The government approved a new genetic test for the flu virus Tuesday that will allow labs across the country to identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days.

White House rivals John McCain and Barack Obama combined televised attack ads with statesmanlike appeals for bipartisanship on Tuesday as they vied for political gain in the shadow of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Could voting for president be hazardous to your health? An analysis of Election Day traffic deaths dating back to Jimmy Carter's 1976 win suggests yes, but the authors say that's no reason not to go to the polls.

Wall Street snapped back Tuesday after its biggest sell-off in years amid growing expectations that lawmakers will salvage a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector. But the seized-up credit markets where businesses turn to raise money showed no sign of relief.

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has discovered evidence of past water at its Martian landing site and spotted falling snow for the first time, scientists reported Monday. Soil experiments revealed the presence of two minerals known to be formed in liquid water.

Congressional leaders, President Bush and the two rivals to succeed him rummaged through ideas new and old Tuesday, desperately seeking to change a dozen House members' votes and pass a multibillion-dollar economic rescue plan. At the top of the list: Raise confidence in the banking system by increasing the government's insurance.

The federal government is proposing to add 47 species of plants and animals and one insect to the endangered species list — all found only on the island of Kauai.

The capsule that brought the first comet samples back to Earth is going on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The Stardust capsule will go on display Wednesday to join other firsts of flight at the museum, including Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 Command Module.

Wall Street snapped back Tuesday after its biggest sell-off in years amid growing expectations that lawmakers will salvage a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector. But the seized-up credit markets where businesses turn to raise money showed no sign of relief.

You gotta feline: Woman calls about 'kitty cat,' officer takes cover from mountain lion.

For an audition to be second fiddle, Thursday's debate between often ill-informed newcomer Sarah Palin and often gaffe-prone veteran Joe Biden offers unusually large pitfalls — and promise.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor's son watched and laughed as prisoners were sodomized, forced to play torture games and burned with molten plastic, a former West African captive testified Tuesday.

Man arrested after excessively blowing his horn to 'let people know he was in town'.

Tara Grinstead, a 30-year-old schoolteacher and former beauty queen, attended a Saturday night beauty pageant and then left a dinner party, telling friends she was going straight home. She has not been seen since that night -- October 22, 2005.

It used to be called "the love that dare not speak its name" -- particularly in Hollywood, where the revelation of homosexuality was believed to be a career-killer.

German company claims event produces world's biggest jigsaw puzzle.

LONDON, England (AP) -- The spying game is not what it used to be.

Man who robbed armored car driver escapes by floating down river.

Marget Wincent has never met Sarah Palin, but she hopes the Republican vice presidential candidate will respond to her recent e-mail. Wincent said she encouraged Palin, whose son Trig has Down syndrome, to "get that little guy on skates when he's a couple years old, and enjoy those snowmobile rides."

The owner of Luscious Garage is wondering whether the electric wall outlet will be the "gas tank" of the future.

With the holiday shopping season about to start, consumer confidence is hovering near the lowest it's been since President Bush's father was commander in chief.

Third-highest point gain ever for blue-chip measure comes on bets that a bailout plan can get passed.

McCain to stop in Missouri on Wednesday to speak at an event at the Truman Presidential Library.

Gunfire broke out Tuesday aboard a cargo ship carrying tanks and other heavy weapons that was hijacked last week by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan maritime official says.

Operation Rescue says it filed a complaint seeking the suspension of licenses of two abortion providers, after a woman nearly died. But the woman says she has not filed a complaint.