a graphic novel on his life in the tunnels.

Axelrod defends administration birth control rule

A political adviser to President Barack Obama said Tuesday the administration didn't intend to "abridge anyone's religious freedom" with its regulation requiring church-affiliated employers to c...

NYC vendor who alerted police to bomb seeks office

A Times Square street vendor who alerted police to an attempted car bombing in 2010 said Tuesday that he is running for Congress.

NJ wants to upgrade 1 charge in webcam spying case

Authorities want to upgrade one of the charges against a former Rutgers student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate's intimate encounter with another man.

Phoenix man dies after spinal injury at indoor trampoline park

A 30-year-old Phoenix man has died after suffering a spinal injury at an indoor trampoline park, fire officials said.