Severe storms pummel central US, Southern states

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A large storm system packing high winds, thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes is continuing its sweep across several Southern and central U.S. states.Emergency management officials say the large storm front blacked out thousands in Arkansas and has caused scattered power outages in northern Mississippi. At least one person was reported injured by lightning in Arkansas.Jeff...

Read More..

Bill Gates: We should grade teachers

Bill Gates discusses class work with students at South High School in Denver, Colorado last year.STORY HIGHLIGHTSBill Gates says his foundation is focused on setting goals, measuring progressTo improve education, we need measures of teacher effectiveness, he saysGates: It's worth spending what it takes for strong evaluation systemHe says better measuring will empower teachers to do their best workEditor's...

Read More..

Girl who performed at Obama inaugural slain on South Side

After taking their exams Tuesday, Hadiya Pendleton and a group of others decided to hang out at a park on Tuesday just blocks...

Read More..

Mursi heads to Germany on trip cut back by Egypt crisis

CAIRO/BERLIN (Reuters) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi flew to Germany on Wednesday to try to convince Europe of his democratic credentials, leaving behind a country in crisis after a week of violence that has killed more than 50 people. Two more protesters were shot dead before dawn near Cairo's central Tahrir Square on the seventh day of what has become the deadliest wave of unrest...

Read More..

Stock futures tick lower, but Ford, Pfizer rise early

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged lower on Tuesday as investors looked to take profits following an extended rally and as they waited an onslaught of earnings and data. On Monday, the S&P 500 index closed slightly lower, ending an eight-day run of gains. However, the index remained above 1,500, suggesting there was still support for the market. Investors...

Read More..

Woods makes short work at Torrey Pines

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tiger Woods never looked so irritated winning a golf tournament so comfortably.His record eighth victory at Torrey Pines was all but over when Woods ripped a 5-iron from 244 yards over the corner of a bunker and onto the green at the par-5 13th hole, setting up a two-putt birdie that gave him an eight shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open.At least he had plenty of time to savor...

Read More..

Maine gas prices up almost 3 cents per gallon

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The cost of a gallon of gas in Maine has jumped nearly three cents in the past week.Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reports Monday that the average retail cost of a gallon of gas rose to $ 3.55. The price is based on a survey of more than 1,200 gas stations in the state.Even though the national average rose more than four cents in the same time span, the average price...

Read More..

Why haven't we learned from fires?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSPyrotechnics, overcrowding, poor exits have contributed to tragic fires in recent yearsYou would think the world would have learned from past incidents, John Barylick saysConcertgoers have to be their own fire marshals, he saysEditor's note: John Barylick, author of "Killer Show," a book on the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, is an attorney who represented victims in wrongful...

Read More..

Butler's 19 points lead Bulls over Bobcats

To Jimmy Butler, it's simple.Whether he's averaging 45.2 minutes in the five games he started for Luol Deng or playing 31 minutes,...

Read More..

Army says political tussle taking Egypt to brink

CAIRO, Egypt (Reuters) - Egypt's army chief said political strife was pushing the state to the brink of collapse - a stark warning from the institution that ran the country until last year, as Cairo's first elected leader struggles to contain bloody street violence. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, appointed by President Mohamed Mursi last year to head the military, added in a statement...

Read More..