Top Us News Stories

msnbc.com: US news

Record for billion-dollar weather disasters tied With four months still to go in 2011, the U.S. has already tied its yearly record for the number of weather disasters with an economic loss of $1 billion or more, the U.S. reported Wednesday. Drought costs Texas farms record $5.2 billion The blistering drought in Texas has caused an estimated $5.2 billion in crop and livestock losses this agricultural season, a record figure that could still rise, state officials said Wednesday. DARPA chief's connections prompt wide audits Pentagon inspectors are reviewing contracts awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to a company co-founded by the agency’s director. With students' math deficit, can US compete? Christian Science Monitor: What do Massachusetts, Switzerland, and Singapore have in common? Their students are top performers in mathematics.  As for the rest of the U.S. ... You girls need an education! (This study says so) Life Inc.: A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that 77 percent of Americans think women need a college education to get ahead in life, while only 68 percent think that’s true about men. In death, Fla. Marine gives life to comrade Killed in a training exercise, Marine Lt. Patrick Wayland saved his most heroic act for last. He donated a kidney to a comrade he never met. Pregnant teen shot dead; baby 'fighting' for life A teenager six months pregnant was shot dead, but doctors were able to deliver her baby, who was "fighting for his life" in a hospital, according to  local media reports. Expelled teen charged in plot to bomb school Florida police on Wednesday said they had prevented an attack on a Tampa high school after arresting an expelled student and discovering bomb-making material at his home. Human feces behind coral disease, study finds A strange new menace has joined the long list of threats to corals, the tiny reef-building animals that create important habitat in our oceans. Hackers gain access to transit police union site Hackers launched another online attack Wednesday against a California transit agency that found itself in the middle of a debate about free speech after it turned off cell phone service in its stations to thwart a potential protest. Mom on trial for punishing child with hot sauce Prosecutors say an Alaska woman committed child abuse by squirting hot sauce in the mouth of her adopted Russian son in a case that came under international scrutiny after a "Dr. Phil" episode. Study: 1 in 5 American children lives in poverty Across the nation, research has found that child poverty increased in 38 states from 2000 to 2009. As a result, 14.7 million children, 20 percent, were poor in 2009. States mull taxing drivers by the mile A number of regulators and planners think the idea of charging drivers by the mile is a great idea â€" one that could gain more traction if electric propulsion grows in popularity. Price-gougers hike drug costs during shortage Amid growing shortages of life-saving drugs, some back-door suppliers are capitalizing on the problem, jacking up prices for medications for cancer, high blood pressure and other serious problems by more than 4,500 percent, a new hospital survey shows. Prosecutors probe Aruba suspect's insurance U.S. tourist Gary Giordano had a travel insurance policy that covered his companion Robyn Gardner who has been missing, presumed dead, for more than two weeks, a prosecutor on the island of Aruba said Wednesday. Autistic kids invited to special 'Lion King' show Families of autistic children have a new place to engage their sons and daughters â€" Broadway. Man accused of stealing $200,000 from dates A married Massachusetts man is facing charges of wooing women he met online, then stealing more than $200,000 from them. Father of 2 a hero in abducted girl's rescue The timing was just right for saving the life of a 6-year-old girl and for turning a 24-year-old mechanic and father of two young daughters into a hero. Amputated penis leads to lawsuit The dispute between a Kentucky man and a surgeon over the necessity of amputating the patient's penis during surgery in 2008 is set to go to trial this week. Fleas swarm Conn. firefighters Firefighters in Connecticut leave a house when they began itching badly but don't realize until they're in the truck that they're covered in fleas. Next stop: The hospital, for stripping, scrubbing and testing for plague. Drinks on the House? Ohio Statehouse considers bar After spending their days serving the public, Ohio lawmakers soon might be able to head to the basement and get served at the pub. 'Brain-eating amoeba' kills third person A nine-year-old Virginia boy has died after swimming in water infected by a parasite known as the "brain-eating amoeba," according to reports. It was the second case this month. Taliban, criminals get $360 million from US taxes The U.S military estimates $360 million in U.S. tax dollars has ended up in the hands of the Taliban, criminals and power brokers with ties to both. Obama readying plan to boost jobs, cut deficits The White House on Wednesday said President Barack Obama is set to unveil fresh ideas to jump-start the economy and cut deficits. Arsene Dupin: Role of an artist is to give Cause Celeb talks with performer Arsene Dupin about his work for the PRASAD Project , a nonprofit that strives to improve the quality of life of economically disadvantaged people around the world. Cancer-stricken mom Skypes in to daughter's wedding Ashley Broering believes the only thing that was keeping her terminally ill mother alive was the anticipation of seeing her daughter walk down the aisle at her wedding. Thanks to a pair of laptops and Skype, Patty Davisson was able to make it to that special day. Copyright 2011 msnbc.com RSS URL: http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032524/device/rss/rss.xml

This email sponsored by:

---

This email is a service of QuickThreads.com. To manage your subscriptions, login here.