WASHINGTON— Federal workers could face seven days of furloughs at the Housing and Urban Development Department, but Homeland Security personnel might see twice that number. At the Environmental … more

WASHINGTON — A burst of hiring last month added 236,000 U.S. jobs and reduced the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. The robust gains suggested that the economy can … more

SEOUL, South Korea — Seven years of U.N. sanctions against North Korea have done nothing to derail Pyongyang's drive for a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. They may have even … more

Willpower apparently can be bought. The chance to win or lose $20 a month enticed dieters in a yearlong study to drop an average of 9 pounds — four times more weight than others who were not … more

ATLANTA — While some states push to tighten gun control laws after the Connecticut school massacre, some lawmakers in gun-friendly Georgia want to ease rules preventing some mentally ill people … more

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's acting president says Hugo Chavez's embalmed body will be permanently displayed in a glass casket so that "his people will always have him." Vice President … more

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama man who held a boy hostage in a bunker warned authorities some "very bad things" would happen if they didn't meet his demands, a sheriff said Thursday, shedding more … more

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho has become the first state to have its so-called fetal pain law banning abortions after 20 weeks struck down by the federal courts. The decision from U.S. District Judge B. … more

CASPER, Wyo. — A Wyoming company is considering construction of a project that would explore how to save energy generated from a wind farm in Platte County.Winhyne Energy Group, based in … more

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Federal regulators say Wyoming Ethanol LLC will pay $49,000 to settle allegations that it didn't properly report toxic substances at its plant in Torrington or have a tough … more