Judge temporarily blocks Mississippi execution (AP)

AP - A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the execution of a Mississippi inmate who killed two men in a 1995 robbery spree. The man's attorneys sought the order, not arguing guilt or innocence, but that corrections officials prevented the inmate from getting medical tests that could prove he is mentally ill.

Murder trial of LA police detective begins (AP)

AP - Former police detective Stephanie Lazarus was either a heartbroken, jilted lover driven to kill her romantic rival, or she was an innocent woman snared in a web of mishandled scientific evidence.

Marine hazing trial delayed after charges expanded (AP)

AP - The court martial for a Marine sergeant accused of hazing a fellow Marine who committed suicide in Afghanistan was delayed Monday after the prosecution asked to expand the details of the charges.

Virginia Senate votes to repeal limit on gun purchases (Reuters)

Reuters - Virginia lawmakers on Monday moved toward lifting a 19-year-old law limiting handgun purchases to one per month, despite a recent history of campus shootings and critics' concerns that the state will become a "gunrunners' paradise."

US judge says he can't block Texas sonogram law (AP)

AP - A federal judge on Monday upheld the Texas law requiring women to have a sonogram before having an abortion, saying an appeals court had forced him to declare the law constitutional.

Washington D.C. workers probed in benefits fraud (Reuters)

Reuters - About 130 municipal employees in Washington, D.C. may have scammed the city by collecting jobless benefits while still at work, officials said on Monday, in the latest controversy to hit the local government.

Parents protest at scandalized LA grade school (AP)

AP - Many children stayed home Monday while parents demanded more protection at an elementary school where two teachers are suspected of molesting students in class.

Exclusive: Facebook governance a concern for Calif pension fund (Reuters)

Reuters - Facebook's corporate governance rules, which give shareholders little say in how the social networking website would be run as a public company, are raising the hackles of one of the largest U.S. investors, the California State Teachers' Retirement System.

'Halftime in America' ad creates political debate (AP)

AP - People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.

'Halftime in America' ad creates political debate (AP)

AP - People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.

'Halftime in America' ad creates political debate (AP)

AP - People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.

Former lobbyist Abramoff balks at naming ex-associates (Reuters)

Reuters - Jack Abramoff, the former lobbyist at the center of a U.S. bribery scandal six years ago, said on Monday he does not want to publicly identify former associates because he does not want to see more people hurt.

Exclusive: MGM secures $500 mln loan to expand film, TV slate (Reuters)

Reuters - Metro-Goldwyn Mayer said its lenders agreed to loan the studio $500 million to retire debt it took on when it emerged from bankruptcy about a year ago and to expand its film and TV production.

U.S. judge grants more time for accused Tucson shooter (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge has agreed that the man charged with a deadly shooting spree last year that gravely wounded then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has made "measureable progress" in regaining his mental fitness to stand trial.

Oklahoma to cut income taxes by closing "loopholes" (Reuters)

Reuters - Oklahoma's pro-business governor announced a plan on Monday to dramatically cut state income tax rates and eventually do away with the tax altogether, and said the state would pay for the cuts by closing "loopholes."

Tucson shooting suspect to remain at Mo. facility (AP)

AP - A federal judge ruled Monday that the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that wounded former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will spend four more months at a federal prison facility where officials are forcibly medicating him.

Tea party: Warming or resigned to Mitt Romney? (AP)

AP - Long skeptical of Mitt Romney, tea party activists are either warming up to the GOP presidential front-runner or reluctantly backing him after abandoning hope of finding a nominee they like better.

Deeper Iran sanctions; US targets its central bank (AP)

AP - Targeting Iran's economy, the U.S. ordered tough new penalties Monday to further pinch the country's financial system and encourage Israel to give sanctions more time before any military action against Iran's nuclear program.

Mortgage deal faces setbacks, again (Reuters)

Reuters - A multi-state mortgage settlement in the works for more than a year will likely be pushed back again as dissident U.S. states continue to press specific concerns and ignore a Monday deadline to decide whether they will sign it.

Yum Brands posts 30 percent 4th-qtr profit rise (AP)

AP - Yum Brands Inc., owner of the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC fast-food chains, said Monday that its fourth-quarter profit rose 30 percent with a recipe of strong overseas growth mixed with a sales turnaround at Pizza Hut in the U.S.

Greece caves in on civil service firings (AP)

AP - Greece's coalition government caved in to demands to cut civil service jobs, announcing 15,000 positions would go this year, amid mounting international pressure to agree on austerity measures needed to secure major new debt agreements.

A push for family input to detect dementia earlier (AP)

AP - Alexis McKenzie's mother had mild dementia, but things sounded OK when she phoned home: Dad was with her, finishing his wife's sentences as they talked about puttering through the day and a drive to the store.

Critics worry Senate ad will revive Asian-bashing (AP)

AP - Criticism of a Senate campaign ad featuring a young Asian woman talking in broken English about China taking away American jobs grew Monday as some warned it could revive discrimination against Asian-Americans.

Critics worry Senate ad will revive Asian-bashing (AP)

AP - Criticism of a Senate campaign ad featuring a young Asian woman talking in broken English about China taking away American jobs grew Monday as some warned it could revive discrimination against Asian-Americans.

President's Economic Influence Isn't Limited -- Obama Just Misuses It (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | Some would have us believe the president plays a much smaller role in determining what our economy does than most people believe. I think Americans believe the president has a lot of actual power to correct the economy, and that assumption is incorrect. But many chief executives have used the Oval Office to manipulate change and foster growth that isn't specifically empowered to the presidency.

Ford won't bid to replace military Humvees (Reuters)

Reuters - Ford Motor Co said on Monday it had decided not to participate in a new Pentagon competition to replace the U.S. military's fleet of workhorse Humvee vehicles.

Key states move closer to foreclosure-abuse deal

California and New York, the key holdouts in a long-awaited settlement over foreclosure abuses, moved closer Monday to backing a deal that would force the five largest mortgage lenders to reduce loans for about 1 million households.

Amanda Knox appeals slander conviction in Italy (Reuters)

Reuters - Lawyers for Amanda Knox, who was cleared of murder in October by an Italian court, on Monday asked an appeals court there to overturn her slander conviction as well, a spokesman said.

Senate sends FAA bill to Obama (Politico)

Politico - The $64 billion, four-year bill should officially restore stability to the beleaguered agency.

Congress passes FAA bill that speeds switch to GPS (AP)

AP - A bill to speed the nation's switch from radar to an air traffic control system based on GPS technology, and to open U.S. skies to unmanned drone flights within four years, received final congressional approval Monday.

Key states move closer to foreclosure-abuse deal (AP)

AP - California and New York, the key holdouts in a long-awaited settlement over foreclosure abuses, moved closer Monday to backing a deal that would force the five largest mortgage lenders to reduce loans for about 1 million households.

Despite ceremony, NY fort's skeletons not buried (AP)

AP - For decades, tourists visiting this popular Adirondack village could gape at the skeletons of soldiers from nearby French and Indian War sites. Then in 1993, a somber reburial ceremony was held to finally put the remains to rest.

$16 house? Dallas area man evicted after squatting (AP)

AP - After paying $16 to file a one-page claim to an empty, $340,000 home in an upscale Dallas suburb, Kenneth Robinson moved in furniture, hung a "No Trespassing" sign in the front window and invited television cameras inside for a tour.

2nd wave of evictions is sweeping away Occupiers (AP)

AP - A tent city that's among the longest-lived Occupy protest encampments is coming down as part of a new wave of eviction orders against demonstrators aligned with the movement in communities including Miami, Washington and Pittsburgh.

Electric car maker Fisker: Layoffs in Del., Calif. (AP)

AP - Fisker Automotive, an electric car maker that received a half-billion-dollar loan from the federal government, said Monday that it has laid off workers in Delaware and California.

Greeks delay bailout talks as Merkel demands action (Reuters)

Reuters - German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Greece Monday to make up its mind fast on accepting the painful terms for a new EU/IMF bailout, but the country's political leaders responded by delaying their decision for yet another day.

Earlier abuse claims to be allowed at priest trial (AP)

AP - Prosecutors overseeing a child sex-abuse case involving three Roman Catholic priests can reference molestation claims against more than 20 other clergymen to try to establish a pattern of how such allegations were handled, a judge ruled Monday.

Housing plan helps nearly 1 million homeowners (Reuters)

Reuters - Nearly 1 million U.S. homeowners have won permanent reductions on mortgage payments since the Obama administration launched its foreclosure prevention program in 2009, the U.S. Treasury said on Monday, only a fraction of the total it aimed to reach.

Tax reform in this election year: It's not likely (AP)

AP - Tax reform sounds like a good idea to lots of people, but where to start? Eliminate the popular deduction for home mortgages? End the write-off for charitable contributions? How about expanding the Social Security payroll tax?

The Worthless Junk the 1 Percent Waste Their Money On (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | Strictly speaking, the 1 percent -- people whose incomes put them above the other 99 percent of us, starting at about $340,000 a year as of 2009, according to IRS data -- don't actually spend much of their money.

Dozens of Washington DC workers probed in benefits fraud (Reuters)

Reuters - About 130 Washington DC municipal employees may have scammed the city by collecting jobless benefits while still at work, the District of Columbia said on Monday, in the latest scandal to hit the local government.

Wall St edges lower after string of gains (Reuters)

Reuters - Stocks closed slightly lower on Monday as lingering questions about Europe's debt crisis and corporate earnings overshadowed growing optimism about economic growth after a five-week rally.

Gingrich shunned lobbying, but hired lobbyists (AP)

AP - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says his consulting group never lobbied for clients. But his business hired state and federal lobbyists to work with clients, and some staff left to take lobbying jobs, according to lobbying disclosures and corporate reports.

US oil prices fall below $97 (AP)

AP - U.S. oil prices fell below $97 per barrel Monday as growing supplies offset moves by President Barack Obama and other Western leaders to make it tougher for Iran to sell crude. Here's how energy contracts traded.

Sex Education Less Effective in Conservative States

Sex education is failing to reduce adolescent birthrates in conservative states, according to a new study.

IMF's Blanchard sees "very large" Greek haircut (Reuters)

Reuters - The IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, said on Monday it looks like the 'haircut' on Greek private debt will be "very large" as negotiations between bondholders and the government drag on to cut Greece's debt burden.

Gold falls as Greek debt crisis back in spotlight (AP)

AP - Gold prices fell Monday as the Greek debt crisis returned to the spotlight, renewing concerns about the impact that Europe's financial troubles could have on the global economy.

Report: Large charitable donations on the rise (AP)

AP - Money donated by the nation's most chartable people is starting to catch up with pre-recession giving, thanks in part to some very large bequests from a few donors.

Key states lean toward foreclosure deal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- California and New York appear ready to join in an agreement with national banks to settle widespread foreclosure processing abuses, officials said.

FACT CHECK: Gingrich overstates his Fla. results (AP)

AP - After losing Saturday's Nevada caucus race, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich sought solace in what he called an encouraging statistic: that his supporters were turning out to vote more enthusiastically than those of his chief rival, Mitt Romney.