Cost of 12 days of Christmas: $86,609
Given the economic downturn, even the most romantic might balk at the $86,609 price tag for the items in the carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Activist moves homeless into foreclosures
A Miami activist who has been executing a bailout plan of his own around Miami's empty streets: He is helping homeless people illegally move into foreclosed homes.
It's official: U.S. is in recession
A panel of the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday that the U.S. economy fell into a recession last year.
30-mile pile a symbol of FEMA delays
A 30-mile scar of debris along the Texas coast stands as a festering testament to what state and local officials say is FEMA's sluggish response to the 2008 hurricane season.
Scoop: Britney had ulterior motive for TV special
"Britney: For the Record" might offer an inside glimpse into the pop star's life, but offering up tidbits about her failed relationship with Kevin Federline wasn't the goal of the documentary.
AP: Feds ignored meltdown warnings
The Bush administration ignored remarkably prescient warnings that foretold the financial meltdown, according to an Associated Press review of regulatory documents.
Birmingham mayor faces bribery charges
The mayor of Alabama's largest city was arrested Monday on federal bribery and fraud charges connected to a sewer bond deal that has driven the surrounding county to the brink of bankruptcy.
Winter weather slows travel in U.S.
Stranded airline passengers lingered in Chicago's airports Monday as a storm tapered off after delivering a wintry mix to Illinois including snow, gusty winds and ice that led to at least two traffic deaths.
Shoppers in trampling death sought
A worker trampled to death when customers stormed a Wal-Mart for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving had no experience in crowd control and was placed at the entrance because of his size, police say.
Opinion: BCS should reconsider 'plus-one' — fast
Opinion: Plan would go long way toward fixing system that's leaking credibility badly
