Around the Nation

The Feds Can Tell Ernest Hemingway's Cats What To Do; Here's Why

11:06am December 11, 2012

by Mark Memmott

Cats descended from one given to the writer live at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West. A visitor filed a complaint with the law. Now, judges have said the U.S. Department of Agriculture can regulate those felines. Yes, Hemingway's cats are a federal case. It's a long story.

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Detroit Tries To Stave Off State Takeover Of Finances

10:55am December 11, 2012

by Quinn Klinefelter

If the mayor and City Council can't agree on a plan to reduce the budget deficit, state officials are poised to take away their power over Detroit's purse strings. The mayor and the council blame each other for the impasse. And with the deficit deepening, residents' frustration continues to mount.

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Feds Say 'No' To Partial Medicaid Expansion

10:55am December 11, 2012

by Julie Rovner

In the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling this summer, it decided that states' plans for expansion of the Medicaid program should be optional. That led governors to ask if they could expand the program in part but still receive federal funding. The administration has said no.

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A boy jumps into the sea from high above in the harbor of Mousehole, Cornwall, England.

What Happens If We Fall Off The 'Fiscal Cliff'?

10:55am December 11, 2012

by Tamara Keith

President Obama and congressional Republicans have been trying to negotiate a deal to avert the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff." But what happens Jan. 1 if no agreement is reached? Some experts say not much will happen — at least not immediately.

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FTC: Apps For Children Raise Privacy Concerns

10:55am December 11, 2012

by Martin Kaste

The Federal Trade Commission has released a report taking to task the makers of mobile apps for children. It says apps are not transparent enough about the personal information they collect. It's the latest sign the Obama administration is concerned about children's privacy online.

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Phoenix Man Lights Cactus To Celebrate Hanukkah

10:55am December 11, 2012

Mel Kline's cactus has a middle trunk and eight arms — perfect for a menorah. And at 30 feet tall, it attracts hundreds of visitors. The Arizona Republic reports Kline bought the cactus 35 years ago. His wife had wanted a maple tree.

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Raising Taxes A Key Sticking Point In Fiscal Cliff Talks

8:44pm December 10, 2012

Congress had hoped to be out of town for the holidays by the end of this week. That's not looking likely anymore, with the negotiations on efforts to avert automatic tax hikes and spending cuts moving slowly, if at all. Tamara Keith talks to Audie Cornish.

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Jenny Adams in the Wayland Bar in Alphabet City, where she stored piles of relief supplies to distribute. Adams raised $10,000 through a crowdfunding website to help her neighbors affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Everyone Chip In, Please: Crowdfunding Sandy

7:40pm December 10, 2012

by Alex Goldmark

Crowdfunding is a simple way for anyone to ask for money online from friends, family and even strangers. One woman raised $10,000 to help her neighbors affected by Hurricane Sandy. She's been hand-delivering checks to owners of damaged businesses and people who just need the extra lift.

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Florida Senior Citizen Kicks It With The Rockettes

7:57am December 10, 2012

Pauline Clark, 87, dreamed of dancing with the Rockettes. Clark taught ballroom dancing for years, and still jitterbugs at her senior center in Florida. So when the Wish of a Lifetime Foundation arranged a trip to New York, and a backstage workshop with the Rockettes, Clark was ready. She grabbed her walker and started kicking.

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Sports

NFL Copes With Another Tragedy

6:47am December 10, 2012

For a second straight week, the world of football is coping with sad news. Two Dallas Cowboys players were involved in a one-car accident. One of the players was killed; the driver was arrested for drunk driving. This comes on the heels of last week's murder-suicide involving a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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