3/18 Yahoo! News: Most Popular

Air Force nurse charged in 3 patients' drug deaths (AP) March 17, 2009 at 7:32 pm AP - An Air Force nurse has been charged with murder for allegedly giving lethal amounts of medication to three terminally ill patients in his care over one month last summer, military officials said Tuesday. Health care overhaul may cost about $1.5 trillion (AP) March 17, 2009 at 7:02 pm AP - Guaranteeing health insurance for all Americans may cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade, health experts say. Wall Street resumes rally following housing report (AP) March 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm AP - You know things have changed on Wall Street when the housing industry saves the day. U.S. preparing integrated plan on Mexico drug war (Reuters) March 17, 2009 at 6:39 pm Reuters - The U.S. government is working on an integrated plan to address Mexico's escalating war with drug traffickers and could complete work on the initiative as early as this week, a top U.S. military official said on Tuesday. Protests greet Bush's first speech as ex-president (Reuters) March 17, 2009 at 5:59 pm Reuters - More than 100 protesters chanted "war criminal" and flung shoes in Calgary on Tuesday, angry that former U.S. President George W. Bush was in the Canadian city to give his first speech since leaving the White House. Study: 'Smart drug' Provigil may be habit-forming (AP) March 17, 2009 at 5:59 pm AP - A so-called "smart drug" popular with young people may carry more of an addiction risk than thought, a small government study suggests. Scans of 10 healthy men showed that the prescription drug Provigil caused changes in the brain's pleasure center, very much like potentially habit-forming classic stimulants. Modafinil, the drug's generic name, is sometimes used as an illegal study aid by college students. Lead is feared in children's books (AP) March 17, 2009 at 3:09 pm AP - Could a vintage, dog-eared copy of "The Cat in the Hat" or "Where the Wild Things Are" be hazardous to your children? NY atty gen says 73 AIG execs got $1M bonuses (AP) March 17, 2009 at 3:05 pm AP - Troubled insurance giant American International Group paid bonuses of $1 million or more to 73 employees, including 11 who no longer work for the company, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. 'American Idol' launching trading card line (AP) March 17, 2009 at 2:07 pm AP - "American Idol" fans will soon be able to trade Carrie Underwoods for Danny Gokeys. Medvedev orders large-scale Russian rearmament (AFP) March 17, 2009 at 1:43 pm AFP - President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday announced a "large-scale" rearmament and renewal of Russia's nuclear arsenal, accusing NATO of pushing ahead with expansion near Russian borders. Natasha Richardson hospitalized after ski accident (AP) March 17, 2009 at 1:07 pm AP - British actress Natasha Richardson was hospitalized after falling on a beginners trail at the famed Mont Tremblant ski resort during a lesson, the resort and published reports said Tuesday. Grassley: AIG execs should repent, not kill selves (AP) March 17, 2009 at 12:57 pm AP - Sen. Charles Grassley wants AIG executives to apologize for the collapse of the insurance giant — but said Tuesday that "obviously" he didn't really mean that they should kill themselves. Congress threatens to tax AIG executives' bonuses (AP) March 17, 2009 at 12:53 pm AP - Congressional Democrats vowed Tuesday to all but strip AIG executives of their $165 million in bonuses as expressions of outrage swelled in Congress over eye-catching extra income for employees of a firm that has received billions in taxpayer bailout funds. Caterpillar to lay off 2,454 workers in 3 states (AP) March 17, 2009 at 12:48 pm AP - Caterpillar Inc. on Tuesday announced plans to lay off more than 2,400 employees at five plants in Illinois, Indiana and Georgia as the heavy equipment maker continues to cut costs amid the global economic downturn. On Africa trip, pope says condoms won't solve AIDS (AP) March 17, 2009 at 12:05 pm AP - Pope Benedict XVI said on his way to Africa Tuesday that condoms were not the answer in the continent's fight against HIV, his first explicit statement on an issue that has divided even clergy working with AIDS patients. Madagascar president hands power over to military (AP) March 17, 2009 at 11:48 am AP - Madagascar's president announced Tuesday that he was dissolving the government and handing power to the military after weeks of struggle with the leader of the opposition on the impoverished Indian Ocean island. Family of Conn. chimp attack victim seeks $50M (AP) March 17, 2009 at 11:26 am AP - The family of a woman mauled by a chimpanzee filed a lawsuit seeking $50 million in damages against the primate's owner, saying she was negligent and reckless for lacking the ability to control "a wild animal with violent propensities." Housing starts surge; wholesale prices edge up (AP) March 17, 2009 at 11:25 am AP - Housing construction posted a surprisingly large increase in February, bolstered by strength in all parts of the country except the West. Stimulus plan: Spend now, details later (promise) (AP) March 17, 2009 at 11:22 am AP - President Barack Obama wants governors to hurry up and begin building bridges and schools to revive the economy. His administration is learning that spending $787 billion as quickly and transparently as promised is no easy task. IRS giving relief to some Madoff investors (AP) March 17, 2009 at 11:02 am AP - The Internal Revenue Service is allowing tax relief and refunds for some investors who paid taxes on earnings from their investments with Bernard Madoff that turned out to be nonexistent, the head of the agency told Congress Tuesday. Polar bears' plight subject of closed-door talks (AP) March 17, 2009 at 10:59 am AP - Northern nations trying to find ways to protect the world's polar bears in a warming climate resolved Tuesday to hold their talks behind closed doors — over Norway's objections. New-home construction logs unexpected gain (AP) March 17, 2009 at 10:14 am AP - The number of new housing projects that builders broke ground on in February rose sharply, defying economists' forecasts for yet another drop in activity. Nokia to cut 1,700 jobs in sinking phone market (Reuters) March 17, 2009 at 7:16 am Reuters - Nokia Oyj will slash 1,700 jobs globally over the coming few months because of falling demand, the world's top cellphone maker said on Tuesday. AIG bonuses: Bring on the lawyers (Politico) March 17, 2009 at 5:12 am Politico - The only real difference between Bernie Madoff and the management of AIG is that when Bernie Madoff got caught, he pleaded guilty. When AIG got caught, it asked the government for $170 billion. Biden: Economy tougher than FDR's (Politico) March 17, 2009 at 5:05 am Politico - Vice President Joe Biden’s discussed the economy in stark terms at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Monday night, in contrast with the upbeat tone coming from the White House over the past few days. Wisconsin's new slogan faces some pushback (AP) March 17, 2009 at 4:09 am AP - Wisconsin's new state slogan is already inspiring something, but it's not exactly unanimous praise.