Barbara Rodriguez

Shoppers out in force for after-Christmas bargains; East Coast snow closes malls, crimps plans. An East Coast snowstorm put a damper on after-Christmas shopping Sunday. But shoppers across the rest of the country searched clearance racks and spent gift cards in the afterglow of the best holiday season for retailers since 2007.

Holiday season 2010 marks the return of shoppers; stores could see record spending. Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the holiday Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop.

Snow, powerful winds, icy roads _ not airport security protest _ slow Thanksgiving travelers. A planned boycott of airport security scanners was a bust, but holiday travelers in the western U.S. had to contend with a chaotic mix of snow, sleet and ice.

Despite furor over full-body scans, airport protest never takes off, lines move smoothly. The big Opt-Out looked like a big bust Wednesday as most of the Thanksgiving travelers selected for full-body scans and pat-down searches chose to submit to them rather than create havoc on one of the busiest flying days of the year. In fact, in some parts of the U.S., bad weather was shaping up as a bigger threat to travelers' hopes of getting to their destinations on time.

Despite furor over full-body scans, airport protest never takes off; lines move smoothly. The big Opt-Out looked like a big bust Wednesday as most of the Thanksgiving travelers who were selected for full-body scans and pat-down searches chose to submit to them rather than create havoc on one of the busiest flying days of the year.

East Coast states totaling damage from nor'easter, already estimated at tens of millions. It was a desperate, ultimately futile battle ? machine against nature ? and Ocean City kept it up long after the outcome had been decided.

East Coast states totaling damage from nor'easter, already estimated at tens of millions. It was a desperate, ultimately futile battle ? machine against nature ? and Ocean City kept it up long after the outcome had been decided.

AP ENTERPRISE: Hundreds of schools already planning swine flu shots, to help keep doors open. Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio.

AP ENTERPRISE: Hundreds of schools already planning swine flu shots, to help keep doors open. Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio.

AP ENTERPRISE: Hundreds of schools already planning swine flu shots, to help keep doors open. Hundreds of schools are heeding the government's call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio.

Car buyers returned to showrooms in July, boosting sales as big rebates drive business. The government's "cash-for-clunkers" program drew car and truck buyers back to American showrooms last month, making July the best month for auto sales in nearly a year and offering powerful evidence that the rebates were working as senators debate whether to continue them.

A dazed Harold Harris looked up and saw the roof of the Slim Jim snack factory falling down. The doorway was buried in debris. People were crying and screaming.

Immigration foes use swine flu to renew arguments that Mexican border should be sealed. The swine flu virus has infected the immigration debate, with talk show comments like "fajita flu" and "illegal aliens are the carriers" drawing vehement protests from Hispanic advocates.

The swine flu virus has infected the immigration debate, with talk show comments like "fajita flu" and "illegal aliens are the carriers" drawing vehement protests from Hispanic advocates.

In trenches of the real economy, AIG's bailout bonuses draw taxpayers' wrath. For many Americans who could use a bailout just to balance their checkbooks and make it through the month, the thought of their tax dollars going to million-dollar bonuses for AIG executives is enough to make them furious.

Survey finds many states lagging in posting important public records online. Americans can easily learn about their state songs and state flowers with a quick search on the Internet, but most will have a harder time checking whether their children's school buses are safe or a local gas station is charging too much.

Americans can easily learn about their state songs and state flowers with a quick search on the Internet, but most will have a harder time checking whether their children's school buses are safe or a local gas station is charging too much.