Pistorius bought, collected guns in Olympic year

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In his Olympic year, Oscar Pistorius steadily became an avid firearms collector, joining a gun-collecting club and purchasing a collection of firearms that included a .500 Magnum pistol dubbed by its manufacturer as "the most powerful production revolver in the world" and a civilian version of a military assault rifle.At the end of 2012, in the first blush of his romance with Reeva...

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‘Star Trek’ Beams Into Oscar Night

“Star Trek” fans got quite a treat last night during the Academy Awards last night (Feb. 24).Actors who portray major characters from the film and television versions of the iconic science fiction series made cameo appearances during the three-hour-long ceremony celebrating the best movies of 2012.William Shatner, the actor that played Starship Enterprise captain James T. Kirk in original series helped...

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U.S. evolves on same-sex marriage

STORY HIGHLIGHTSThe president and the nation have shifted perspectives on same-sex marriageSupreme Court ruling on California's same-sex marriage ban a critical testGrowing public support for gay marriage give proponents hope for changeWashington (CNN) -- The nation's growing acceptance of same-sex marriage has happened in slow and painstaking moves, eventually building into a momentum that is sweeping...

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Redflex execs out as scandal grows in red light camera firm

The president, chief financial officer and top lawyer for Chicago's red light camera company resigned this week amid an escalating...

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Futures start March lower as sequester looms

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were lower on Friday, indicating a weak start to the month of March as investors looked ahead to U.S. government budget cuts that were widely expected to take effect at the end of the day. Equities have been on a tear lately, rising for four straight months to approach five-year highs while the Dow climbed to within striking distance of an all-time...

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Leaving NKorea, Rodman calls Kims 'great leaders'

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Ending his unexpected round of basketball diplomacy in North Korea on Friday, ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman called leader Kim Jong Un an "awesome guy" and said his father and grandfather were "great leaders."Rodman, the highest-profile American to meet Kim since he inherited power from father Kim Jong Il in 2011, watched a basketball game with the authoritarian leader Thursday...

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‘Star Trek’ Beams Into Oscar Night

“Star Trek” fans got quite a treat last night during the Academy Awards last night (Feb. 24).Actors who portray major characters from the film and television versions of the iconic science fiction series made cameo appearances during the three-hour-long ceremony celebrating the best movies of 2012.William Shatner, the actor that played Starship Enterprise captain James T. Kirk in original series helped...

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Identity politics after Lee's Oscar win

STORY HIGHLIGHTSAng Lee's name beamed on building in Taiwan after Oscar winLee, born in Taiwan, won award for best director for "Life of Pi"Lee's win created excitement in Taiwan and China, both claimed him as their ownRyan: "In some ways it feels like 'Linsanity' all over again"Editor's note: Andrew Ryan is a host and producer at Radio Taiwan International, a government-owned station that broadcasts...

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Tax on pack of cigarettes sold in Chicago up $1 to $6.67

On the eve of a $1-per-pack Cook County cigarette tax increase, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle stood in the glow of...

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‘Star Trek’ Beams Into Oscar Night

“Star Trek” fans got quite a treat last night during the Academy Awards last night (Feb. 24).Actors who portray major characters from the film and television versions of the iconic science fiction series made cameo appearances during the three-hour-long ceremony celebrating the best movies of 2012.William Shatner, the actor that played Starship Enterprise captain James T. Kirk in original series helped...

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Taiwan ebullient over Ang Lee's Oscar

STORY HIGHLIGHTSAng Lee's name beamed on building in Taiwan after Oscar winLee, born in Taiwan, won award for best director for "Life of Pi"Lee's win created excitement in Taiwan and China, both claimed him as their ownRyan: "In some ways it feels like 'Linsanity' all over again"Editor's note: Andrew Ryan is a host and producer at Radio Taiwan International, a government-owned station that broadcasts...

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Chicago archdiocese to close 5 schools in cost-cutting move

Budget cuts announced Wednesday by the Archdiocese of Chicago signal that the area's Roman Catholics are entering a period of...

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Stock index futures signal mixed open

LONDON (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a mixed Wall Street open on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes slipping 0.1 percent, while futures for the Dow Jones rose 0.1 percent by 0933 GMT. U.S. durables goods and homes data due out at 1330 and 1500 GMT respectively should provide further clues on the health of the world's largest economy. ...

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Yahoo CEO right to cut remote work?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSRaymond Fisman: Marissa Mayer needs to revive Yahoo, and face time at the office is keyFisman: Granted, this goes against Utopian vision of everyone working from cafes Fisman: In-person work means innovations, avoids misunderstood directivesHe says more jobs will get done and it'll encourage those who work in a half-empty officeEditor's note: Raymond Fisman is the Lambert Family professor...

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Winter storm: Lingering snow could mean messy commute

Tom updates Tuesday's storm. (WGN - Chicago) The storm that socked the Chicago area with the season's biggest snowfall has tapered...

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Stock index futures point to small rebound

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.3-0.4 percent at 0916 GMT. U.S. stocks had suffered their biggest drop since November on Monday after later results pointed to a strong showing in Italian elections by groups opposed to the country's economic reforms....

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AP source: Tom Brady gets 3-year extension

Tom Brady will be a Patriot until he is 40 years old.Brady agreed to a three-year contract extension with New England on Monday, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press. The extension is worth about $27 million and will free up nearly $15 million in salary cap room for the team, which has several younger players it needs to re-sign or negotiate new deals with.The person spoke...

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‘Star Trek’ Beams Into Oscar Night

“Star Trek” fans got quite a treat last night during the Academy Awards last night (Feb. 24).Actors who portray major characters from the film and television versions of the iconic science fiction series made cameo appearances during the three-hour-long ceremony celebrating the best movies of 2012.William Shatner, the actor that played Starship Enterprise captain James T. Kirk in original series helped...

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Vatican 'Gay lobby'? Probably not

STORY HIGHLIGHTSBenedict XVI not stepping down under pressure from 'gay lobby,' Allen saysAllen: Benedict is a man who prefers the life of the mind to the nuts and bolts of government However, he says, much of the pope's time has been spent putting out firesEditor's note: John L. Allen Jr. is CNN's senior Vatican analyst and senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.(CNN) -- Suffice...

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