SAMSON, Ala. (AP) -- A gunman killed at least nine people on a terrifying rampage across two Alabama counties Tuesday, burning down his mother's home, killing members of his own family on their porch and shooting apparent strangers as he drove by, authorities said. He then fatally shot himself....

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For nearly 150 years, a story has circulated about a hidden Civil War message engraved inside Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. On Tuesday, museum curators confirmed it was true. A watchmaker used tiny tools to carefully pry open the antique watch at the National Museum of American History, and a descendant of the engraver read aloud the message from a metal plate underneath the watch face....

BOSTON (AP) -- The street artist who created the famous "Hope" poster of President Barack Obama expects to face new vandalism charges relating to the red, white and blue image, but his lawyer said Tuesday that the accusations would cover a period of time when the artist wasn't even in Boston....

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The man accused of gunning down an Illinois pastor during his sermon as horrified churchgoers watched left an index card marked "Last Day Will" at his home, according to court documents filed Tuesday....

FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Heavy snow driven by wind gusting to 40 mph brought parts of the upper Midwest to a halt Tuesday, closing courts, schools, businesses and two major highways....

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Southern California woman who gave birth to octuplets two months ago told television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw that she was getting ready to move into a new home that'll be inspected before two babies are released from the hospital....

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The trial of a man accused of fatally shooting his identical twin brother began Tuesday with prosecutors revealing new fingerprints linking the man to the killing while the defendant's lawyer insisted another man had masterminded the attack....

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Employees of a Pennsylvania pet store expecting a shipment of tropical fish and salt water got a man's dead body instead....

EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- Sixteen patients exposed to a mismanaged insulin needle program have tested positive for hepatitis C, Army officials said Tuesday....

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- The attorney for alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent Ali al-Marri said Tuesday he hopes what his client endured for five years will never again be repeated in the United States....

CHICAGO (AP) -- Travelers breezed through airport terminals Wednesday and drivers cruised open roads, the effects of a sour economy blamed for keeping people closer to home at the start of the annual Thanksgiving rush....

CHICAGO (AP) -- Travelers breezed through airport terminals Wednesday and drivers cruised open roads, the effects of a sour economy blamed for keeping people closer to home at the start of the annual Thanksgiving rush....

CHICAGO (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama chose former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker Wednesday to head a new White House panel to help create jobs and bring stability to the ailing financial system....

CHICAGO (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama chose former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker Wednesday to head a new White House panel to help create jobs and bring stability to the ailing financial system....

DALLAS (AP) -- Both trials had the same pro-Hamas videos, the same Israeli witness and the same allegations of how a Muslim charity in Texas funneled millions of dollars to terrorists overseas....

DALLAS (AP) -- Both trials had the same pro-Hamas videos, the same Israeli witness and the same allegations of how a Muslim charity in Texas funneled millions of dollars to terrorists overseas....

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- With just two more days together, the astronauts of the linked space shuttle and space station busily collected as many recycled urine samples as possible from a machine that they coaxed into operation....

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- With just two more days together, the astronauts of the linked space shuttle and space station busily collected as many recycled urine samples as possible from a machine that they coaxed into operation....

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Reno police say they have arrested a suspect in the January kidnapping and killing of a 19-year-old college student who was abducted as she slept on a friend's couch....

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Reno police say they have arrested a suspect in the January kidnapping and killing of a 19-year-old college student who was abducted as she slept on a friend's couch....