Missouri executes inmate for 1993 farm slaying
BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri executed an inmate early Wednesday only a few miles from the farm where prosecutors say he orchestrated the 1993 killing of a couple whose cows he wanted to steal.... 4/23/2014 3:03 AM

Republican activists push party on gay marriage
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- As bans against gay marriage crumble and public opinion on the issue shifts rapidly, some Republicans are pushing the party to drop its opposition to same-sex unions, part of a broader campaign to get the GOP to appeal to younger voters by de-emphasizing social issues.... 4/23/2014 2:04 AM

High court tosses $3.4M award to child porn victim
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday said a federal law limits how much money victims of child pornography can recover from people who viewed their images online, throwing out a nearly $3.4 million judgment in favor of a woman whose childhood rape has been widely seen on the Internet. Two dissenting justices called on Congress to change the law to benefit victims.... 4/23/2014 11:19 AM

Spacewalking astronauts complete urgent repair job
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Spacewalking astronauts replaced a dead computer outside the International Space Station on Wednesday and got their orbiting home back up to full strength.... 4/23/2014 11:29 AM

Wellness programs grow more popular with employers
That little voice nagging you to put down the cake and lace up the running shoes is increasingly coming from your employer and is likely to grow louder with a looming change under the federal health care overhaul.... 4/23/2014 11:27 AM

US weighs clemency for inmates jailed for 10 years
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department is encouraging nonviolent federal inmates who have behaved in prison, have no significant criminal history and have already served more than 10 years behind bars to apply for clemency, officials announced Wednesday.... 4/23/2014 11:15 AM

Federal judge to hear Oregon gay marriage case
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A federal judge in Oregon is ready to hear arguments about the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but no one will be in court to defend the measure.... 4/23/2014 1:45 AM

9 indicted in kidnapping of NC prosecutor's father
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- As the kidnappers pulled into a quiet, upscale golf course community, they thought they were about to abduct an assistant district attorney who sent a high-ranking gang member to prison for life, authorities said.... 4/23/2014 7:21 AM

Soldier convicted in WikiLeaks case gets new name
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) -- A Kansas judge has granted a request to formally change the name of the soldier convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks from Bradley Edward Manning to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.... 4/23/2014 11:31 AM

Airport security vulnerabilities not uncommon
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- For all the tens of billions of dollars that the nation has spent on screening passengers and their bags, few airports made a comparable investment to secure the airplanes themselves.... 4/23/2014 2:37 AM