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Tornado shelters dominate Joplin's rebuilding plans

Inspired by Joplin's deadly May tornado, tornado shelters are popping up from private homes to public spaces.

Run out of water? Texas town heading there

The worst Texas drought since the 1950s has a ranching town and a few other Texas communities facing a prospect they've never encountered before: running out of water.

For Fukushima families, a brief respite stateside

Families from Fukushima, Japan, enjoy Oregon sun, clean air and the outdoors â€" and a break from the stress of having a leaking nuclear reactor in their backyard. Msnbc.com's Miranda Leitsinger reports.

Police: 22 teens involved in sexting ring

Police in Vermont say nearly two dozen teenagers used school computers and a special email account to access indecent photos and videos taken by female classmates.

Explosive found after train hits woman

A small explosive device was found near the body of a woman who was struck and killed by a freight train near a northwest Seattle park Thursday morning.

Feds bust Iraqi-Mexican drug operation

Federal officials said Thursday they've taken down a drug and weapons trafficking ring involving members of a U.S. Iraqi community and a major Mexican drug cartel that was caught selling large amounts of drugs, guns and grenades.

Air Force discharging sergeant who doubts Obama

The Air Force said Wednesday it is discharging a hero of the so-called birther movement who refused to report to duty in Germany for a few days earlier this month because he doubts President Barack Obama's citizenship.

'Vampire' arrest sparks discussion on pop culture

The arrest of a man accused of breaking into a woman's house and trying to suck her blood has sparked discussion about the impact of vampire books and movies on youth culture.

Whitey Bulger's girlfriend pleads not guilty

James "Whitey" Bulger's girlfriend, who is accused of helping the reputed former crime boss elude authorities during 16 years on the run together, will not cooperate with law enforcement authorities in their case against him, her lawyer said Thursday.

NY man, 61, suing over skimpy lifeguard trunks

A 61-year-old New York man says he lost his job as a lifeguard when he refused to wear skimpy swim trunks for the annual swim test.

Barber closed after evidence of animal sacrifice found

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- A New Bedford barbershop has been closed after city officials found evidence of ritualistic animal sacrifice at the site.

Car thief drops off kids, poodle

A car thief who inadvertently scooped up a minivan with two kids and a poodle inside dropped the kids â€" and the car â€" at their home in Queens after the children scolded him for trying to raid the change tray.

Palin stalking case leads to arrest of dad, son

The FBI said Thursday that a Pennsylvania man and his son were arrested on charges of harassing Sarah Palin's family and lawyers.

Alaska bank employee charged with stealing $4.3M

An Anchorage bank employee embezzled more than $4 million the old-fashioned way â€" by carrying it out of the building, according to federal prosecutors.

Drivers see baby in truck bed, call police

A Florida baby sitter is charged with child neglect after being accused of allowing an infant to ride in a baby stroller in the bed of a pickup truck.

Source: Aruba suspect tried to cash insurance policy

A man detained in Aruba in the presumed death of his travel partner had an accidental-death insurance policy on her for $1.5 million and sought to claim it after reporting her missing, a source says.

Gulf sheen not from wells, Coast Guard says

Reports of an oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico didn't faze residents of the coast, where small spills are spotted hundreds of times a year.

Man tries to drive home using feet as brakes â€" unsuccessfully

The feet of a 24-year-old Detroit-area man fail him as he tries to use them to brake his pickup on a busy street, police say, but he kept on trucking even after hitting four vehicles as he fails to stop for two red lights.

Snake on the interstate! Man bitten in car

Police say a Pennsylvania man picked up more than he bargained for at a yard sale.

Reward fund set up in Celina Cass case

Eager for any information that can help them resolve the suspicious death of an 11-year-old girl, New Hampshire prosecutors said Thursday they've set up a reward fund.