Top news 12/20/11

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House begins debating payroll tax cut (AP) Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:21:45 GMT AP - With neither side showing signs of yielding, a bitterly divided House debated a Republican effort Tuesday to force the Senate to negotiate a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits that expire on New Year's Day.

Finally, some bipartisanship — oops, nevermind (AP) Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:22:30 GMT AP - Sen. Mitch McConnell does not high-five easily or often. But a deal to keep American workers' taxes from rising on Jan. 1 was reason enough for the coolest negotiator in the Senate to lift a hand on camera and slap — or pat — some skin.

Kim Jong Il body displayed behind glass, flowers (AP) Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:20:50 GMT AP - North Korea displayed the body of ruler Kim Jong Il in a glass coffin surrounded by red flowers Tuesday, and his young heir was one of the first to pay respects — a strong indication that a smooth leadership transition was under way.

top news 12/19/11

Kim Jong Il, N. Korean dictator, dies at 69 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:52:43 EST Death of longtime "Dear Leader", known for a love of luxury and his secretive, absolute and defiant rule, leaves world wondering

All eyes on Kim Jong Un Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:36:27 EST Communist party leaders rally around the young, untested, unknown heir-apparent to North Korea's throne

There goes the neighborhood Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:42:17 EST Bank foreclosures and abandonment are causing high home vacancy levels in neighborhoods across the country

top news 12/9/11

cbs

U.K. to eurozone: We're out, good luck Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:24:52 EST France, Germany convince 24 other nations to at least consider forging new euro pact, but U.K. balks at financial rules

Slain Va. Tech cop an Army vet, dad of 5 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:07:29 EST Police hunt motive in apparent murder suicide, say no link yet between officer Deriek Crouse and shooter

Qaddafi son denies Mexico flight plan Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:40:56 EST Lawyer says Al-Saadi Qaddafi "vigorously denies" plot to illegally enter Mexico; Currently has refugee status in Niger

top news 12/8/11

msnbc

Corzine: I don't know where missing MF money is Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:33:39 GMT Former NJ Governor Jon Corzine tells lawmakers he does not know where the millions of dollars missing from MF Global accounts is. He adds that he was stunned when he heard about the missing funds.

HBT: Angels to sign Pujols for 10 years, $250 million Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:14:24 GMT HBT: Albert Pujols has agreed to sign with the Angels, getting a 10-year contract worth between $250 million and $260 million.

Report: Air Force dumped troops' remains in landfill Thu, 8 Dec 2011 09:34:19 GMT The incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops were dumped in a Virginia landfill, according to government records, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

top news 12/7/11

cbs

Pearl Harbor survivors rejoin comrades Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:29:33 EST 70 years after attack which claimed 2,390 American lives, 5 survivors' remains being returned to the sea, and the sunken ships

Kids' cereals: Dessert for breakfast? Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:09:26 EST Report says one Kellogg's brand has more sugar per cup than a Twinkie, 44 others pack more sugar than 3 Chips Ahoy! cookies

Inside Syria: Ex-soldiers joining rebels Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:36:38 EST After refusing to fire on their own people, former Syrian soldiers take up arms against the regime of Bashar Al-Assad

top news 12/2/11

cbs

Unemployment rate drops to 8.6% Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:45:46 EST Jobless rate at lowest level since March 2009, as employers added 120K jobs in November - but 315K gave up looking for work

Pakistan denies it knew of strikes Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:32:27 EST Pakistan's army flatly rejects claim by U.S. officials that they were warned of pending strikes which left 24 Pakistani troops dead

Does the Tea Party still matter? Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:41 EST Lacking the energy of 2010 - or a presidential candidate to call its own - the Tea Party hopes to make an impact once again