GOP congressmen criticize settlement with Sacramento mayor's nonprofit over use of grants. Two congressional Republicans say federal prosecutors rushed into a settlement with a nonprofit operated by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson that had been accused of misspending government grants.

The nation's weather. Heavy rains was forecast to continue over the Gulf States on Saturday while the Pacific Northwest was expected to see scattered precipitation.

Holiday displays include tree made of feathers, Rock Center, Obamas' first National Tree event. This season's Christmas tree displays include trees made from feathers at a historic home in Indianapolis, a thank-you tree in Boston sent from Nova Scotia, and the Obamas' first National Christmas Tree ceremony in Washington.

Mormons, Boy Scouts named in lawsuits claiming childhood sex abuse by youth leaders. The Mormon church and Boy Scouts of America were named as defendants in lawsuits Monday claiming childhood sexual abuse by youth leaders decades ago.

A woman who helped her husband kidnap a teenage girl in Utah seven years ago in one of most notorious cases in recent US criminal history pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday.

A woman who helped her husband kidnap a teenage girl in Utah seven years ago in one of most notorious cases in recent US criminal history pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday.

Firm: Median home price in California rises in October from September. A tracking firm says the median home price in California increased more than 2 percent last month from September to its highest level in nearly a year.

Sacramento Kings owner Maloof Sports & Entertainment will no longer operate WNBA's Monarchs. The Sacramento Monarchs folded on Friday, a shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of its original eight franchises.

NFL Hall of Fame-nominated Jerry Rice to be host, player in Nationwide tourney in 2010. Hall of Fame-nominated wide receiver Jerry Rice is making his professional golf debut next year as a tournament host and player at a Nationwide Tour event in northern California.

The New York Times plans to roll out local editions in Chicago and other major US cities, the newspaper said Wednesday, in addition to a San Francisco edition it intends to launch later this year.

Calif. judge grants 'Hills' star Patridge 3-year restraining order against alleged stalker. A judge on Wednesday granted a three-year restraining order against a man accused of stalking "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge, calling evidence presented against him "disturbing."

Basketball player born without a left hand readies for college debut with Manhattan. Kevin Laue isn't supposed to be here, standing on the court practicing for his first season of Division I basketball.

Investigators probing old Calif. kidnappings say bones found on Garrido property likely animal. Northern California investigators probing two old kidnapping cases say some of the bone fragments found on the property of a man charged in a separate abduction are likely from animals.

After memorable decade of meetings, Cal still looking for next big win over USC. California's meeting with USC in 2003 began in sunshine and ended in the gloaming, with the weird luminescence of Memorial Stadium's temporary light fixtures lending a surreal tint to Tyler Fredrickson's triple-overtime field goal that sealed the Golden Bears' biggest win of the decade.

In Calif., conflict over a massive water canal has led the state to sue reluctant land owners. Peter Hunn has a simple wish: He'd like his children to farm the land in California's delta that his great, great grandfather settled more than a century ago.

Parents find peace of mind with electronic devices that locate children, but limitations exist. With a computer or cell phone and an electronic tracking device, you can locate a missing pet, follow the path of a stolen car, find a skier buried in an avalanche and rescue a hiker lost in the woods.

Parents find peace of mind with electronic devices that locate children, but limitations exist. With a computer or cell phone and an electronic tracking device, you can locate a missing pet, follow the path of a stolen car, find a skier buried in an avalanche and rescue a hiker lost in the woods.

AP News in Brief. 8 US soldiers die in militant attack on outposts in remote eastern Afghanistan

Parents find peace of mind with electronic devices that locate children, but limitations exist. With a computer or cell phone and an electronic tracking device, you can locate a missing pet, follow the path of a stolen car, find a skier buried in an avalanche and rescue a hiker lost in the woods.

Driver convicted of 11 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in fatal California bus crash. The driver of a bus that crashed in Northern California last year, killing 11 people, has been convicted of 11 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter.