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Three Alabama college students face dozens of years in prison if convicted on charges of burning five churches in the state. Their friends say they've thrown their lives away and don't understand why. The young men who face trial say it was a prank.

Hamas formally takes power as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas swears in the 24-member cabinet. Israel and much of the international community say Hamas is a terrorist organization and they will cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. Members of the new government say their goal is to serve their people.

Retail giant Wal-Mart has applied to get into the banking business. Reporter Alix Spiegel examines Wal-Mart's move, and the reasons behind the historical separation of commerce and banking.

From gardeners to dry wallers, there are millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S. workforce. Renee Montagne talks with Michael Fix of the Migration Policy Institute about what would happen if they all went away.

President Hu Jintao's first visit to the United States since taking office comes as many Americans are calling for tough action on China's trade policies. Economists say the monetary and business policies behind the imbalance have both hurt and helped some Americans.

Commentator Marion Winik only recently became aware of the connection between tomorrow's date and pot smoking. She isn't sure how this escaped her for so long.

The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether police are required to inform foreign nationals of their right to talk to their countries' consulates when arrested. A 1969 treaty provides that right; the court considers whether police bear the burden of informing the suspect of that right.

As dust settles from the death of al-Qaida figure Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the focus in Baghdad shifts to the Iraqi government and how the nation's leaders intend to fix overwhelming security problems.

Free after 27 years in a Louisiana prison for a murder he didn't commit, Gregory Bright has seen one big dream come true. For the new year, he may write about his experiences. "I think it's going to be revealed to me in what direction I need to go," he says.

Food writer John T. Edge tells Debbie Elliott about his plans for Super Bowl Sunday. No chips and beer for him. He's in search of the perfect steak.

In the depths of the Great Depression, the small Washington state town of Gig Harbor started a rooster-racing competition -- complete with "rooster girl" cheerleaders and a Roosterville town center for the "athletes" -- to attract attention and money to their coastal hamlet.

The Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings on President Bush's use of the National Security Agency to monitor domestic communications. Monday's lone witness is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

A Denmark newspaper's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad has continued to spark protests, despite the government's efforts to contain Muslim anger. Several thousand people rallied in Pakistan Tuesday, burning effigies of Denmark's prime minister.

At least three demonstrators are killed during a protest outside a NATO peacekeeping base in the northwestern part of Afghanistan. Unrest among Muslims continues in the country, prompted by the publication in European newspapers of caricatures of the Muhammad.

Muslims in the Middle East and Asia participate in more violent protests over a Danish cartoon of Muhammad. Commentator Joel Pett says the riots -- and deaths -- are evidence of the power of cartoons. He is a Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist for the Lexington Herald Leader and USA Today.

Congress continues to wrestle with the fallout from the bribery scandals involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Two Senate committees looked at the issue of ethics standards Wednesday, but found no easy answers.

Haitians jam polling stations as U.N. peacekeepers guard the country's first presidential election in nearly six years. Voting day got off to a rough start, creating havoc in many voting centers around the capital city. But election officials assured voters they would be able to cast their ballots.

Three studies of post-menopausal women show low-fat diets don't prevent heart disease, breast cancer or colon cancer. The report appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Two years ago, the same studies showed that hormone replacement therapy didn't prevent disease.

It's the 14th anniversary of the festival, billed as the largest Black History Month event in the United States. It features more than 150 movies by filmmakers from the Caribbean, Latin America, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Africa and the United States.

President Bush's budget includes proposed cuts to a variety of health programs. The biggest cut and the most controversial falls on Medicare. But in an election year, it's not clear that Congress will want to take on the politically sensitive program.

The Danish government tries to mollify Muslims angry over cartoons depicting Muhammad that were first published in a Danish newspaper. But it has not condemned their publication. As protest continues around the world, Copenhagen is demanding protection for its diplomats and citizens.

A court in London finds prominent British Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri guilty of 11 counts, including inciting murder. He is sentenced to seven years in jail. Al-Masri, who maintained his innocence, is still wanted by the United States on terrorism charges.

Now that the deadly bird flu virus has spread to poultry in northern Nigeria, experts say it is almost certain to spread further in Africa. Nigeria's poultry population is estimated at 140 million birds, and the nation appears ill-equipped to stamp out the virus.

Polling stations in Haiti stayed open into the night for the country's first presidential election since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted two years ago. There were some violent incidents and a few deaths were reported, but the balloting was largely free from the widespread violence so many had feared.

In the 2004 election, citizens in 11 states amended their constitutions to define marriage as between a man and a woman. This year promises to be a rematch of that question: As many as 10 states will consider an amendment to ban gay marriage.